By Edwin Crayton/Opinion
If you have been following the fight going on in Washington over funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), then you probably know that many politicians are warning that failing to fund the DHS will endanger America’s security. Allow me to suggest something more radical. Allow me to suggest that even if we were to fully fund or even double the funding for the Department of Homeland Security, our nation would still be unable to protect itself from the future threats that are headed our way. That is because, like other Christians, I believe America’s security does not depend on soldiers, drones, or smarter bombs. It depends on God. More specifically, it depends on having a good relationship with him and being in submission to him. It always has. It always will.
It is a simple historical fact that this nation was indeed founded by Christians–flawed as they were—who based the foundations of America on biblical principles. This undeniable fact shows up over and over in our founding documents and well as in the words of the founding fathers and founding mothers. They knew that God mattered in the success of the new nation they were building. This is summed up well by a letter written in 1798 by second president John Adams. He wrote “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” Those words might as well have come from the Scriptures which tell us that a nation needs God in order to thrive. Consider Psalm 127:1 which reads, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” Adams words echo down through the centuries, so much that recently, House Speaker Mike Johnson quoted them to remind American lawmakers that still God matters in the life of Contemporary America. We should all listen, but unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that many of us are. Although the Bible is often listed as one of the world’s best-selling books, it is also one of the least read. That matters because you cannot follow God if you don’t listen to him and the Bible is literally his Holy Word to us. The second problem is that even when they do read the Bible, many people don’t believe it and obey it.
We Christians have become famous for rightly complaining that the world is abandoning God and refusing to submit to his values and commands. Yet, when it comes to the lack of Bible reading, I believe we in the Christian Community are the worst offenders. That is because one of the commands God gave his people was to read his word, meditate on it and obey it. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Refusing or neglecting to read the Bible is like refusing to read any books about how to fly a plane and then trying to pilot a jet across the country in turbulence. I know because for a while I didn’t read my Bible and learned the hard way that Bible reading is crucial to being a Christian. Here are a few of the main lessons I’ve learned about why reading the Bible is a non-negotiable for anyone who wants to be a follower of Jesus Christ. The full list is of course much longer, but I think these are key ones.
- The Bible is the number one source for wisdom. God is the wisest of beings and the Bible is full of his wisdom. You simply cannot find a book more filled with wisdom and intelligence. James 1:5 says, “If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask God. When you read your Bible, you are directly accessing his very words of wisdom.
- Reading the Bible helps protect you from deception. All humans have an enemy—the Devil. He uses deception to trap humans and lead them into performing dark acts or adopting beliefs that will lead to their eternal damnation. I recently heard about James Talarico, a politician in Texas who is running for office and is telling the voters he is a Christian. Yet, he is endorsing sexual sins and is distorting the Bible, blatantly misrepresenting several biblical ideas. Fox News quotes him as saying that God is “nonbinary”. Truly disturbing. He is truly wrong. Unfortunately, some voters are falling for it and he is winning. Apparently, those voters don’t read and believe their Bibles. The Devil preys on those who are biblically illiterate. He often distorts God’s Holy Word. He even tried to use the Bible to trap Jesus. But it didn’t work because Jesus is the Word of God. When you know your Bible, it’s easier to spot false prophets.
- Bible reading brings peace of mind. I am not going to elaborate except to say countless numbers of people have found this to be true, but you have to try it firsthand to understand why. (Hint: it has something to do with the presence of the Holy Spirit). Remember, Jesus is called the Prince of Peace.
- Bible reading helps you recognize and submit to the truth. Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). He also said, “Seek and you will find.” In this moment in time, truth is under attack. Some men wrongly claim they can become women. Some women also believe they can change their sex, despite the fact that the Bible says otherwise (Genesis 1:27, Leviticus 18:22). People debate over whether it’s murder to abort a child. Some even deny that there is such a thing as absolute truth. To these misguided people, truth is something you can create. Baloney. In philosophy there is a theory called the Correspondence Theory. This theory maintains that a belief is true if it corresponds to reality. Jesus predicted his own death and it happened just as he said it would. God said that women would be the child bearers and it’s that way. Open a newspaper or log on to news online, and you’ll see that many of the events predicted by Christ in Matthew Chapter 24 and the events talked about in 2 Timothy Chapter 4, as well as those mentioned in The Book of Revelation are occurring. Over and over, time and science confirm what the Bible claims.
- Reading the Bible helps you overcome anything and everything. That’s a big claim I know, but it’s true. You know it’s true too, if you believe the Bible when Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth”. This world is controlled by the Lord God and he is without limits. Indeed, the Scriptures say, “For God, nothing is impossible”. We live in a fallen, dark, painful world. Life has many tragedies and disappointments. But whatever happens, God has a solution. He has breathed the answers into the words of the writers of the Bible. Even if what you are facing is not specifically spoken of in the pages of the Bible, the Scriptures still offer you a path to finding the specific answers you need. Mark 11:22-24 says, whatever you ask God in Jesus’ name, if you will believe, you will receive it. So that is sort of an all-purpose verse for any prayer or any need. I use it. It works.
- Bible reading improves your life and makes you better, more loving and stronger. When you read your Bible, it helps you improve and reach your goals because it is improving your relationship with God. He is helping you, so you will be strengthened and more successful at what you are striving for. The Bible inspires you to do your best. It also helps you become more loving and considerate of others. It is the original book that encouraged its readers to “love your enemies” and “treat others the way you want to be treated”.
But how does a person become a reader of the Bible? Nike has the answer. Their slogan is “Just do it.” Start, today. Don’t put it off. There is no one way or magic formula. Whatever works, works. Some people buy those Bible reading plans. Others form a Bible reading/study group at home. I am one of those people who believes in getting up really early, first thing in the morning and reading. It sets the tone for the day. It empowers. How much reading? Really, just go at your own pace. Even a verse a day is good (less than a minute). That’s because consistency matters. I agree with pastors and religious leaders who promote daily Bible reading. It strengthens you as you do it more and more and daily reading helps you daily. Hey, problems happen daily. So, Bible reading should happen daily too.
Pray for understanding before and after reading. Attend church and when you do, don’t just rely on the Bible passages put up on the screen. Keep a Bible near you to verify those verses. Participate in your church’s prayer meetings. And when you return home from church, remove the shrink wrap from your Bible and start reading the only words with the power to actually save your soul (John 14:6). Then pass what you’re learning on to those you love. And I hope that’s a lot of people.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…–Hosea 4:6
Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people. –Proverbs 14:34
Go to church on Sunday. God has a message to help you and yours. God bless you.
The opinions in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Natchitoches Parish Journal and its associates.
