A couple of stories this week point to the idea that the biggest challenge for Christians may not be hostility, but ignorance.

At the start of the week, the Washington Post reported the case of a White House Press Secretary who told a briefing “I believe the phrase from the Bible is, ‘The Lord helps those who help themselves.’” Some reporters were quick to remind him that it was from the mouth of Benjamin Franklin, not the scriptures. There was a quick qualification released  to the media, but the point was made. Even in the Land of the Free, the descendants of the Mayflower have drifted from the shore, as it were. Fox News later in the week put out a story headlined Most Americans Own a Bible, So Why Aren't They Reading It? .

Not that we can talk, here in Australia. I attended the launch of the research on Aussies views on church, and it similarly highlighted biblical illiteracy. Many of the survey participants (28%) had no idea when Jesus was born. The same amount thought he lived in ancient times ie. BC. As for 'God helps those who help themselves',  21% thought that was in the Bible. More worrying still, 6% of those surveyed thought Ned Kelly's last words 'Such is life' was a biblical phrase!

Maybe the Broadway relaunch of Godspell, covered this week in the New York Times, will be a good thing. At least it has plenty of scripture in the script. Speaking of the NYT, there's a good piece on oilfield evangelism. Reminds me of the work done here by the mining ministry Out of the Pit.

Other stories of note this week, attacks on Christians are on the rise in Kenya, Mormonism's poster boy Israel Folau has reportedly become a Christian, and big Billy has turned 93. You can hear his thoughts on old age here and see his complete works, just put online, here. What a great birthday present to the world.