bdavidc
Member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2023
- Messages
- 144
The way many churches are structured and the messages they emphasize can absolutely contribute to believers not knowing their Bibles and feeling little personal responsibility to defend the truth.
There is a real and troubling trend in the modern church, many who claim to be Christians do not truly know the Bible, and worse, they show little concern for seeking or standing for truth. This spiritual apathy is dangerous because it can lead people to believe they are on the narrow road to life when in reality, they are walking the broad road that leads to destruction. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 7:13–14, saying that the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and few find it. Many assume they are saved because of a prayer they once prayed, a church they attend, or a label they wear, but they show no hunger for God’s Word, no fruit of obedience, and no willingness to contend for the faith.
This lack of engagement is evident not only in everyday life, at work, online, or in conversations, but even within the church building itself. After the sermon ends, there is often more interest in casual talk than in digging deeper into Scripture or applying what was just heard. Yet Scripture calls believers to love the truth, study diligently (2 Timothy 2:15), and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). The early church was marked by believers who were devoted to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship centered around the Word (Acts 2:42).
This silence and lack of urgency is not what Jesus called His followers to do. True disciples abide in His Word (John 8:31) and are not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16). If there is no desire to know the Bible or talk about it, it raises serious questions about the condition of the heart. Those who are born again will grow in love for God’s truth, not perfectly, but persistently. Where that hunger is absent, so too may be true saving faith.
When people are led to believe that salvation is tied to church attendance rather than genuine faith in Christ and a transformed life, the focus often shifts from knowing and following God to simply showing up and being seen. This can create a false sense of security as if being present in a building once a week is the same as being faithful to God. But Scripture is clear that salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9), and true saving faith results in a life that seeks to know God's Word, obey it, and share it.
In addition, when only the pastor or a few selected individuals are allowed to speak, teach, or engage during church gatherings, it can unintentionally send the message that the average believer is not equipped, or not needed to handle Scripture. This can lead to passivity, where people become spiritually dependent on church leaders instead of growing into maturity themselves. Yet the Bible calls all believers to be active participants in the faith. In Acts 17:11, the Bereans were commended for searching the Scriptures daily to test what they were taught. In Hebrews 5:12, believers are rebuked for still needing to be taught when they should be teachers themselves. And in 1 Corinthians 14:26, early church gatherings included multiple members contributing for the building up of the body.
When church culture discourages active engagement and puts the weight of spiritual work on a few, it weakens the entire body. God's design is that every believer knows the Word, grows in it, and plays a part in defending and spreading it. Neglecting that design doesn’t just lead to biblical ignorance, it leaves people unprepared for the spiritual battles they’re called to fight.
There is a real and troubling trend in the modern church, many who claim to be Christians do not truly know the Bible, and worse, they show little concern for seeking or standing for truth. This spiritual apathy is dangerous because it can lead people to believe they are on the narrow road to life when in reality, they are walking the broad road that leads to destruction. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 7:13–14, saying that the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and few find it. Many assume they are saved because of a prayer they once prayed, a church they attend, or a label they wear, but they show no hunger for God’s Word, no fruit of obedience, and no willingness to contend for the faith.
This lack of engagement is evident not only in everyday life, at work, online, or in conversations, but even within the church building itself. After the sermon ends, there is often more interest in casual talk than in digging deeper into Scripture or applying what was just heard. Yet Scripture calls believers to love the truth, study diligently (2 Timothy 2:15), and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). The early church was marked by believers who were devoted to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship centered around the Word (Acts 2:42).
This silence and lack of urgency is not what Jesus called His followers to do. True disciples abide in His Word (John 8:31) and are not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16). If there is no desire to know the Bible or talk about it, it raises serious questions about the condition of the heart. Those who are born again will grow in love for God’s truth, not perfectly, but persistently. Where that hunger is absent, so too may be true saving faith.
When people are led to believe that salvation is tied to church attendance rather than genuine faith in Christ and a transformed life, the focus often shifts from knowing and following God to simply showing up and being seen. This can create a false sense of security as if being present in a building once a week is the same as being faithful to God. But Scripture is clear that salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9), and true saving faith results in a life that seeks to know God's Word, obey it, and share it.
In addition, when only the pastor or a few selected individuals are allowed to speak, teach, or engage during church gatherings, it can unintentionally send the message that the average believer is not equipped, or not needed to handle Scripture. This can lead to passivity, where people become spiritually dependent on church leaders instead of growing into maturity themselves. Yet the Bible calls all believers to be active participants in the faith. In Acts 17:11, the Bereans were commended for searching the Scriptures daily to test what they were taught. In Hebrews 5:12, believers are rebuked for still needing to be taught when they should be teachers themselves. And in 1 Corinthians 14:26, early church gatherings included multiple members contributing for the building up of the body.
When church culture discourages active engagement and puts the weight of spiritual work on a few, it weakens the entire body. God's design is that every believer knows the Word, grows in it, and plays a part in defending and spreading it. Neglecting that design doesn’t just lead to biblical ignorance, it leaves people unprepared for the spiritual battles they’re called to fight.
