Know the Story

Sara has a passion for reading. She’ll read more books in a month than I will in five years.

When she and Stephanie were young, I’d read them bedtime stories. I enjoyed it, but after reading the same story for the 27^th time I’d occasionally want to speed things up a bit by skipping a page or three.

Not on Sara’s watch.

“Dad, that’s NOT how the story goes!”

Every…single…time.

She was also less than thrilled when I’d try skipping words, or changing them altogether. Personally, I thought the story of “Rindercella and the Three Gairy Fodmothers” was genius.

Sara, not so much.

I wasn’t allowed to correct my “mistake” and move on. I was required to go back to the beginning. (Made me think twice about pulling a fast one)

Sara was the “gatekeeper” of the story because she “knew” the story.

Every page, every line, and every word.

Not because I’d read it to her, because she’d read it for herself.

Multiple times.

I frequently comment on the alarming rate of biblical illiteracy there is in the Church today. I wonder how many sitting in congregations know “the story.” How many have read it for themselves.

While there are many wonderful pastors and teachers in the Body of Christ, many pulpits today are filled with false teachers skipping pages, changing words, and twisting the Word out of context for their own personal gain.

And no one in their congregation notices.

No one stands up to say, “That’s NOT how the story goes!”

Because they don’t know it.

They know only the bedtime stories they hear on Sunday mornings, and haven’t taken the time to read the book for themselves.

And that’s a dangerous state to be in.

I’ve been a follower of Christ for 43 years and have seen a dramatic shift in the emphasis placed on a personal study of the Word of God. Life Groups have replaced Bible Studies, and “the verse of the day” checks the box for morning devotionals.

For the record, I think Life Groups are great, but should never be at the expense of personal time in Scripture. I spoke with someone defending the idea of Life Groups in their church, saying people were “studying the Word” during the week.

I’d like to believe that’s true, but have serious doubts.

And for what it’s worth, you should never read just one verse. The “verse of the day” is a great starter, but always read it in context. At a minimum, read the entire chapter in which it’s found.

There are groups using the “verse of the day” as a conversation starter, asking “What does this mean to you?”

You’re asking the wrong question.

“What it means to you” is irrelevant.

“What is God saying” is all that matters.

It’s everything that matters.

I may sound a little harsh in my tone, and for that I offer no apologies.

We are living in dangerous times, under a cloud of great deception.

Pages being skipped, word meanings changed, and Scripture twisted out of context.

Do you recognize it?

Do you know the story?

Have you read it?