Donate via DonorboxThe Bible can seem overwhelming, especially to new believers. The two testaments, the 66 books, and the thousands of names — individuals, people groups, nations, locations, not to mention the names of months, objects, plants and trees, rivers, mountains, and so on. Then there are the parables (proverbs or dark sayings), as well the non-linear aspect in the prophetic books.
On top of this are a myriad of modern-day Pharisees and Sadducees who have followed the traditions of man, whether creed or deed, and are now passing along false doctrines to their flocks. Jesus says that such are the blind leading the blind, and both shall fall into the ditch (Luke 6:39).
To clarify, false doctrine doesn’t only have to be false in what it teaches, but can also be false in what it doesn’t teach, the inconvenient scriptures that are glossed over, sidestepped, or ignored.
This book aims to cut through the confusion of false doctrine and false dichotomies by searching the scriptures to get to the foundational matters of who God is, the distinctive nature of his word, and the straight path that runs from Genesis to Revelation.
As such, the focus is squarely on the word of God, with each chapter leaning heavily on scripture rather than my own words, both for illustrative purposes and for the reader to more easily follow the thread. Of course, it’s every reader’s responsibility to check the scriptures themselves, reading around them to be sure I haven’t cherry-picked scriptures out of context.
In addition to the focus on scripture, there’s an emphasis on language and the meaning of particular words in order to better understand certain verses. Paying attention to words and phrases is important because the Bible narrative is whittled down to the bare bones with no room for superfluous words.
Finally, some portions of this book might challenge pre-existing beliefs. If this is the case for you, ask yourself if you are willing to change your belief if the scriptural evidence points to a place you had previously not considered, or even disregarded out of hand. God is not the author of confusion. His word is one complete whole and is intended to be understood as such.
God has warned us, through Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, that all who believe not the truth will be damned (2 Thessalonians 2:12). That’s a stark warning to all of us, especially anyone who holds rigidly to a particular doctrine simply because they’ve so fully absorbed whatever they’ve been taught without critically examining whether the thing being taught actually holds up against the light of scripture.
Such folk tend to hold onto certain doctrines so vehemently that any suggestion they might have been been taught and believed something that’s not scriptural is taken personally and perceived as a threat.
Such is the power of indoctrination.
Let us, therefore, heed the warning in 2 Thessalonians, while also following the example of those in Berea.
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 KJV)
These [the Bereans, KM] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. (Acts 17:11 KJV)
Everything in this book is born out of a desire for truth, a desire to understand what God’s word is actually saying rather than simply taking as gospel the popular doctrines that many adhere to.
As you might know from experience, knowledge and understanding increases with time and grace, as the Lord opens our understanding, that we might understand the scriptures (Luke 24:45). As newborn babes, our understanding lacks maturity, but as we grow in Christ our understanding deepens over time, becoming more nuanced, more comprehensive. As Sean would say, it becomes less gross and more refined.
All to say, just as I encourage readers to examine — with an open, honest heart and mind — any doctrine that has been unquestioningly imbibed, I encourage honest examination of the arguments contained within each chapter of this book. Whether you conclude I’m right or wrong on certain matters, you will undoubtedly be strengthened in your understanding through the process of examining the scriptures, to see whether these things be so (Acts 17:11).
