What is happening in many Bible studies today is
having a dangerous yet unintentional effect on the next generation and their view on
Scripture. Words and phrases like “I
think…” are thrown around and, as a result, quite a bit of misinterpretation
and wrong application is flooding the Church.
There are at least three reasons why people say these
two words:
1. They misspeak and/or speak from habit. We MUST use CAUTION!
Honestly, it does not matter what you and I think.
What does God’s Word say? A pastor of mine would meet with people who wanted to learn more about where the church stood on specific hot-button
issues. Often they would ask him, “What do you think about...?” To that he
would respond with, “Well, it doesn’t matter what I think. My opinion means nothing.
Let's see what God’s Word says about....”
In Judges 12:6 we learn of an account where 42,000
people died simply because they misspoke or couldn’t break from their normal
tongue. God’s Word is a serious matter and we should be mindful of our words when we speak. If we know what God's Word says about a topic then we should say, "God's Word says..." not, "I think God's Word says...."
2. They do not want to offend. We MUST have COURAGE!
While it is good to choose our words wisely, we
must not shy away from confrontation and risk the misinterpretation and thus the misapplication of God’s Word. I am not at all condoning public shame or humiliation. Great care
must be taken in how we respond to a comment, especially in a public setting. Remember, God's Word is far more important and lasting than our mere opinion.
3. They do not know. We
MUST be COGNITIVE!
Grant Osbourne said it well when he wrote:
“The big problem with Bible study today is that we
think it should be easier than other things we do. We study recipes for quality
meals, how-to books for all kinds of things—carpentry, plumbing, automobile
maintenance and so on—and read vociferously for our hobbies. Why do we think
the Bible is the only subject we should not have to study?! Let me challenge
you—make the Bible your hobby. At one level I do not like the analogy; the
Bible must be so much more than a hobby! But at another level, what if we spent
as much time and money on Bible study as we do on our hobbies? What if we took
the same amount we spend on golf clubs and courses or on skiing equipment and
skiing trips, and put it into Bible study? Yes, encyclopedias, commentaries and
other reference materials are expensive. But so is everything we do.”[1]
A common statement is made that the Bible is difficult to understand. Thus, some do not know how to study God's Word. Charles
Spurgeon once wrote:
“The Word of God apart from the Spirit of God will
be of no use to you. If you cannot understand a book, do you know the best way
to reach its meaning? Write the author and ask him what he meant. If you have a
book to read and you have the author always accessible, you need not complain
that you do not understand it. The Holy Spirit has come to abide with us
forever. Search the Scriptures, but cry for the Spirit’s light and live under
His influence.”[2]
I think that pretty much sums it up. There is no greater endeavor we can have than to know the Lord and His Word. May we apply ourselves to such a task!
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