The first two months of 2026, I have written about statements Christians often use without thinking through what they really mean. I’m going to change now to statements that are Biblically true, but when asked about their meaning, believers struggle to find an explanation. First, I want to emphasize how critically important it is to have a continually growing knowledge and understanding of Scripture.
I received this email from a reader: “Dr. Dixie, I have a friend who is struggling with a terrible situation. I prayed for her, and I remember hearing that the Holy Spirit will bring to our remembrance what we need to say, but I realized how little I know of what the Bible really says about anything. I have neglected to give the Holy Spirit much to work with, and I didn’t really have a lot to offer—just platitudes.”
You aren’t alone in finding yourself Biblically unequipped. Believers are justifiably concerned about the world’s rejection of Christianity, but we must give urgent attention to the much more dangerous problem of Biblical illiteracy within the Body of Christ.
More than half of American Christians think the Bible has too little influence on a morally declining culture, yet only 26% of Christians read the Bible on a regular basis.
We often don’t read the Bible because life is busy, generally comfortable and our felt needs are met by the bank, grocery store or local pharmacy. We’re not motivated to the discipline of learning what God’s Word promises until tragedy strikes: death, loss of a job, illness….. and suddenly we get serious about praying, going to church, reading the Bible. Sales of the Bible increased 12% during the covid lockdown. However, when the pressure eases, we gradually slip back into careless indifference.
Reading the Bible is like filling a prescription for an antibiotic—it won’t have any effect on the infection until you open the bottle and absorb the medicine. Our Bible reading habits have been strongly influenced by “seeker- friendly” churches that minimize Bible study, while maximizing entertainment and relationships. When intimate knowledge of God is not the aim of ministry, churches become filled with believers who simply don’t know enough to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.
Life changes come through knowing the Word of God so deeply that our thinking and life choices are affected: Psalm 119:9-11 (Amplified Classic): “How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed and keeping watch on himself according to Your Word, and conforming his lifetoit. YourWordhaveIlaidupinmyheart,sothat I might not sin against You.”
Numerous surveys show that as America’s Christians know less about the Bible, it becomes evident in our life choices. For example, sexual compromise, divorce and anxiety has exploded among Christians, as our understanding of human sexuality, commitment and security has become formed by our culture, rather than by God’s Word. Without intimate knowledge of God, we cannot experience freedom from immorality, broken relationships and anxiety.
People complain that the Bible is too difficult to read, although most English versions scarcely rise above a fourth grade reading level. It’s difficult because it takes self-discipline and concentration to actually read the book. It also requires a willingness to accept admonition from our Heavenly Father.
We cannot believe more than we know, and we’ll never rise higher in our life experience than our beliefs. High levels of anxiety and compromise are directly connected to the absence of concentrated, intentional Biblical teaching in our homes and churches.
In 2 Peter 1:2 the apostle gives this blessing: May God’s favor and peace, which is perfect well-being and good; all spiritual prosperity, and freedom from fears, agitating passions and moral conflicts, be multiplied to you through the full, personal, precise, and correct knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (Amplified Classic) Infinite Grace Ministries 580-774-2884 Infinitegrace.com
