The Black Bible Experience

God has established His Church, on the firm foundation of His Word and His faithfulness to it.  In
Ephesians 2, we read:
19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,
20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone...

The Church is a powerful institution and is comprised of flawed people who worship and serve a flawless God.  In spite of our imperfections, God will use us to share His message to a world that needs to see and hear it.  He will use people from various racial and cultural backgrounds, of various geographical heritage, in order to express His nature.  We are one body, one Church, made, as Acts 17 states, from one blood - we can pursue what makes us united in Christ; and our devotion to the Word is a key component.

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In Matthew 16, we see that Jesus asks His disciples a very important question:
15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
16 Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
17 Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Jesus is building His church, based on what God the Father has revealed.

During this Black History Month, I want to consider to share how God is at work in the lives of African-Americans, with some results from the American Bible Society's State of the Bible survey.

At the ABS website, we find this proclamation:

African-Americans have higher levels of Bible engagement than the general U.S. population, which is demonstrated by their beliefs and practices, according to the latest State of the Bible survey by American Bible Society. For many African-Americans it is more important to start the day with the Bible rather than coffee as 37 percent chose the Bible over coffee (17 percent), sweets (26 percent) and social media (20 percent). Of those considered Bible Centered 60 percent use the Bible every day.

Roy Peterson, President and CEO of American Bible Society, is quoted as saying, "African-Americans know that Bible engagement can impact all areas of their lives for the better,” adding, “The Bible is the source of ultimate hope and joy. People who devote time in it can discover for themselves how the Word of God can help make sense of life.”

And those with "higher levels of Bible engagement" want more, 90% of those in the two highest categories: Bible Centered and Bible Engaged.  

In the survey, a significant number of African-Americans also shared insight and exhibited hope for our culture. 45 percent believe the "Bible has too little influence on society." 83% are "concerned about the decline in morality," higher than the 79 percent of all Americans who are. The summary states, "Many cite the lack of Bible reading as the reason for the decline (23 percent)." But, "51 percent of African-Americans are still more optimistic about the future than Whites (32 percent) or Asians (24 percent)."

Interestingly enough, "61 percent believe the Bible is the moral fabric of the U.S. compared to 39 percent who believe the U.S. Constitution is."

And, 48% of African-Americans would listen to a church leader, versus 9% who would listen to a business leader.  Over 90% have a Bible in their homes and around three-quarters of those surveyed wish they would read the Bible more.

This snapshot from the American Bible Society survey reminds us of the necessity of Bible engagement for all of our lives.  Truth is, we all need more of God's Word.  We can rejoice in the faith journeys of African-Americans and draw strength from God's faithfulness. We can learn to appreciate one another's stories about how He has moved according to His Word.

We also realize that we have been called to be unified with one another around the principles of God's Word.  When people of various cultural and denominational backgrounds hold God's Word high, what incredible things He will do through His Church.

We can all be challenged to base our viewpoints and decisions on the Bible; what a strong impact that can make on our culture!

We can be encouraged that as we face the future, the Bible produces real hope.