Moving from Possession to Performance
September 27, 2009
It could be safely argued that America is a “Bible-totin’” nation. Specifically, over ninety percent of American households own Bibles. Moreover, more than eighty percent of the families that own Bibles have more than one. In fact, the average U.S. household has three Bibles, and evangelical Christian households own seven or more. The Bible continues to be the best selling book in this country, and virtually any person would be able to define the word “Bible” if asked. Well, if you are like me, you are doing the Scooby Doo “Huh?” That is, if Americans own so many copies of the Bible and are so familiar with the Bible, why is our nation increasingly moving away from the principles and precepts contained in the Bible? Take a look at our country. Sexual impropriety is commonplace (1 Thess. 4:3-6). Breaches in ethics and morals are almost expected (Eph. 4:25; 1 Pet. 1:13-16). And allegiance to God and care for neighbor are totally disregarded or are anecdotal, at best (Matt. 22:37-40). So the question remains, friends. How can Americans possess so many Bibles and flagrantly and continuously disregard the message of those Bibles? The answer is obvious: possession is only half the effort. You see, it is not enough to possess God’s word; one must also perform God’s word. Paul stressed this reality to the church at Rome (Rom. 2:23). Jesus made similar remarks to the religious rulers of his day (Matt. 15:3). What do we see in all this, West Broad and friends? Only that according to the God of heaven, possession is nothing without performance (1 Jn. 3:18). It is good that so many Americans own copies of the Bible. It is good that they know what the Bible is. But it is time to take the next step. May our nation — and our congregation — work vigorously to not only possess the Scriptures, but to practice the same! Please think about it. —JLNJR
