Not everyone who quotes the Bible teaches the truth of the Bible. As a result, well-meaning but misinformed preachers have caused some people to turn away from the Lord instead of to Him. This was in part the reason the famous author Mark Twain went through life vacillating between submission to God and rebellion against Him. From his writings, it appears he was greatly repulsed by the practice of slavery, yet it was defended from the pulpit as a biblically ordained institution.
True, not all the blame for Mark Twain’s agnosticism can be placed on the ministers he heard. He could have listened to others who didn’t defend slavery. And he should have studied the New Testament for himself. But the fact remains that he was turned away from the church by so-called biblical teaching.
The Pharisees of Christ’s day also made it difficult for some people to accept the faith of the Old Testament. They honored the Scriptures with their lips but interpreted them to serve their own selfish ends. For example, they would dedicate their money to the Lord in a vow, keep it for themselves, and then use their vow as an excuse for not supporting their needy parents.
We must handle the Scriptures with integrity. We should first understand clearly what the Bible says. Only then we can teach it so that it will attract sincere seekers to the Lord. – Herbert Vander Lugt
To quote the Bible when we speak
May give our words some weight,
But only if we speak the truth
Can sinners know their fate. – D. J. De Haan
If you don’t rightly divide the Word of truth, you may end up wrongly dividing the church of God.
- November 22, 1987, Our Daily Bread
For You 