Televised poker has become insanely popular in the United States. The game “Texas Hold‘Em” is now a favorite form of online entertainment and is played routinely on college campuses, as players try to bluff their way to winning huge pots. In fact, professional poker players have admitted to having nothing in their hand, yet they successfully bluffed their way to the winner’s circle. While we could spend a great deal of time discussing the negative aspects of gambling, and the fact that a Christian’s influence to the world should prevent them from participating in such activities, let us consider how often individuals bluff their way through life.
I suspect there are many people in this world who find themselves going to work each and every day only to bluff their way through their job. It’s not that they are really trying to deceive, as much as they simply are not fully trained or knowledgeable in the area in which they are working. Yes, they do have some skills and can get by—but they recognize they are way over their heads. And so day-after-day, they keep up the façade, hoping nobody will ever realize that they are simply “winging it.” They are bluffing their way through life.
Unfortunately, there are many Christians who are doing exactly the same thing with their spiritual lives. They are bluffing their way through religion. Sure, they know a little about the Bible—but they have never really dug deeply into it. They know enough to occasionally answer a question in Bible class (or maybe even teach a Bible class), but their knowledge is only skin deep. These are individuals who recognize there is a definitive pattern for New Testament Christianity, but are not sure where to find that pattern in the Bible. They are sincere, kind, and compassionate individuals. But, they are bluffing. These are individuals who have read countless novels or know every character on nightly sitcoms, but they have never read the Bible all the way through.
In James 1:5 we read, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” Are you asking God to increase your wisdom in His Word? In 2 Peter 1:5-9, we find the following admonition: “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self- control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins (emp added).”
If you never add biblical knowledge, then how can you add these other virtues to your life?
THE CHALLENGE
As we take our “daily walk” with Christ, I would like to offer up a challenge to Christians of all ages—even those who are already serious students. Read the entire New Testament in just 30 days. Write up a plan, or grab a daily Bible study guide and study His Word. Consider sharing with friends or family what you are learning (via email, IM, phone, or visit) and stick to it for at least one month. Try to pick the same time each day so that it becomes a habit. Encourage a friend to do the same so that you can talk with him or her about what you read that day. With just a little effort you can stop bluffing your way, and build knowledge. Reading only nine chapters per day will get you completely through the New Testament in a month. Are you up to the challenge?
