Are Canadians Done with the Bible?

This topic was brought to my attention by Scripture Union Canada. They reported that 4,500 Canadians were polled by Angus Reid about Bible engagement study. The findings of the study report that most Canadians not only do not read their Bible but are not interested in reading it. Since 1996, Bible reading has gone down 60% and only 14% of Canadians read their Bible at least once a month.

The study results shows that: (1) in general, confidence in the Bible is at an all-time low; (2) many Canadians no longer believe that the Bible is the Word of God; (3) some Christians question the reliability and trustworthiness of the Bible; (4) since 1996, church attendance (which has a strong link to Bible reading and engagement) has plummeted in Canada.

It is precisely studies like this that are released that remind why I believe world mission must include Canada as a place of serious engagement. Any notions of a Christian country are misguided and deluded. I imagine that the 4,500 people polled for this study would include Christians. It makes me wonder if what the prophet Amos said is not happening in our midst:

“Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land— not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.

This is an occasion for lament in a land that celebrates freedom, diversity and human rights. We sing in our anthem for God to keep our land glorious and free, meanwhile the Bible is seen as a thing of a bygone age. It is sobering but helps us to better grasp our calling as the church. Many churches undertake ESL classes for new people to our country or who need better English proficiency. The Bible is a worthy companion for such a venture.

The Canadian Bible Engagement Study found that Canadians with real, meaningful Bible engagement have three behaviours in common:
  1) Community: They are involved in a worshipping community; they go to church regularly and participate in church community.
  2) Conversation: They discuss and explore the Bible with their friends. They're having conversations about the Bible, often in small groups.
  3) Confidence: They have a growing confidence in the Bible as the way to know God and hear from Him.

These three activities are to be intentionally undertaken for people, communities and lives to turn for the glory of God. Community, conversation and confidence all make for the thrill of engaging the Bible together. This is what the church is calling us into each and every time we gather in Christ’s name. We cannot simply be satisfied with people going to church on Sunday. We need discipleship to take us beyond the pettiness of our own lives being the major project of our generation. The Gospel is calling on each and every one of us to be committed to the church as never before. What ways are you connecting with your local church beyond attendance to a service on Sunday morning? God is calling on us to share our delight with friends about the story of Scripture. Discovering life in the Word makes for joyous venture together. Thirdly, the LORD calls on us to have faith in His Word. We meet Jesus Christ authoritatively in the Bible (First & Second Testaments). Have confidence in the Spirit of God aiding our lives in life together. When we hold community, conversation and confidence together as a people who are journeying with Jesus Christ in His world, then our humanity is regained, our lives are deep and we live out the joy we have planted in our lives.

This Saturday is Bible Study with Tribe Genesis and Challengers. This study reminds me why we continue to pray earnestly for the Lord to give us a greater hunger for His Word than our necessary bread, rice or potatoes. Dear Christian sisters and brothers, pray we would have an unquenchable thirst for God’s Word than our need for water. Indeed, human beings do not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. Take up in community and read together in conversation and have confidence who is addressing us is the One who breathes life from His Word. Maybe then we show that God is by no means done with us by employing the sword of the Spirit through His body, the church. Amen. 

---