Whittling Away at the Word of God
"All Scripture is God-breathed [inspired] and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."1
In an Agape Press news report, Mark Creech shared how "Mike Yaconelli once wrote in the Wittenburg Door about his life in a small rural community where there were lots of cattle ranches, and once in a while a cow would wander off and get lost. He wrote, 'Ask a rancher how a cow gets lost, and chances are he will reply, 'Well, the cow starts nibbling on a tuft of green grass, and when it finishes, it looks ahead to the next tuft of green grass and starts nibbling on that one, and then it nibbles on a tuft of green grass right next to the hole in the fence. It then sees another tuft of green grass on the other side of the fence, so it nibbles on that one and then goes on to the next tuft. The next thing you know the cow has nibbled itself into being lost.'"2
Over the last two centuries liberal theologians and churches have whittled away at the Word of God until they have gotten to the point where they decide what is God's Word and what isn't. Among many church leaders and church members today abortion on demand is accepted and approved, homosexuality and the gay lifestyle are no longer questioned, and gay marriage is permitted—all of which God's Word, the Bible, strongly opposes. And the reason God is opposed to any and all sinful behavior is because it hurts and ultimately destroys those whom he loves—us!
Mark Creech also shared how a fairly poll of members of a major Protestant church in the U.S. "found that only 43% of parishioners, 50% of elders, and 39% of clergy could agree that Jesus Christ was the only way of salvation."3 At this point such adherents have nibbled themselves into being lost—eternally lost—because Jesus made it very clear that he and he alone was the only way to God. He said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."4
Furthermore, had there been any other way for men and women to come to God, why would Jesus, the Son of God, have needed to come to earth in human form, to be crucified and die on the cruel and excruciatingly painful Roman cross to save us from our sins?
Whenever we ignore God's Word and go our own way, we do so to our peril. And in so doing, we can drag other people down with us into an eternal hell.
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, thank you for your Word, the Bible, in which you give clear instructions for this life as well as the next. Please deliver me from the sin and folly of adding to your Word or detracting from it. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."
1. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV).
2. Mark H. Creech, "The Right Frame of Mind. How
Did Mainline Churches Get This Way?" August 25,
2003. Agape Press.
3. Ibid.
4. John 14:6 (NIV).
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All articles on this website are written by
Richard (Dick) Innes unless otherwise stated.