Bible Literate

God have given us a manual for how to navigate this life.  It is full of history and future prophecies.  It is a roadmap for how to follow Him to the fullest.  So how do we use this guide?  We become Bible literate.

According to the internet literacy is being able to read and write and is a continuous learning process.  It enables us to take information, interpret, and communicate with others.  Some synonyms of literate are: educated, sophisticated, cultured, and scholarly.

To be Bible literate means to have knowledge of God's word, Scripture.  Bible literacy teaches us; who God is; who we are; how to live wisely; the story of Salvation; how to discern truth; faith and perseverance; and how to apply Scripture.  Without biblical literacy, faith becomes fragile, feelings become authoritative, and culture becomes the interpreter of Scripture rather than Scripture interpreting culture.

Reading and studying the Bible is important to understanding Scripture accurately so it can shape our faith, character, decisions, and relationship with God. It is how to truly know God.  When we are not biblically literate, we are susceptible to false teachings and unsound doctrine.  Bible literacy grounds us in truth.  Not the truth as the world wants us to know it, but God's truth.  When we read and understand the Bible we glean; discernment, wisdom, character, and moral clarity.

Bible literacy equips us to make better decisions based on sound principles.  It equips us to recognize sin and temptation and to move away from them.  It helps us to live with purpose and walk in God's will following Him and not the things of this world.  It helps us to recognize false gospels that are currently being taught in many churches - such as the prosperity gospel.  (More on that in another blog post.)

Being grounded in His Word means to read and study the entire Bible.  It is important to know the history of the Old Testament or we are doomed to making the same mistakes as the Israelites and hardening of our hearts.  Throughout the Old Testament we see not only history but we also see; poetry, prophecy, and God's love for His chosen. 

Scripture can provide us what we need, when we need it, to honor God and live our lives for Him.  It is a guidebook, a manual, a tool for navigating the trials, temptations, and landmines of what we call this life.  Won't you join the journey and immerse yourself in His written word.  You won't regret it.