True or false? One who doesn't know the Bible might be closer to God than a Bible scholar.

[Not of the World]

I believe the answer is "true".  

Years ago I was in a waiting room at a doctor's office.  There was a girl that I would say was around 14 years of age and she was with her mother.  From out the of blue she asked me if I believed in Jesus.  I looked at her, smiled, and said "Of course!".  She smiled and put her hands together and exclaimed "Oh goody!".  She was, by the way, very autistic.  She is also, in my view, very blessed to have such faith.  I have no idea how much (if any) of the Bible she has read but, even if it's very little (or none), she may very well be more filled with the Holy Spirit than a Bible scholar.  

It's not what one knows; it's what's in their heart.  Agreed?

[AnOrangeCat]

The Pharisees were the Bible scholars of their day. Some Bible scholars are purely secular in nature. Deathbed repentance can happen, and I do believe that God takes things like learning disabilities into account. But for the rest of us whose memory and comprehension are within the range of normal and have easy access to the Bible? It doesn't really say anything positive about how we take our relationship with God if we don't make the time to study the Bible. It's not a good fruit to bear and as a general rule suggests a faith without works (action).

[Who me]

34 minutes ago, Not of the World said:

It's not what one knows; it's what's in their heart.

There has to be some knowledge and some belief.

 

Pre school children are taught the gospel, simply and they can have the knowledge and the faith in Jesus.

Just as academics can have a headful of knowledge, but no faith and the ' spiritual' have no knowledge and no faith.

[Not of the World]

26 minutes ago, AnOrangeCat said:

It doesn't really say anything positive about how we take our relationship with God if we don't make the time to study the Bible.

I certainly believe it's important to study the Bible because it is filled with wisdom and truth and we would be lost without God's word.  With that said, however, I think one could never read the Bible and if they believe in and pray to Jesus and faithfully follow his Great Commandment, I think they're good to go, so to speak.  Undoubtedly there were many Christians throughout history that never owned a Bible.  Anyway, there are undoubtely many who know the Bible inside and out that aren't necessarily faithful followers of the Great Commandment.  Jesus himself said that those are the most important laws and said nothing about reading the Bible.  Of course, if we didn't read the Bible we wouldn't know that we're supposed to follow the Great Commandment , although I believe some people are blessed to intrinsically have the knowledge and the desire to do so.  

 

 

[R. Hartono]

It could be true if the Bible scholar is you as its your theory🙏just kidding🙏🙏

Edited October 14, 2022 by R. Hartono

[Dave-regenerated]

A person can be born again without knowing the Bible very much.  I doubt if it is possible they could be completely ignorant of the Gospel and be born again.  And certainly there are many scholars that aren't born again.  Simply reading the Bible and studying it does not mean a person gets automatically saved.  Some people that believe they are Christians have a strong belief only; and while they may have read the Bible 10 times over their belief hasn't changed into saving faith.  It takes a special act of God's grace to save a person.  Belief alone won't do it.

[Not of the World]

1 minute ago, Dave-regenerated said:

It takes a special act of God's grace to save a person.  Belief alone won't do it.

I believe that you are correct, sir.  Matthew 7:21-23 comes to mind and, after all, even the demons believe in Jesus.  

[Jayne]

8 hours ago, Not of the World said:

I believe the answer is "true".  

Years ago I was in a waiting room at a doctor's office.  There was a girl that I would say was around 14 years of age and she was with her mother.  From out the of blue she asked me if I believed in Jesus.  I looked at her, smiled, and said "Of course!".  She smiled and put her hands together and exclaimed "Oh goody!".  She was, by the way, very autistic.  She is also, in my view, very blessed to have such faith.  I have no idea how much (if any) of the Bible she has read but, even if it's very little (or none), she may very well be more filled with the Holy Spirit than a Bible scholar.  

It's not what one knows; it's what's in their heart.  Agreed?

Your post is implying something that's ....well, in my opinion, dangerous.

I am 61 and my only sibling, who has to live with me,  is mentally retarded AND very autistic.  He reads his Bible often.  He loves listening to preaching and he loves Sunday School.  When he was younger, he wanted to be a preacher.  He would take "notes" during the church service and show my mother.  She was always amazed at his understanding.

Of course, he never became a preacher.  He never became anything.  People claim interest and concern for the handicapped, but it's a lie.  Nobody cares about disabled people.

He is happy today living with me and I try my best to make his life meaningful -  every day.  I said this to say that my brother's love of the Bible is strong.  How much does he always comprehend, I don't know.

You don't know how much Bible training/exposure this young girl has had, but you have assumed it's slim to  none.  Autisim doesn't make you unlearned nor unable to learn.  I've taught many autistic students in my life and they all can learn.

You talk about being filled with the Holy Spirit.  That happens upon salvation.  AND the Holy Spirit wrote/inspired the Bible.  Why would poeple who are filled with Spirit not want to read the Bible - written by the Spirit?

There are FAR too many Christians who never darken the door of a church nor do they ever read the Bible.  By choice - they just don't want to - it interferes with their life.  I'm not speaking of people who don't have a Bible in their language or cannot find a local Bible-teaching church.  There are far too many Christians who may listen to a preacher [at church or on TV] or Sunday School teacher and blindly accept what they have to say.

The Bible is authored by the Holy Spirit and is given to us for reading, studying, meditating, and memorization [that's what the Bible says - I didn't make that up].

For the saved person who has a Bible in his/her own language and who has the mental faculties TO read it - those people SHOULD be reading.  And for reasons that are infinitely many.

Here's three to think about:

• It's divine nourishment.  Spiritual food for growth, power, and wisdom.
• God has asked us to read the Bible.  And not just a hit and miss now and again.
• We remain spiritual infants - helpless and ignorant - when we ignore God's Word.

Jayne - just passing through till after Christmas.

 

 

 

Edited October 14, 2022 by Jayne

[Not of the World]

10 minutes ago, Jayne said:

Your post is implying something that's ....well, in my opinion, dangerous.

I obviously communicated very poorly.  Please forgive me.  I don't know how much Bible study the young lady had but I presume that she's had some and maybe she knows it better than most.  My point was that she might be more filled with the Holy Spirit and closer to God than a Bible scholar with thousands of followers.  

Matthew 20:16

English Standard Version

16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

[Selah7]

12 minutes ago, Not of the World said:

I obviously communicated very poorly.  Please forgive me.  I don't know how much Bible study the young lady had but I presume that she's had some and maybe she knows it better than most.  My point was that she might be more filled with the Holy Spirit and closer to God than a Bible scholar with thousands of followers.  

Matthew 20:16

English Standard Version

16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

The wisest course of action for all of us, in my opinion, is to refrain from assuming anything about or passing judgment on another person's relationship with the Lord.  Only God knows.  I imagine most of us are guilty of doing this and should ask our Father's forgiveness.     … Selah