You’ve probably heard that term even if you don’t use it. I associate it with the military, hearing it used in war movies. It makes sense since apparently it was first used to describe the gathering of sailors aboard ships. They would meet to get a drink of water, and the water was kept in a butt or cask that had been intentionally scuttled by making a hole in it so that the water could be accessed. Gathering at the scuttlebutt would give sailors an opportunity to commiserate about what was happening on the vessel. It was an early version of employees gathering at a water fountain in an office building; a place where gossip could be exchanged about what was going on in their place of employment. “Have you heard who’s getting a promotion?” “Did you know so-and-so got fired or punished?” “Do any of the higher-ups know what they’re doing?” I suppose when you’re part of a complex organization with layers of authority and responsibility, only those in charge would know clearly what was currently happening. And even they might need help in keeping track of the people under their charge. In some ways the local church is a spiritual counterpart to a company, or a sailing ship. It is an organization with a variety of participants who together make up the assembly of believers. Fortunately, as head of this organization, the Lord always knows what’s going on within His “company.” However, those of us who make up the “body” of His gathering are in many ways like the “employees’ who populate a company’s ranks. Churches can also have layers of authority and responsibility depending on their size. And, while we’re called to work together as mutual members of Christ’s body, we still obtain individual characteristics that render us distinct from other members of the “organization.” And it’s also the case that our understanding of the One in charge of this “company” is limited to a much greater degree than it would be elsewhere. In many ways the Lord is inscrutable. We can’t know Him or understand Him fully, at least not in our current circumstances. But someday we will know Him fully, “just as [we] have been fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12) Until then we need to avail ourselves of the resources that give us insight into the nature of this organization and our place within it.

How’re we going to do that? Where do we go to get the lowdown? Maybe we should do what the people at the office do, go to the water fountain: get the scuttlebutt about what’s happening. That sounds good: we’ll go to church and find out what everybody’s saying. Some of those folks have spent their entire lives at the water fountain. Surely, they know what they’re doing…or do they? That brings us to the point that I’m trying to make: how responsible are we for out own growth in the Faith? Obviously, the leadership of the church is responsible for the well-being of the congregation, which includes providing insight derived from scripture. Pastors and other church leaders preach and teach the members of the congregation, and their teaching and preaching is derived primarily from the Bible; or it or it should be. Of course, some churches emphasize regimen and ritual as a primary activity of the church and what they teach and preach is closely connected to that activity. Other churches are more concerned with societal matters that give focus to politics and social injustice. However, without denying the legitimacy of these actions and concerns, I think our primary emphasis should focus on the scriptures. The Bible, properly understood and applied, provides insight into all the affairs of life, and it needs to be emphasized accordingly. If we’re going to give emphasis to social injustice, it should be done with an understanding of the root of that injustice: which is sin; which is to say that rectifying the source of sin must be addressed in order to provide a foundation for all our efforts to counteract the impact of sin. And the legitimacy of ritual and regimen can only be found in a proper understanding of scripture and the “good news” that it presents.

Our problem, as flawed people, is estrangement from God. Injustice, properly understood, is a product of that estrangement. Securing justice is a noble enterprise, but, as I said, Christians need to recognize the source of injustice and emphasize that aspect. People need to secure a relationship with God first and foremost, and that should be the primary focus of the church. As believing Christians we can work toward gaining social justice and providing for the needs within our community, but that shouldn’t be our primary goal. Too often those efforts look to address those needs through the use of our own resources: logic, a sense of fairness, intellectual curiosity, whatever. However, scripture points us in a distinctly different direction. The focus of human existence isn’t us, it’s the Lord. And it’s not the case that the Lord is just interested in exalting Himself. That’s a perception derived from a flawed mind tainted by sin. The Lord is focused on establishing (really reestablishing) relationship with Him in an atmosphere of Love. All the suffering in this world provides the environment in which people everywhere are prompted to seek some sort of rectification for the human condition, a rectification that can only be realized through the Lord’s provision: Jesus Christ. How can I possibly know this beyond a doubt? In a world that distracts and misleads and offers a variety of solutions, how are we supposed to know which way to go? How are we going to find our way? It’s a mishmash.

