It’s Still Hard to Believe . . .
Even after teaching all these years, I still find it hard to believe that people do not study the Bible and instead they rely on others to do their study for them. Of course, the Bible teaches that God has given as gifts to his people teachers who are called to be responsible for the accuracy of what they teach (Ephesians 4:11ff. and James 3:1ff., for starters). But I am bothered when we accept a teacher’s teaching without being Berean-like in our evaluation (Acts 17:11) This morning I was reminded once again of Christians who accept blindly what they hear or read. On one hand, I cannot fault people for accepting certain teachings because of the “credentials” of the ones who have taught them either directly (in the local church) or indirectly (via radio, television, or book). But on the other hand, I am frustrated when I raise questions challenging certain teachings and all I hear is “Well, yes, but . . . ” and there is no effort to examine the Scriptures for themselves.
Let me be specific. A man stopped by my office, a good man who loves Jesus and the Bible, and he began to probe about my belief about what would happen before Christ returns. He had recently heard me preach and teach, and some of my comments disturbed him. He made such comments:
“Surely you believe we are living in the end time don’t you?”
My response: “Nowhere does the Bible use the phrase “end time” so I am not sure how to answer the question.”
“Surely you believe we are in the last days?”
My response: “We’ve been living in the last days for nearly two thousand years, at least according to Scriptures like Acts 2:17ff. and Heb. 1:1ff. I am a bit uncomfortable taking a perfectly good biblical phrase and injecting it with new meaning.”
“When do you think there will be the rapture or ‘the gathering’ before the seven year tribulation begins?”
My response: “I don’t believe the Bible teaches a secret rapture, and I know that Revelation does not teach a seven year tribulation period.”
“Do you think the Antichrist predicted in Revelation is alive today?”
My response: “The Book of Revelation does not use the word Antichrist. Only I John and II John do and then they refer to the antichrist as someone denying Jesus coming in the flesh.”
He was puzzled by my answers. Even after I opened up a concordance to the Bible and found the word “antichrist” and he noted, “Nope, the word doesn’t appear in Revelation, it only appears in I and II John . . . ” and yet he still insisted that Revelation had to have the word “antichrist” in it because that is what he had been taught for years! I really heard him say: “Don’t confuse me with the facts!”
What do you do? I am often reminded of countless conversations I have had with members of certain so-called churches (e.g., the Mormons) and when I gave an alternative view to read a passage, they simply said, “Well that’s not the way I read Scripture.”
I am reminded of Peter’s reminder: “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophets own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” The word of God is always true, on all matters. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about our interpretations, be those interpretations of the prophetic writings or any other genre of Scripture. I believe in the study of Scripture, a study that takes place in the privacy of my study as well as in the presence of other Bible students.
I lament: Why is it that so many preachers, teachers, elders, etc. have failed to teach God’s people how to study Scripture? And I lament also: Why is that so many disciples of Jesus appear to have no desire to study the Word on their own but rather they would rather have someone study it for them?
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Bob,
Thanks for this posting. It is a sad thing when people come to Scripture with their minds already made up. God can no longer teach them through His word. They have become unteachable. Hence, in answer to your question, I believe that one of the issues that causes this type of response that was given to you is a heart of pride. Until that is personally understood by each person and surrendered there is no further hearing by them of God’s word.
Dr. Lowery, thanks for the post. I wonder if the tendency for people to neglect Bible study is part of a bigger issue–not wanting to do our own work. It goes back to grade school when we’d be tempted to peek at the answers in the back of the math book. It’s simply much easier just to have the answer given to us, rather than working it out for ourselves.
We do have ministers, scholars and other authorities who specialize in studying the Bible and communicating its truths. However, anyone can understand the basic truths of the Bible, and certainly everyone can increase their knowledge and understanding beyond where it’s at.
Good perspective, Don. I think for many it is not only a matter of not wanting to do their own work but there is also a fear in doing their own work. Specifically, I can’t help but wonder if all of us fear to study an issue in more detail because we may discover what we have believed is not true.
For those of us who do teach, James 3:1ff. is rather challenging, isn’t it? We make mistakes and those mistakes can divide the Christian community. The idea that teachers will be held more accountable is rather daunting.
1) Hermneutics!!! (or lack thereof) is just killing us! And it starts at the top.
2) I have been reflecting on the phrase “I’m just not being fed” often used when people are leaving the church or causing trouble. Generally we agree that it is each individuals task to feed themselves. I’ve said this myself many times but am starting to think that this answer is not enough. Pastoral ministry (the work done collectively by our “Elders” and preachers means leading and feeding. What many of us have come to call pastoral ministry-visiting the sick and troubled-should be called; visiting the sick and troubled. Pastoral work is preaching and teaching, first and always. There is clearly a hermeneutical crisis and I fear it begins in the study and pulpit of those selected by God for shepherding.
3) It is true that individuals must be active in their own Christian education. This is a part of the privilege of living in our literate culture. However personal study and devotion begins with proper instruction, mentoring, preaching and teaching in the church. I fear that the individual Bob mentions is all to common in our congregations and that the process of reversing the hermeneutical trend will take many years of clear instruction on the how’s and why’s of proper interpretation. . . beginning with seeing it from the pulpit.
Bob, we all need to be reminded that the Christian life is a life of hermeneutics, one of responsibly interpreting, applying and proclaiming Scripture–all to the glory of God.
A core feature of our heritage is a commitment to proper study of Scripture. If we would re-read the opening section of Alexander Campbell’s “Christianity Restored,” Campbell devotes 99 pages to presenting sound hermeneutics.
My article has touched a nerve, and its name is hermeneutics. I fear for the future of many congregations when many people think all they need to do is call someone liberal or all they need to do is keep repeating their position without having worked out that position according to Scripture. You would be stunned to read the messages I have received which are filled with harsh statements and yet not one shred of Bible study has been revealed. Not one shred.
One of my favorite poets said “Woe are we if we know the words of Scripture without knowing the Word, Jesus.” I am fearful that many are in danger of not knowing either word or Word very well.