Adventist Review reports about Chattanooga being the most biblically literate

The Adventist Review, put out under the direction of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Bill Knott has the following report:

February 14, 2016

Chattanooga, Tennessee — which has a thriving Adventist presence — is more Bible-minded than any other city in the United States, according to the recent survey of 100 cities by the American Bible Society and the Barna Group.

The issue of biblical literacy and engagement has been of concern to Christians, who have questioned whether it’s possible to reach a community without a basic grasp of the Bible. This is particularly true for Adventists and their traditional evangelistic methods that focus on the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. Some say modern audiences are not as familiar with these texts so such approaches don’t work as well.

But Bradshaw, speaker and director of It Is Written, the pioneering Adventist television ministry now headquartered in Chattanooga, said the scriptural literacy of a community should not serve as a barrier to evangelism.

“People being ignorant about the Bible doesn’t mean we shouldn’t teach about the Bible,” he said by telephone. http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story3699-city-with-strong-adventist-presence-ranked-most-bible-minded-in-u.s

Overall, the southern area of the USA fared the best on that survey:

Chattanooga, Tenn., is the most Bible-minded city in the U.S., according to American Bible Society’s fourth annual America’s Top Bible-Minded Cities study. The recognition marks the second time in three years Chattanooga has taken home the top spot. Birmingham, Ala., ranked first in 2014.

Driven to equip 100 million people in the U.S. to actively engage with God’s Word, American Bible Society regularly conducts research to learn more about Bible behavior and perceptions. By executing the Top Bible-Minded Cities study, American Bible Society better understands which cities have a Bible-reading culture and how many people in these cities regularly read Scripture.

Rankings

Locations in the South, particularly those in the Bible Belt, continue to lead U.S. cities in Bible-mindedness, according to the 2016 report. The region claims each of the study’s top five Bible-minded cities: Chattanooga; Birmingham; Roanoke/Lynchburg, Va.; Shreveport, La.; and Tri-Cities, Tenn. In the 2015 report, these same five cities occupied the top five spots. http://www.americanbible.org/features/americas-most-bible-minded-cities

It is good to read the Bible.

Of course, just knowing something about the Bible and reading it sometimes, does not mean that those in Chattanooga really understand more Bible truths than those in other cities.

The Pharisees and Scribes in Jesus’ day would have likely topped surveys if they had them back then.

Many, do not actually understand the Bible, despite many people having some familiarity with it. And this includes those who claim that Jesus is their Lord. Notice what Jesus said:

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

Most who profess Christ practice one or more forms of lawlessness.

As far as the SDA’s views go, while we in the Continuing Church of God observe the seventh-day Sabbath, we have many differences with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Basically, we do not accept that Ellen White was a prophetess. Hence, we do not accept her interpretations as being above scripture. Nor do we believe that the USA is the two-horned beast of Revelation 13. We also do not tolerate the observance of pagan holidays like the SDA do. We also hold the the view of the Godhead that many SDAs originally held but later changed (for details, see SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666).

While it is good that there are people in Chattanooga that read their Bibles, it would be most impressive if more there lived according to what it actually teaches (and yes, I have visited Chattanooga on several occasions).

Some articles of possibly related interest may include:

Read the Bible Christians should read and study the Bible. This article gives some rationale for regular bible reading. Here is a link in Mandarin Chinese: 读圣经 Here is a link in the Spanish language: Lea la Biblia..
Bible: Superstition or Authority? Should you rely on the Bible? Is it reliable? Herbert W. Armstrong wrote this as a booklet on this important subject.
How to Study the Bible David Jon Hill wrote this initially and Dr. Thiel added scriptures, tips, and suggestions to it. A 2015 sermon is available and is also titled How to Study the Bible.
COGwriter Position on Other Churches and Religions What is the fate of those who do not know Christ? What about those who profess Christ outside the Church of God?
Where is the True Christian Church Today? This free online pdf booklet answers that question and includes 18 proofs, clues, and signs to identify the true vs. false Christian church. Plus 7 proofs, clues, and signs to help identify Laodicean churches. A related sermon is also available: Where is the True Christian Church? Here is a link to the booklet in the Spanish language: ¿Dónde está la verdadera Iglesia cristiana de hoy? Here is a link in the German language: WO IST DIE WAHRE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE HEUTE? Here is a link in the French language: Où est la vraie Église Chrétienne aujourd’hui?
Continuing History of the Church of God This pdf booklet is a historical overview of the true Church of God and some of its main opponents from Acts 2 to the 21st century. Related sermon links include Continuing History of the Church of God: c. 31 to c. 300 A.D. and Continuing History of the Church of God: 4th-16th Centuries. The booklet is available in Spanish: Continuación de la Historia de la Iglesia de Dios, German: Kontinuierliche Geschichte der Kirche Gottes, and Ekegusii Omogano Bw’ekanisa Ya Nyasae Egendererete.
Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God differ from most Protestants How the real Church of God differs from mainstream/traditional Protestants, is perhaps the question I am asked most by those without a Church of God background. As far as some changes affecting Protestantism, watch the video Charismatic Kenneth Copeland and Anglican Tony Palmer: Protestants Beware!
SDA/CCOG Differences: Two Horned Beast of Revelation and 666 The genuine Church of God is NOT part of the Seventh-day Adventists. This article explains two prophetic differences, the trinity, differences in approaching doctrine, including Ellen White. Did Ellen White make prophetic errors? Did Ellen White make false prophecies? Here is a version in the Spanish language: SDA/COG Diferencias: La bestia de dos cuernos de Apocalipsis y 666. Here is a sermon in the English language: CCOG and SDA differences and similarities.
Seventh-day Adventist President Ted Wilson’s Comments on the Remnant Church Ted N. C. Wilson spoke on the SDAs striving to be the “remnant church”, but what do the related scriptures actually teach?
Why Be Concerned About False and Heretical Leaders? There have been many false leaders–here is some of why you should be concerned about them. Here is a related article in the Spanish language ¿Por qué estar preocupado acerca de falsos y heréticos líderes?
How To Determine If Someone is a True Prophet of God There are many false prophets. How can Christians determine who is a true prophet? There is also a sermon-length video titled How to determine if someone is a true prophet of God. Here is a related link in Spanish/español: ¿Cómo determinar si alguien es un verdadero profeta de Dios?
The Sardis Church Era was predominant circa 1600 A.D. to circa 1933 A.D. Discusses early history of the Seventh Day Baptists, Seventh-day Adventists, and COG-7th Day.
The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now the remnant of that era is basically the most faithful in the Church of God, like who hold to the beliefs and practices of the Continuing Church of God.