II Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
In Public Law 97-280, the 97th Congress recognized “our national need to study and apply the teachings of the Holy Scriptures.” Imagine that. They didn’t stop by calling the Bible interesting literature. They didn’t hold short by declaring the Bible intriguing philosophy. They didn’t limit their proclamation by lumping the Bible into a grouping of other religious texts. They didn’t just call for a casual reading of the Bible.
Instead, they proclaimed the national need to STUDY the Bible and APPLY it, renewing our knowledge of and faith in God in the process. Through such proclamation, the 97th Congress explicitly recognized that the Bible was not a book written by man, but by God. They recognized that its study was altogether profitable. They recognized that it would furnish us unto all good works, strengthening us as a nation and a people.
It is no surprise that our rejection of the Bible as a nation has been unprofitable to us. We have become unfurnished and unstrengthened. We have become ill-equipped to face tests and challenges. We have departed from our status as a distinctive and blessed nation. PLEASE PRAY THAT WE WOULD RECOGNIZE OUR DESPERATE NATIONAL NEED TO RETURN TO BIBLICAL STUDY AND APPLICATION. We need to study and apply the Word of God and return to its profitable and formative influence. We are only 31 years removed from a national call by our legislature to do so.