How Is Your Bible IQ? Part 1

Whenever you have the opportunity to play Bible trivia, do you rub your hands together and salivate as you anticipate answering all the questions?. . .or do you quietly dismiss yourself because, deep down inside, you are afraid you might embarrass yourself with your lack of knowledge? I don't ask this question to solicit guilt from anyone, but rather because I was recently reminded how important it is for God's people to know His Word. I visited a church with a friend and was deeply disturbed by the pastor's message. The specific message is not the focus of today's post, but rather the importance of every Christian to know the Bible well enough to discern when a bunch of bunk is being spewed from the pulpit by those who are suppose to be leaders of the flock. Hence my question to you . . .How is your Bible IQ?

No Christian is going to agree with everything a pastor or Bible teacher says. We would be naive to believe every single thing a fallible person teaches us, but even though we may not understand everything the Bible says, that is our infallible source of information. Sincere students of the Bible can rely on the Holy Spirit to assist us on our journey to understanding be it by revelation, life experiences, or even inspiration from others. Another reason believers should not rely solely on the specific teachings of one person or group is that, as fallible humans, we will see minor points differently; that's why denominational differences exist. Certain parts of our Christian faith are undeniable truths no matter what church we belong to; Jesus' death and resurrection for our sins, the virgin birth, and Jesus' equality with God are examples of truths that are not open to discussion. Any teachings contrary to these truths should raise red flags or cause us to run the other direction.

My family once attended a church where one of the youth leaders did not believe in the virgin birth. Needless to say, I vowed never to let that individual teach my kids. I've also heard pastors say things such as, "There's no reason to study the Book of Revelation; God wins and and that's all you need to know," and "The book of Jonah is an extended parable." Statements such as those should cause us to take pause. They also present a great backdrop to ask this question: Do you know enough about the Real Thing so that you can recognize counterfeit teachings or cheap imitations? Again, I ask . . .How is your Bible IQ?

I have been a serious student of the Bible for almost fourteen years. Most of what I've learned, I learned because I am a seeker. I've attended excellent women's Bible studies, plus I've done much self-directed study. Most of what I know did not come from the pastors I've encountered (although I know there are some excellent and inspiring pastors out there.) It isn't my intention to "dog" pastors; rather, I want to encourage you to take ownership (or at least part ownership) of your own Christian education. If you have an awesome pastor, you are truly blessed, but don't rely solely on him or her to teach you about God . . .don't be afraid to do some exploring on your own.

Seeking comes naturally for me but, for those who may struggle in this area, I want to share some of the people and methods I've used both recently and over the years. I love to explore a wide variety of commentaries, but I realize everyone has different tastes and what appeals to me, may not appeal to you. It's also important to understand that you probably won't agree with everything someone says; I don't. Keeping all that in mind, here are some solid teachers I can, in good conscience, recommend.

J. Vernon McGee. He has a wonderfully easy teaching called Thru the Bible. Not only can you listen to his thoughts on the radio (or via internet), but you can also purchase his five-volume Thru the Bible commentary set to study at your leisure. His style is great for those who have busy schedules or short attention spans.

William Barclay. This insightful teacher has an entire set of wonderful books that cover the New Testament. They comprise The Daily Study Bible Series. This series is one of my mother's favorites. They are full of excellent information and insights, but they are more in depth than J. Vernon McGee's commentary. My mother has used this set, beginning to end, several times and discovers new treasures with each go round.

Chuck Missler. If you like a scientific and thought-provoking approach to the Bible, this is your man. He founded Koinonia House Ministries and I am currently using his materials to study the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Mr. Missler's fascinating teaching may not appeal to some, but if you enjoy prophecy, unusual topics, and thorough investigation, he will take you places many mainstream pastors ignore. He explores topics such as UFOs (unidentified flying objects), the coming temple, and spiritual warfare. Although some of his teaching is speculative, I've never seen him contradict the Bible in any study I've done with him. He's provided me much to contemplate.

There are so many good resources I want to share with you and I will continue next week in part two of this series. Until then, I encourage you to consider your Bible IQ. Does it need to improve? Are you stalled? Or, are you looking for more great material to absorb? No matter where you are in your seeking, never forget that it is possible for you to get understanding straight from the Holy Spirit. You don't have to rely on written materials all the time. However, to ignore the inspiration from those who have been previously enlightened would be silly. Study good commentaries, but don't be surprised if the Holy Spirit gives you direct revelation.