A mile wide and an inch deep
I’m sure you’ve heard the expression,: “Church people are a mile wide and an inch deep.” Where does it come from? What does it imply?
The Platte River in the mMidwestern United States was named after the French word “platte” (meaning “flat"). In April 1889, American humorist Edgar Wilson “Bill” Nye (1850-1896) wrote:
“The Platte river is a queer stream. It has a very large circulation, but very little influence. It covers a good deal of ground, but is not deep. In some places it is a mile wide and three-quarters of an inch deep.”
“A mile wide and an inch deep” ” (or “an inch deep and a mile wide") quickly began to be adopted to describe people whose knowledge of things is was superficial. The saying has been used in politics, academia and other fields, including . Like religion.
Yes religion. A pastor lamented the other recently: “When half your church members leave because the church leaders can’t decide to wear or not wear masks on Sunday, we’re a mile wide and an inch deep.”, Platte river Christians!
In a 2005 Harper’s article, in Harper’s magazine called The Christian Paradox, surveyed readers questions were asked to determine their depth of Christian knowledge of Scripture. Remember, 85% of Americans claim being Christians. Here’s a sample:
· Can you name all 10 commandments? Try it!
· Name all 4 gospels. 50% of responders could only name one more than one!
· Who was Joan of Arc? “Noah’s wife” 12% said.
· Is this in the Bible?: “God helps those who help themselves.”75% agreed with Elvis Presley who said it was his favorite Bible verse!.
Evangelicals proudly claim the compliment take pride in being called the “people of the Book”! Biblicists, those who study us, call us. Let’s test drive this claim: cCould you tell the story of the Bible and put list the history accurately from Adam to Jesus? Who came first, Isaac or Moses? Jeremiah or Micah? More pertinently, other than for sin, can you say why did Jesus have to die?
Ok. Enough guilting (n. Not my intention really.) I have done informal surveys asking leaders if they study the Bible for the sheer enjoyment fun of it. Rarely do they is the answer, “Yes.”
Evangelicals are now writing books about evangelicals leaving their faith or converting to other more sacramental types of Christianity like Catholicism, Anglicanism and Eastern Orthodox
It is now necessary, crucial – d, even dire even – , that we start living up to the label: People of the Book. Enough of us need toLet’s reboot our understanding of the Book that tells us about eternal living. Each of us can bBecome an expert:
· Evangelism will take its rightful place; we’ll easily give a reason for the hope in us.
· Making disciples will become a habit.
· Serving the Lord will dominate our way of thinking.
· Loyalty to Christ goes will go through the roof.
· Praying, a breeze.
A couple ofSome suggestions: Tally up the hours you spend on social media. What deeply seated human problems deeply seated in the heart of people has social media solved? Yes, none. The allurementBe warned: God’s message within is contains the solution to all human issues: personal, political, racial, financial, or spiritual.
Would we it be asking too much of ourselves, as the people of the Book, to spend an hour studying the Scriptures for enjoyment, for soul care, and for deepening our character?. Has your church a plan to help you do this? Is it working? Is this even a reasonable expectation?
How about it? For one month, 31 hours in the next 31 days, reboot or increase your enjoyment, care for your weary soul, and experience the change you’ve always needed desired to make by studying the Scripture. An eEasy start: read the Sermon on the Mount daily for 30 days. Study it as best you can.