You may have played the game of gossip. The participants form a line. The first person whispers a message to the second person who whispers it to the third person, and so on until the tidbit reaches the last person. The last person then states the message he received, which is usually considerably different than the original. This is a parlor game designed to teach young people about the evil of gossip. However, too many church-going adults engage in a similar game of misinformation.
How many people do you know who go to church but never read a Bible? They rely on the pastor to give them the message. Have you ever been to a church service where the pastor presented a message that was a social missive not based on what Scripture actually says? If the Bible was read, it was treated as a warm-up or only recited as a traditional liturgy. Do you know if what is being taught in your church is biblically accurate or a misrepresentation of the original teaching authorized by God?
Many of the modern Sunday School stories are idealized versions and contain many inaccuracies even though the basic content is somewhat intact. I challenge you to read the biblical passages from which the lessons are extracted. Read the context of the verses on which your pastor bases his message. Do this even if your pastor is diligent about teaching God’s Word. Know what God actually says – not what others say he says.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Resolved Day 26: Today I will read and meditate on a Bible passage that I have seldom read.