Biblical Illiteracy

3. One of the most serious problems facing
the Church in the 21st century is the
problem of Biblical illiteracy…most
professing Christians do not possess a
sound and coherent understanding of the
Bible

4. The U.S. Christian movement may
appear strong, to someone overseas,
but the foundation is crumbling largely
because of a lack of engagement and
submission to the Bible

5. "Americans revere the Bible—but
they don't read it…and have become a
nation of biblical illiterates.“
- Researchers George Gallup & Jim Castelli

6. Many Christians cannot
identify more than 2 or 3 of the
disciples

7. 60% of Americans can't name
even 5 of the 10 Commandments.

8. 82% of Americans thought
that: "God helps those who help
themselves," is a Bible verse

9. At least 12% of adults believe that
Joan of Arc was Noah's wife

10. 50% of graduating high
school seniors thought that
Sodom and Gomorrah
were husband & wife

11. A considerable number of poll
respondents indicated that the
Sermon on the Mount
was preached by Billy Graham.

12. The larger scandal is biblical
ignorance among Christians who
know less and less about the Bible.

13. Christians who lack biblical
knowledge are the products of
churches that marginalize
biblical knowledge.

14. Bible teaching now often
accounts for only a diminishing
fraction of the local congregation's
time and attention

15. The move to small group ministry
has increased opportunities for
fellowship, but many of these
groups never get beyond
superficial Bible study

16. The centrality of biblical preaching
to the formation of disciples is lost,
and Christian ignorance leads to
Christian indolence and worse.

17. "Christians used to be known as 'people of one
book.' They memorized it, meditated on it,
talked about it and taught it to others.. We
don't do that anymore, and in a very real sense
we're starving ourselves to death.“ - Kenneth
Berding

18. "If I sound alarmist, I'm not alone.
These days many of us don't even
know basic facts about the Bible.“ -
Kenneth Berding

19. 2014 "The State of the Bible" report by Barna
Group and American Bible Society, a majority of
U.S. adults (81%) said they consider
themselves highly, moderately or somewhat
knowledgeable about the Bible.

20. Yet only 43% were able to name the
first five books of the Bible.

21. In the 2013 report showed that only
50% knew that
“John the Baptist”
was NOT one of the 12 apostles.

22. One Bible College student, did not
know that Saul in the New
Testament was different from
King Saul in the Old Testament.

23. Another Bible College student thought
the Old Testament figure Joshua was
the son of "a nun," unaware that "Nun"
was actually the name of the father and
not a member of a Catholic church

24. "Many Americans don't consider the
Bible to be authoritative, they don't
consider the Bible to place a claim
on their lives…"

25. “Some consider the Bible to be important
generally, but are far from believing that
God has communicated His will through
this book and therefore it is binding upon
your actions."

26. The 2014 Bible survey found that
although most people own a Bible,
(37%) of Americans read the holy
book once a week or more.

27. 26% of Americans never read the
Bible.

28. Christians are expected to frequently
read the Bible so that they learn it
enough to be able to think about it
throughout the day.

29. "I do NOT believe that most
Americans realize that their very
light (or lack of) engagement with
the Bible is serious," -- Berding

30. Contributors to the decline
in biblical literacy:
Self-reliance - (not believing that
there should be any authorities
outside of themselves)

31. Contributors to the decline
in biblical literacy:
Distractions - social networking,
texting, gaming, TV & other
entertainment

32. Contributors to the decline
in biblical literacy:
Overconfidence -- the sense that
we know a lot about the Bible because
we grew up going to church

33. Contributors to the decline
in biblical literacy:
“Being "Too Busy" -- hypnotized
into believing that it is not very
important that we carve out dedicated
time to read and learn the Bible

34. Contributors to the decline
in biblical literacy:
The Church Has Been “Dumbed Down” by
the Culture - challenging youth with high
standards is considered harmful to their “self-
esteem.” Instead of pushing children to excel,
standards of academic achievement are lowered

35. The Church Has Adopted the Cultural
Mandate to “Feel Good” -- “Christian faith is
not being built on the firm foundation of
hard won thoughts, ideas, history, or
theology. Spirituality is being built on private
emotional attachments” - Gary Burge.

36. One of the greatest hindrances to
church growth today is the lack of
Bible knowledge.

37. Can you SHOW someone what they
must do to be saved?
Can you run through the plan of
salvation, verse by verse?

38. Are you "ready to give a defense to
everyone who asks you a reason for
the hope that is in you“…That is, can
you give a book, chapter, verse?

39. References
1. Why Johnny Can’t Read the Bible -
http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/may/25.38.html
2. Biblical Illiteracy in US at Crisis Point, Says Bible
Expert http://www.christianpost.com/news/biblical-illiteracy-in-us-at-crisis-point-
says-bible-expert-121626/
3. The Scandal of Biblical Illiteracy: It's Our Problem by
Albert Mohler - http://www.christianity.com/print/1270946/