Etcetera. Whatever.

Thanks to my brother, I read an interesting blog article yesterday: “What you need to know about the Bible even if you’re an atheist.” This article was written by an Ivy-Leaguer who went “undercover” at one of the most conservative Christian schools. I don’t know where he’s at in faith (I think he positions himself as a non-believer – I’ll have to read his book to find out more) but he wrote that article to show how he gained a lot more Bible knowledge and respect during his semester wrapped in all things evangelical. He learned to better understand classic literature because he finally understood the Biblical themes in those works. He learned Bible stories that affect day-to-day life and even politics in Judeo-Christian culture. He learned to better understand friends and coworkers. He learned Biblical literacy – something even many people who call themselves “Christians” don’t really know.

He mentions another thing he learned: “It’s never a good idea to sell out a friend, even if 30 shekels are on the line.”

That is a reference to the reading for today: Judas betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. (Mark 14:10-11, Matthew 26:14-16, Luke 22:3-6)

That is when one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the cabal of high priests and said, “What will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They settled on thirty silver pieces. He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over.

There are so many good questions about that passage. I don’t want to even attempt answering those questions today. Great questions, but very heady and weighty responses. (and it’s too early in the morning for that)

But, I think again about how Judas seemed a little money-grabby. He showed up in yesterday’s reading about Mary anointing Jesus with perfume, wanting to sell the perfume and keep some of the proceeds. Seems that money and evil are linked in some way in Judas. Which pulls me right back to Biblical literacy.

1 Timothy 6:10 has a line that is often misquoted. People go around saying “Money is the root of all evil” and they think this line is from the Bible.

Uh, no, not really. At least not exactly that way.

Here’s what the Apostle Paul was actually telling young Timothy in that passage: “For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (NASB)

Three things to note:

• It’s the LOVE of money, not just money itself.
• It’s the root of all sorts of evil, not all evil.
• And you’ve got to wonder if Paul was thinking about someone like Judas when he says “by longing for it (some) have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

I think most of my blog readers are followers of Jesus Christ. I think most of you are educated and smart people (and beautiful and handsome and wonderful and everything else!). I also think most of you (that I know at least) have a pretty good understanding of the Bible. You’ve taken time to actually read it. You’ve listened to solid teaching from it for years. You’ve read good books about it. You’ve discussed it with others. You may not feel like the best scholar ever, but you understand a LOT! You, friends, are great — but you’re the minority.

In our culture (and yes, even if our church) I’m far more likely to run into people who don’t have a clue how to make sense of Scripture… people who own a Bible but they’d have a sneeze attack from dust if they ever tried to read it… people who are overwhelmed when they do try to read… people who don’t know where to start… And those are all good places to be – since they are places ripe for opportunity. I absolutely love meeting people in that place.

It’s not about learning the value of a shekel, or other little facts so you can win at Bible trivia. It’s about understanding more and following God more closely, day-by-day.

I get excited for you, my friends, when I think about that happening.

(Though, I certainly hope none of you would ever sell me out for a month’s wages.)