Ignorance of preachers

Religious leaders said to the Lord Jesus Christ, "Are we blind also?" John 9:40

Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now that you maintain, 'We see,' your sin remains." John 9:41

The warning implied in this is that preachers, pastors, teachers, and other ministers of the Bible can have "blind spots."

They haven't seen the whole truth on a subject perhaps because they haven't studied it carefully.

Have you ever noticed that some preachers seem to imitate others they admire and repeat the same phrases, which could include errors, that are passed on from minister to minister and to those who listen to them or read their writings?

Some believe things that they were taught in their Bible colleges, training centers, or seminaries years before, whether or not these are what the Bible actually teaches; they still proclaim these as truth.

Some examples of incorrect interpretation include the following --

"Some things are no longer available for today because these were only for the first disciples of Jesus."

"Some events never happened. Supposed miracles were NOT supernatural. They have natural explanations."

"Some things will never occur."

To share the wonders of the Lord Acts 2:11 from generation to generation is biblical IF we interpret the truths correctly and completely.

And even when I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me,

Until I declare Your strength to this generation,

Your power to all who are to come. Psalm 71:18

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness. 2 Timothy 2:15-16

The things which you [Timothy] have heard from me [Paul] in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful people who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2

We're looking at the ignorance of preachers, ministers of the word of the Lord. Acts 6:4; 1 Corinthians 9:14

For some, they don't have much formal education even in their native language so that basic rules to understand and interpret language aren't known, and errors may result when they teach the Scriptures.

For others, they get locked into using only one Bible version and never bother to explore some of the scholarship available in modern translations.

It won't hurt you or me to use other Bibles and let the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth. John 14:26; 16:13

Sometimes these modern Bibles have some insights and sometimes they don't.

A big problem for all believers, not only those who minister the word as their full or part-time jobs, is to not take what ALL of the Bible says on a subject within their proper, scriptural contexts.

Therefore, I [Paul] testify to you [elders in a city] Acts 20:17 this day that I am innocent of the blood of all people. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God. Acts 20:26-27

All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Reading the Bible isn't enough.

Do you think many people believe that if they read one chapter each day, they'll understand it and grow spiritually?

The Bible is a complex book 2 Peter 3:15-16 and takes study WITHOUT personal bias or fear of being proven wrong, to get at what God the Father wants us to know at any given point in our spiritual growth. Ephesians 4:15-16

We tend to skip over truths that make us uncomfortable or point out how our beliefs or lifestyles are wrong.

A simple example would be, preachers and other believers communicate, "Jesus said that we're never to judge."

They get this from the gospel of Matthew.

Do not judge other people. Then you will not be judged. Matthew 7:1

Jesus was speaking of judging others in a personal way, which believers should NOT do.

How can we know this?

Jesus Himself said, "Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." John 7:24

So, we also can judge with righteous judgment in an official way.

This is why Paul could write, "I have already judged."

For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present. 1 Corinthians 5:3

To judge another officially means that we don't have any personal hatred of or problem with that person, nor are we trying to hurt them personally.

We're stating that all unrighteousness is sin; 1 John 5:17

That the sinful works of human nature reveal themselves; Galatians 5:19-21

That we also need the Holy Spirit's help to put to death these evil deeds in us Romans 8:13 and remove the logs in our eyes Matthew 7:3-4 so that we can see clearly to remove the specks in another's eyes; Matthew 7:5

That we need to use gentleness to restore someone who has been caught in a sin. Galatians 6:1; James 5:19-20

Paul judged officially that Hymenaeus and Alexander had slipped from faith and a good conscience and crashed, so he handed them to Satan for the purpose that they would learn not to speak against God. 1 Timothy 1:19-20

In general, this problem with misinterpreting the Bible can occur when we overlook willingly Scriptures 2 Peter 3:5 that contradict our "pet doctrines" or we hyperfocus on supposed truths that may cause us to twist them 2 Peter 3:16 into saying what they don't.

Some of us and some ministers of the word may need to have the Holy Spirit teach the first principles, Hebrews 5:12 to lay again the foundation of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 3:11 and the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:1-2

We don't want people to write or say about us, "If you want to be ignorant, you can be ignorant." 1 Corinthians 14:38

Our attitude could be, "Father, I don't want to be ignorant of You nor Your ways. Psalm 103:7; John 16:3

I agree with Paul that regarding spirituality, I want to NOT be ignorant. 1 Corinthians 12:1 I want to increase in the knowledge of You. Colossians 1:10

I agree with Peter that grace and peace can be multiplied to me through the knowledge of You and Jesus my Lord. 2 Peter 1:2

I want to move on to maturity, if You permit. Thank You." Hebrews 6:1, 3

Your thoughts?

R. Jason