We Need to Do Better in Our Bible Classes

    Bible classes throughout our brotherhood are being forsaken, unappreciated, and taken for granted. Our teachers who are not being paid take time out of their busy schedules and away from their families to prepare lessons that are widely neglected. Many come early on Sunday mornings and in the midweek to impart spiritual knowledge only to find partially filled classrooms. And, many class participants who do decide to come have the tendency of coming late and unprepared. They have no Bible, no pen, and no paper for notes while others come sleepy or with nonparticipating attitudes. Tell me, how can a congregation that is unwilling to study together go to heaven together? They cannot. Sadly, this is especially true if there is no appetite for spiritual wisdom. No wonder bible ignorance permeates many congregations. I guess many have forgotten about the consequences of spiritual ignorance.

   “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee…” (Hos. 4:6).

    Of course, this Old Testament warning from the Lord through the prophet was not explicitly given to us but to the disobedient northern kingdom of Israel. But within this verse lies three essential things that serve as admonitions today (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:6,11). First, God gave them the knowledge necessary to know His will. Two, that knowledge dispensed through the prophets could be known and learned. Three, by rejecting the knowledge they too would be rejected and destroyed. It is interesting to observe how brethren of the Old Testament were unable to please their God through spiritual ignorance and yet some today believe they can. How foolish.

    Does this New Testament scripture not teach that bible ignorance is a dangerous thing?

   “…Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:15b-16).

    We all need to take Bible classes seriously so we can properly grow (Heb. 5:12-14; 1 Pet. 2:2; 3:18). Make a concerted effort to have your family in each and every Bible class and even study the Bible at home together. Bible learning is so important that we cannot go to heaven without it (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:15).

Richard Stevens III