Foxworthy is always affable and the bible-answering teams of three are decent evangelical Christians vying to win money for worthwhile charities. They seem to spend a lot of time telling us about the contestants rather than asking the bible questions, but I'm quibbling.
Folk seem to do fairly well with the straightforward questions, a sort of Jeopardy with a halo. Surveys regularly show that not only is our society becoming less biblically literate, so are Christians of every flavour. But it should always be more than simple factual knowledge. The bible is a challenging, sometimes confounding, deeply inspiring collection of books written over centuries. It is remarkable that we can simply open it and find meaning but it helps to be able to go deeper, to understand the complexities and subtleties.
We gained several newcomers to our daytime bible study last year and they commented along the way about their fear of "taking the plunge," The brave ones admitted that for all the years they had attended church, they were only now getting a sense of the bigger picture.
That's great! It takes courage to be vulnerable, and I can only trust that the benefit is greater than the cost. Join us in the morning as we resume on September 19th. And consider one of our other study groups offered in the evening through the year.
Do you feel awkward about your biblical knowledge? Do you think it would help your faith journey to be better informed? Have you watched The American Bible Challenge?
7 comments:
I've been reading the bible for about five years, just a little each day. It's just wild, the stuff that's in there. There was a while there where I thought Deuteronomy was going to be the death of me, but we got through it together, he and I.
As for the show ... yikes.
Apparently a hotel in Britain is putting copies of 50 Shades of Grey in every room rather than Gideon bibles. They figure the book is popular and there is nothing wilder in scripture than the novel. Since I haven't read it (50 Shades that is) I will reserve judgement.
The Bible and I have not really had a relationship. I did not grow up in an environment where it was even mentioned, besides seeing it in a grandparent's home when it was pulled out to list a birth or marriage in its inside cover. In my experiences of exploring my faith and going to church, I have always felt embarrassment with feelings of being a "phoney" because of my ignorance where the stories of the Bible are concerned. It is a real personal struggle as well, to voice my feelings of longing to delve deeper, when it is so the opposite of how I was raised. For all the trivialization that a show like this may bring to such a meaningful topic (for lack of a better word), it may do wonders for people like me who have not found their own way to take the first step into this world.
Come to bible study willowjakmom...it is a lovely and supportive community....we usually discuss the next Sunday's scripture...and we are all learning as we go...beginners are welcome..nobody is ever put on the spot ..no tests....and the leader is pretty engaging! (we laugh alot too )
Thank you for being so candid S. and for articulating your struggles so well. You have named what many of your generation feel. I will echo Laura's invitation. This is a thoughtful, supportive, good-humoured group and would welcome you.
Seeing that novices are welcome, just when is bible study held?
Wednesday morning at 10 am. I would be open to a study in the evening again if that worked better for some. There is another man Roger
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