Must We Study the Bible?

This sounds like a stupid question. Even so, some Christians feel it's too hard even to read the scriptures. They'd rather let the preacher do all the work or read a devotional each morning or evening.

Scripture itself has plenty to say about study. One early mention of this was in Nehemiah 8:8 (KJV). When the nation of Israel returned from Babylon where they were taken captive, the leaders decided to re-acquaint the people with the Book of the Law.   "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."

Earlier on, Moses had led the Israelites out of Egypt. Before he died, he spoke to the assembly all the things which God had him write down. Deuteronomy 30:10 and 11 (BBE) reads, "If you give ear to the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his orders and his laws which are recorded in this book of the law, and turning to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. For these orders which I have given you today are not strange and secret, and are not far away."

King David also loved the Book of the Law. In fact, he memorized it. Psalms 119:11 (BBE) states, "I have kept your sayings secretly in my heart, so that I might do no sin against you."

We see as well that studying was important in the New Testament. Paul admonished in 2 Timothy 2:15 (BBE) to, "Let it be your care to get the approval of God, as a workman who has no cause for shame, giving the true word in the right way."

We should also be like the people in the town of Beroea. Acts 17:11 (BBE) records, "Now these were more noble than the Jews of Thessalonica, for they gave serious attention to the word, searching in the holy Writings every day, to see if these things were so.

We also need to know what the scriptures say so we won't be confused by liars preaching false doctrines. Ephesians 4:14 and 15 (BBE), in reference to growing more Christ-like, says, "So that we may be no longer children, sent this way and that, turned about by every wind of teaching, by the twisting and tricks of men, by the deceits of error; But saying true words in love, may come to full growth in him, who is the head, even Christ;"

There is so much more I could write about this vast topic. It'll be part of my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? After all, why should folks call themselves Christians but have no desire to learn about their Lord and Master who bought them from their slavery to sin?

On Saturday, I'll post a song about a delusional man who felt convinced that he was Jesus.

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Christians?

To many folks, Jehovah's Witnesses are merely a peculiar sect of Christianity. But are these deluded folks really Christians? To understand this, we need to know what makes a person a Christian.

The Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 10:9-10 (KJV), "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

But Jehovah's Witnesses believe that loyalty to "Jehovah's organization" is what saves people. This belief is contradicted in Titus 3:5 (KJV) which reads, "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;"

Furthermore, our works of righteousness come from gratitude, not obligation or any phoney requirement to be saved. James 2:18 (KJV) explains, "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."

Genuine followers of Christ search the scriptures whereas disciples of The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society merely follow what they're told to do. But Acts 17:11 (KJV)shows what we believers in Christ ought to do. "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."

And while they fear falling out of Jehovah's favour, we have no such worry. As the Apostle Paul wrote regarding his hope of eternal life in 2 Timothy 1:12 (KJV), "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

All this and more will I explain and expand upon in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Only by trusting in Christ's atonement on the cross, not a torture steak, will we be granted access to eternal life with him. So many earnest people will be consigned to hell because they sought to enter heaven by their works. I hope to redirect some from that horrible fate through my writing.

Is Christianity "All in the mind?"

This all depends on your view of Christianity. Atheists assume it's all a fable while true disciples believe it's the truth.

I wrote in a previous blog regarding the Bible being true. When readers understand the culture, history, and literary genres, all sixty-six books make sense. Having the Holy Spirit teach you also helps illuminate the scriptures to you.

Christianity not only is proven true through archeology, prophesy, and its internal consistency but it is logical. How so? God encourages people to use their minds.

Here are a few scriptures which demonstrate this:

(Romans 12:2 KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

(Acts 17:11 KJV) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

(Luke 10:27 KJV) And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

(Isaiah 1:18 KJV) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

I could show many more verses which appeal to a person's reasoning ability but this post would become far too long. Suffice it to say that God gave us minds and expects us to search out the truth with them.

Sadly, many believers assume that searching the scriptures is only for the pastor to do. If I had done my homework, I would have discovered that the false teacher I wrote about in my How I Was Razed memoir was a fraud.

Next time, I'll deal with how cults twist scriptures to push their wicked agenda.