When the boys came along, I was determined they should both read by the time they were five. They did not have to be great readers, but they did need to be well on their way. As soon as I detected they were ready, off we went with the alphabet and then on to phonics.
Why the rush? If something happened to me, I wanted them to be able to read the Bible. I wanted them to be able to find the truth.
They were each given a Bible before they could read it. They were taught what it means to be a Christian when they were very young. It has been continually reinforced from that point forward.
What does it mean to be a Christian?
Does it mean to believe that Jesus exists? Even Satan knows that. Does it mean that you know of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection? Satan knows that too. The difference is that you need to acknowledge that you are a sinner, and you need to accept Jesus as a sacrifice for your sins.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
1 John 2:1-6
This brings us to another point. Saying that you are a Christian would seem to imply that you walk as he walked. It implies that you are a follower. How would you know for sure how he walked unless you study it or the Holy Spirit reveals it to you?
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16
LIFE APPLICATION
The Holy Spirit will not ever tell you anything that disagrees with the Bible. Some preachers choose not to preach certain parts of the Bible. The only way you will get it is if you read it yourself. So much can be taken out of context. The only way for you to protect yourself from being misled is to familiarize yourself with all of it.