Who
Needs to Learn the Bible?
The Warren Christian
Apologetics Center was established a few years ago in honor of brother (Dr.)
Thomas B. Warren. Brother Warren worked tirelessly to ground Christians in the
rationality of Christianity and its three main tenets: the existence of God, the
inspiration of the Bible, and the deity of Christ. He wrote extensively and it
is through his writings that he had a tremendous influence on me (I never met
him personally). I would encourage all Christians to read and devour his
writings - especially his debates with atheists and his books Logic and the Bible, When Is An Example Binding?,
and Have Atheists Proved
There is No God?
The Warren Christian
Apologetics Center (warrenapologeticscenter.org), in honor of
brother Warren, exists to defend the “Christian worldview as the only view that
satisfactorily meets the demands of the law of rationality through the
foundational proofs of the existence of God, the divine origin of the Bible,
and the deity of Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 26:25)” (taken from the masthead of
their newsletter).
The most recent
newsletter (Vol. 6 No. 4) has an article entitled “America Needs to Relearn the
Bible,” written by the Center’s director, Charles C. Pugh III. I agree with the
contents of the article. But here’s what struck me…
Brother Pugh writes:
“Today America needs to be awakened to the danger of the unlearning and
undermining that continues to corrupt the foundation of our society.” I have
made similar statements. In fact, I plan to give a series of a dozen lessons
next year along the theme: “America Needs the Bible.” But here’s the kicker…
Who is “America?” What
do we mean by
“America” when we say “America needs to relearn the Bible” or “America needs
the Bible?” “America” cannot learn anything
because America is not a sentient
being. America cannot be taught anything.
Only
individuals learn. That’s my point as I reflected on Pugh’s article. We
cannot teach
America anything. Even if we had the megaphone of the “bully pulpit,” we cannot
teach very
many people. That’s not to undermine the power of mass media evangelism like
the Gospel Broadcasting
Network or various internet websites (our own worship is broadcast
online and around the world: livestream.com/swartzcreek), and magazines.
But truly, learning takes place on the individual level.
This is especially important to keep in mind when it comes to the Gospel.
“America” cannot have “faith.” Americans, however, can, if they
are taught the Gospel, which creates faith (Romans 10:17).
Learning, even through
mass media, is an individual endeavor, an individual accomplishment. In the
final analysis, learning happens when one person (the teacher) shares new
information with one person (the student).
Here’s my message. We
cannot teach “America.” But we can teach one
person. Who
are you teaching? It’s easy to bash “America” for leaving her
Christian heritage (I do it myself) but are we trying to teach one soul at a time the
Gospel message? I am currently involved at various stages in three studies -
find someone and teach him/her.
--Paul Holland
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