Since this ministry began, I have written several articles and had many conversations on the subject of being right (correct, accurate) in relation to the interpretation of Scripture. I must admit, some of these conversations have caused me dismay for the position I have taken, namely that we must "rightly divide the word of truth." What Paul told Timothy is just as applicable to us today, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15) But taking the position that accuracy in interpretation of Scripture is a must can bring some strange comments. I have had people tell me that I am closed minded, legalistic, opinionated, and unreasonable in my stand for doctrinal purity.

So, it is time to take another look at my position on "being right" in relation to the interpretation of Scripture. Should my position be – and perhaps yours as well – that each individual, and certainly each group or denomination, has the right to determine what "truth" is in the Bible? Is it possible that I can determine that "truth" is one thing for me and you can determine that it is something else for you and we both be in a "right relationship with God?" Do we both have to determine that baptism is exactly the same thing (as to form of and purpose for). Or can you take one position and me another and both be acceptable to God? Does the "plan of salvation" I glean from Scripture have to be exactly the same as yours? Why can't I take a conservative (closed mined) position and you a liberal (open minded) position and trust that God will look at both our efforts as acceptable and worthy of teaching to others?

You can rest assured that God's Word has the answer to all these questions. We don't have to wonder, ask friends, listen to TV evangelists, or even read this article for that matter. If you and I really want to know the answers to these questions, God has provided the answer! Where? In the Bible! The Bible is the ONLY source for truth! So let's examine exactly what the Bible has to say in regard to "rightly dividing the Word."

Is accuracy important to God?

Does God want us to be accurate in our interpretation of Scripture? I have a friend who told me once, "I think God is big enough to be whatever I want Him to be." Well, I think God is bigger than that. I know that God is big enough to be WHO He says He is! He is the Almighty God! His Word is truth! Do we really believe that He would want us to just twist His Word into whatever WE want it to be or say? I don't think so!

Jesus spoke out against false teaching. Here are some of the Scriptures in which Jesus spoke concerning false prophets: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." (Matthew 7:15); "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many." (Matthew 24:11); "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." (Matthew 24:24) Why would Jesus say such things if He was not wanting us to be aware that false teaching was dangerous? I think that these passages make it clear that Jesus wants us to be on the lookout for false doctrine. If Jesus meant one thing in His teachings, and we twist it into something else, then OUR teaching is a lie. Jesus does not want us to be deceived. Even if someone were to be able to do great signs and wonders and that person's doctrine was not consistent with Christ's teachings, we are to reject that false teaching.

How about the New Testament writers? Did they have anything to say about false prophets and teachers? "Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, 'O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?'" (Acts 13:6-10) Paul really laid in on the line here, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness." I think that pretty well sums it up as to what Paul thought of false teachers. But there is more! Peter also had some words of warning about false teachers, "But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1) Destructive heresies? Destructive to whom? You and I as individuals, but more importantly The Church! John also issues a warning, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)

Is this sufficient evidence, right from the Word of God, to show that He is concerned for us and how we will handle false teaching? I hope so! How much more do we need in order for us to put our guard up concerning this matter?

If Jesus is so concerned, why did He make His Word so hard to understand?

I don't think He did make His word so hard to understand! There are many instances in the Bible where we find prophecy concerning future events, figurative language and the like. But these are given so we may know ALL that God wants us to. It is not important for us to know HOW God causes a prophecy to come true, but simply that He did cause it to come true. The figurative language is used so God and His Son could tell us heavenly things using earthly terms so we CAN understand!

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19); "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16) Are these words of Jesus really that difficult to understand? What should Jesus have said to make this more clear? Is there REALLY a mystery here in what Jesus was saying? Does His statement that "He who believes and is baptized will be saved." REALLY mean that "He who believes will be saved and then he should get baptized?" Don't you think that what is really going on with this doctrine (Faith Only) is that the words of Jesus were twisted to mean what they (the proponents of the Faith Only doctrine) want it to mean RATHER THAN Jesus not being clear in His statement? Who are YOU going to believe?

What is the real problem?

The real problem is not that the Scriptures are unclear. The real problem is that MEN want to be in control rather than God. What do MEN do? They create THEIR theology first, then they twist the Scriptures to mean what THEY want it to. The Bible is not confusing, MEN's doctrine is confusing. The Bible does not contradict itself, MEN's doctrine contradicts the Bible. With over 3000 different denominations who CLAIM to be Christian, someone has to be wrong, and it is NOT the Bible and God!

How can you tell a false doctrine?

How can you and I tell if a teaching or doctrine is false? Well, first of all we have to have a good knowledge of the Bible and how to use it to look up Scripture. But there are some telltale signs of a false teaching. If you have to rearrange the words in the Bible to come up with the meaning that is being taught, it is probably a false teaching. If you have to change the basic meaning of a word to arrive at the meaning being taught, it is probably a false teaching. If you have to change the location or type of punctuation, it is probably a false teaching. If the teaching based on one Scripture makes another Scripture incorrect it is a false teaching. If a Scripture is expanded to mean much more than it says (taken out of context) which in turn makes other Scriptures seem incorrect, then it is a false teaching. If the teaching makes the Bible contradict itself, it is a false teaching.

Who is responsible?

Who is ultimately responsible for what you believe? Is it the preacher? Is it your mother, father, brother or sister? Is it the TV evangelist? The answer to all is NO! YOU are ultimately responsible. The admonitions found in the Bible concerning false teaching are for each one of us. I cannot determine what YOU believe, I can only teach you. You must choose! The words of Joshua to the Israelites are just as relevant to us today," . . . choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve. . . But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." (Joshua 24:15) If you choose to believe a false doctrine, then YOU are not serving the Lord, you are serving MAN! And finally, listen to James, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (James 1:22 NIV)

All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James Version unless otherwise noted

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