The Bible is a dangerous book in the wrong hands

Are my hands wrong?

Are your hands wrong?

Few suspect themselves as guilty of misusing the Bible.

We like to think that IF we read (or have read) Scripture, we're smart enough to know how to handle it.

Ah yes, the deception that can grab us when pride lives large in us. Galatians 6:3

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Maybe we think that we have the Bible figured out.

But even those parts that we understand accurately based upon centuries of biblical scholarship, do we DO what it says?

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

WRONG HANDS

The following is a partial list of those who handle the Bible with wrong hands.

The devil.

The evil one Matthew 5:37; 6:13; Ephesians 6:16 quoted a Scripture almost completely to the Lord Jesus Christ, Psalm 91:11-12; Matthew 4:6 

even though he debatably left off, "to guard you in all of your ways," which means normal ways, not to jump off buildings. Psalm 91:11 [second phrase]

But the devil failed to know that there was a higher Scripture that overrode his quote.

Jesus replied, 

"It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Deuteronomy 6:16; Matthew 4:7

Believers. 

Some real believers, who are the only people who can come in the name of Jesus, Matthew 24:4-5 speak perverse and distorted things to draw away disciples to follow them. Acts 20:30

Apparently, the praise from people is worth more to them than praise from God the Father. John 12:42-43

Wolves in sheep's clothing. Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:29; Ephesians 4:14; 2 Peter 2:17-19; Jude vs. 4, 12; Revelation 2:14-15, 20

Jesus said that we can KNOW these people by their bad fruit. Matthew 7:15-20

BUT let's first remove the beam from our own eyes before we attempt to help another remove a speck from their own. Luke 6:41-42

Do we also have a humble attitude of restoration? Galatians 6:1 

Do we know that love covers a multitude of sins? Proverbs 10:12; 1 Peter 4:8

If so, then we can ask, 

"Do those who PRETEND to be sheep but are wolves display any of the following?"

Enslave, exploit, take advantage of you, or exalt themselves, or strike you in the face. 2 Corinthians 11:20; 2 Peter 2:3

Secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them. 2 Peter 2:1

Their eyes are full of adultery; their desire for sin is never satisfied; they seduce the unstable. They are accursed children with hearts trained in greed. 2 Peter 2:14

Peddlers. 

They proclaim the gospel for profit. 2 Corinthians 2:17 

It may be acceptable to some to charge admission to hear a preacher.

Others may choose to receive offerings at times Philippians 4:10-18 or at least food and shelter, because the laborer is worthy of their hire. Luke 10:7; 1 Timothy 5:17-18 

Some might consider themselves as debtors Romans 1:14 and share Jesus for free 1 Corinthians 9:18; 2 Corinthians 11:7-9 so that they don't hinder the gospel. 1 Corinthians 9:3-12

Freely they've received John 3:27; 1 Corinthians 4:7 and they give freely. Matthew 10:8

So, if material possessions or other financial gifts are required from you to learn about Jesus, BE CAREFUL.

Diluters.

These wrong hands are similar to peddlers for profit. 

As long as donations keep coming, they give people what they want, NOT what they NEED. Acts 20:20, 21, 26-27; Ephesians 4:15 

This can corrupt the word of truth when it's watered down, which dilutes its power. 2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Timothy 3:5

They customize their messages to scratch or tickle ears of those who won't listen to the pure word of the gospel. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

All Scripture includes reproof [rebuke and conviction of sins and errors] and correction. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;

rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Proverbs 9:8

Are we wise enough to let Scripture forbid and correct us when needed?

Twisters. 

The Bible can be a dangerous book in the hands of anyone when it's used to say something that's NOT what the Lord wanted to communicate through His writers.

Twisting the Scriptures to support an alleged Bible truth is a dangerous error. 2 Peter 3:16

Bible verses are used but they're distorted, stretched, or pulled out of context so that they're NOT the truth.

SUGGESTIONS

Hunger and thirst for righteousness Matthew 5:6 as a deer pants for water. Psalm 42:1-2

Receive the love of the truth. Proverbs 23:23; 2 Thessalonians 2:10

Study all of the Bible, particularly how it points to the Lord Jesus Christ. Luke 24:25-27, 44-45; John 5:39, 46; 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11; Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Ask difficult questions. Genesis 18:17-32; Matthew 19:27; Luke 13:23 

Never accept anything just because some powerful or respected believer proclaims it. Mark 7:5-13

Allow the Holy Spirit to guide into all truth. John 16:13

It's NOT wrong to pray,

"Father, in the authority, character, and power of the Lord Jesus Christ, His holy name, I ask You to correct my false beliefs.

I want to stand perfect and complete in all of Your beliefs." John 15:16; Philippians 3:15; Colossians 4:12 

PROTECT YOURSELF

When you read or hear those who say that they're communicating the word of the Lord, THINK.

Cross-examine every statement, even if only within yourself.

"Where is this taught in the Bible? Is it what ALL of the Scriptures teach?" 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true. Acts 17:11

When a doctrine is shared with enthusiasm, loudness, or passion, this does NOT mean it's biblically true, does it?

"Do you have a chapter and verse for that?" I'll ask those who have just stated something as though it's the absolute truth.

If they can't produce even one Bible verse to support what they said, that's a caution flag.

OTHER BELIEFS

We may talk with people who believe differently what it takes and means to have salvation.

If we have the opportunity, we must NOT quarrel. 2 Timothy 2:24-26

We must be PATIENT and KIND. 1 Corinthians 13:4

We must be controlled by the LOVE of the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:14

We must HONOR all. 1 Peter 2:17 

We must follow in the LORD'S STEPS, 1 Peter 2:21 joined with Him in HUMILITY. Matthew 11:29

We must have GENTLENESS and RESPECT. Titus 3:2; 1 Peter 3:15

We must REMEMBER that we were also foolish, disobedient, and deceived, Titus 3:3 even though some didn't believe it at that time. Acts 8:20-23; 26:4-5, 9-11; 1 Timothy 1:13

We can picture JOHN 3:16-17 written on them so that our words are spoken with GRACE, His undeserved favor. Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:5-6

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son [Jesus], so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.

For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him." John 3:16-17 

Your thoughts?

R. Jason