Americans work so hard. But are we spiritually lazy?
“We have a great deal to say about this [doctrine] but it’s difficult to explain, since YOU HAVE BECOME TOO LAZY TO UNDERSTAND. Although by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the basic principles of God’s revelation again. You need milk, not solid food” Hebrews 5:11-12.
The author of Hebrews—probably Paul—argues his readers are too lazy to understand what he wants to teach. So true. American Christians go to church, attend conferences, rock out with worship bands and smoke machines. But American Christians are lazy.
Do we read our Bibles daily? Do we memorize scripture? Do you know anyone other than your pastor who reads Bible Commentaries to gain more understanding? Do you know anyone who is NOT in ministry that ever covered a table with Bibles, a concordance, a Topical Bible, a few commentaries, maybe some maps, and dug in to a heavy Biblical topic for hours?
Be honest: do you even know PASTORS who study that way? Most probably do not.
How can we reach thinking non-believers if we are intellectually lazy?
Why should they pay any attention to us when writers both inside and outside the church have decried “Evangelical Anti-Intellectualism”? We are not just lazy—we are ANTI-Intellectuals! It was not always this way. The Christian church literally INVENTED European universities. Now some of our best-known leaders (I’m thinking of unnamed TV preachers) DO NOT EVEN GO TO COLLEGE. I could write pages on this, but I must stop….
God, help us to WORK HARD at our faith and our understanding, to “STUDY to show thyself approved”! Remind us that clear, doctrinally sound thinking is more important than inspirational feelings. Move us from baby food to spiritual meat.
ΑΩ
Household Words: 