Thinking-Christianly

What role does the Bible play in the American church? Not an influential one, according to a new book from Woodrow Kroll, president of Back to the Bible. “Taking Back the Good Book” is a well-documented and perceptive analysis of the role of the Bible in the life of the Christian.

The key question Kroll tackles is, “Why do so many people own Bibles but not read them?” Using careful research, Kroll peels back the myth that evangelicals are knowledgable about the Bible and exposes the illiteracy that characterizes the modern church.

The picture is anything from pretty. This alarming analysis wastes little time ascribing blame, and challenges the readers to abandon their poor habits and apathy and declare war on the illiteracy that characterizes the modern church.

The message of the book is that we need to start with ourselves–one person at a time–to become conversant with the Bible and to let it transform our lives. Remaining in ignorance is not an option. The consequences are too grave.

Check out “Taking Back the Good Book: How America Forgot the Bible and Why it Matters to You” by Woodrow Kroll.

Pope Benedict XVI issued a document (7/10/07) that repeats the position that all Protestant churches cannot be regarded as true churches, since they do not submit to the authority and principles of the Roman Catholic church.

Those who embrace ecumenism and who desire to see all churches unite are offended by such statements. I welcome them. It’s refreshing to see the Pope use religious language to say that A is not B. Doctrinal differences between classical Catholicism and Protestantism do exist. These differences provide a great way to compare and contrast competing faith systems. Either scripture is the exclusive authority for Christian truth or it is not. Either Mary was a normal human being with a special role or she was something else. Either salvation comes thorugh faith alone by grace alone in the finished work of Christ or it is grounded in other things such as religious works.

The Papal document challenges the myth that all world religions and all variations in Western Christianity that call themselves “Christian” are saying the same thing. I heartily disagree with the conclusions of the document because they are built on faulty premises inherited from Catholic theology. Nevertheless, I welcome this reaffirmation because it unmasks the folly of trying to harmonize discordant faith claims.