FOUR QUESTIONS
for scripture study guides?

The phrase “Come, Follow Me” is an inviting one. The phrase is used for the annual study guides for all the different Scriptures of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It is easily assumed that it is an invitation from God to follow Him. However, since all Bible study guides are written from the publishers perspective it is important to ask four questions:
1- “Who” is asking us to “Follow Me?” 2- “What” is asking us to “Follow Me?” 3- “How” are we “Following?” 4- “Why” are we “Following?”

We are surrounded by people willing and anxious for us to “follow them.” Thus, it is important to seriously and repeatedly think about each of these questions. Especially as we read through various scripture guides we need to be careful of Who, What, How and Why we “Follow.”
1- Are we hearing God ask us to “Follow Me?“ or is it the writers and commenters of the study guide who are asking us to “Follow Me?”
2- Are we hearing the Bible ask us to “Follow Me?” or is it the resources and references that make comments about their perspective on the Bible that are asking us to “Follow Me?”
3- The third question is related to the first two questions. Are we content to simply accept what other people or other resources say about the texts of the Bible, or do we seek to understand what the Bible itself says. Put another way, do we pay more attention to what people who claim to be preachers, prophets, priests, or other religious authorities say about the Bible than what the Bible itself says? Do we work at seeing what the Bible itself says more than we work at researching what others say the Bible says?
4- The fourth question is also vital to seriously consider. “Why” do we want to “Follow?” It may be more difficult to really answer this question but we must. There are a variety of possible answers, such as: - simple curiosity about the Bible. - desiring to prove or disprove the Bible. - learning how to earn God’s blessings. - learning how God blesses us.

For people who are serious about reading the Bible there are two words that can summarize their attitude, “trust” and “obey.” But the two words can have dramatically different focuses. Most serious Bible readers would agree that their fundamental desire is to “trust and obey” the one asking us to “Follow Me.” But we must each seriously consider what we mean by the two words “trust” and “obey.” Do we trust the Bible (and God) or do we trust the people and resources who are telling us what to believe about the Bible? And, do we seek to obey the Bible (and God) or the people and resources who are giving us instructions to obey? The difference is subtle but eternally important.

So, “Who?” and “What?” are we hearing say “Come, Follow Me.” And, “How?” and “Why?” are we doing our “Following.”