If you’ve been reading the posts on this blog then you probably know what I’m going to say. The source for understanding everything pertaining to human existence is the BIBLE! You know that’s true, but do you really? How does the Bible stand up to modern science, to WOKE, to the multifaceted presentation of human diversity, to whatever else is being emphasized in the conflicts and contentions currently active anywhere and everywhere? It just does; and the only reason that comes to mind for understanding this “fact” is that it obtains something that nothing else does: an anointing. The Lord God of all has anointed this collection of writings so as to render it the means of hearing and understanding Him. The question is: what are you going to do with it? Is your Bible going to sit on a shelf at home gathering dust? Is it only accessed when you open the copy provided in the pew at your church? Or are you depending on somebody else to tell you what it says? People such as your pastor in his sermons, or the elder in charge of adult education, are good sources for gaining an understanding of the Bible. However, their impact is obviously limited to a regimen of their choosing. You may or may not be able to apply their teaching to the circumstances that you’re currently facing. And limited presentations of biblical text can’t really provide the full scope of what the Bible has to offer.

I’m saying this to point to something I’ve repeatedly emphasized in my posts. If you’re going to progress in your walk with God, you must make yourself a student of the Bible. Church fellowship and the instruction provided by pastors and teachers is essential but limited in its impact. You’ve got to get to the source of our understanding of God. Properly handled, the Bible provides direction; it keeps us on track; it counteracts the impact of worldly deceptions. It encourages, it stimulates, it entertains, and corrects. And in order to secure its full impact we must embrace it ourselves rather than relying only on others to tell us what it says. Commiserating with others helps prevent us from moving in the wrong direction, misinterpreting what we’re reading; but relying exclusively on others to tell us what the Bible says, amounts to relying on hearsay. In some respects we’d be relying on the scuttlebutt from others rather than getting the lowdown directly from the source. Both efforts are necessary for a proper and effective understanding of ourselves and the world in which we live.

This is not an easy prospect to consider. Some portions of the Bible are archaic: completely foreign to our modern ways of thinking. Some sections provide a simple record of events rather than an accessible discussion of something of interest. However, we need to at least be aware of what is there and be willing to familiarize ourselves with its content. In doing so, we can establish a platform for understanding and applying what is preached and taught at church. And over time our increasing familiarity with scripture contributes to our personal association with God. It contributes to the goal of becoming more and more like Christ, of walking by the Spirit, of fulfilling the Lord’s purposes. This really needs to be a pastime for all believers. Reading the Bible; studying the Bible; memorizing the Bible; and understanding the Bible should be something of a preoccupation for all serious Christians. It’s the substance for finding our way in the Faith. The relevance of life itself is uncovered in the Bible. To be uninformed in this regard results in stunted growth. Grown people acting like children, wasting their time on pursuits that have little if any bearing on what’s of real value. It may seem like drudgery at first, but as you become increasingly familiar with the content, exciting things can happen. Scripture is the fodder for knowing and understanding the Lord. And knowing the Lord is the most exciting and fulfilling endeavor that we can pursue. To actually have the Lord speak into your heart, directing your steps, informing your understanding and revealing His truth, is nothing short of a spectacular, if demanding, experience.

I suppose in some respects this is the “scuttlebutt” regarding the Christian walk. Test it; see if it proves out. Make the effort and find out for yourself what this endeavor has to offer. As I’ve suggested, at first it may seem like a drudgery; reading that is so foreign to us will be a challenge. Maybe it will put you to sleep, or you’ll find yourself daydreaming, losing your way, having to read and reread. It’s worth it to learn the discipline; and it is a discipline. If you want to build muscle mass and get rid of fat, you’ve got to get out there, go to the fitness center, take the pain, get used to the effort. It’s the same with becoming familiar with the Bible. Much is offered, and there is much to be gained. But you’ve got to want it. A once-a-week Bible study is beneficial but an everyday exposure to scripture can be life-giving. And study it, don’t just read it. Such an effort can set a course for us, maintain our focus, and remind us of what life is really all about. Go for it, you’ll be glad you did!