The members of the Forum for Bible Agencies and some 200 church leaders from 60
countries discussed the question of how to bring the Bible back on center stage in the
life of the church, in mission and evangelism. The consultation, "Living Word for a
Dying World" in Dalfsen, Holland 20-25 April, 1994, ended with the delegates reciting
this Common Commitment:

1. WE CONFESS that the Bible has become marginalized in the life of many of our
churches. WE RESOLVE to recover for the Bible a central place in our homes and pulpits, in
our evangelism and discipleship.

2. WE CONFESS that there is a serious gap between the high value we place on the Bible
and the resources we give to sharing it with others.

WE RESOLVE to challenge our churches to releasing more resources for the provision of
God’s Word.

3. WE CONFESS that we have sometimes lacked confidence in the power of God’s Word.
WE RESOLVE to scatter the seed more diligently, in the assurance that it will bear fruit.

4. WE CONFESS that we have allowed a shameful degree of biblical illiteracy to
characterize our churches. WE RESOLVE to develop strategies to arrest and reverse this
harmful trend.

5. WE CONFESS that our interpretation of Scripture has often been distorted by our
cultural prejudices. WE RESOLVE to engage in cross-cultural biblical study, so that
‘with all God’s people’ we may grasp the dimensions of Christ’s love.

6. WE CONFESS that we have not sufficiently acknowledged the visual nature of
contemporary cultures. WE RESOLVE to seek creative ways to unite word and image in our
presentation of the good news.

7. WE CONFESS that we and the Bible agencies have sometimes engaged in sinful
competition and in a culturally insensitive use of resources. WE RESOLVE in future to
cooperate in shaping coordinated programmes for the appropriate and effective
communication of God’s Word.

8. WE CONFESS that secularized and resistant peoples have not seen clearly enough in us
the attractiveness of the Christ we proclaim.

WE RESOLVE to re-examine our churches’ worship, teaching and fellowship, so that
they may more evidently offer what alienated people are seeking.

9. WE CONFESS that there is often a dichotomy between what we profess and what we are,
which is a stumbling-block to other people’s faith. WE RESOLVE not only to proclaim
God’s Word to others, but also to adorn it in humble, Christlike
servant-discipleship.

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