PJ HanleyPerhaps you have heard that the word of God is a sword, but have you understood that your Bible is also a canon? By a canon, I don’t mean a great big gun shooting bowling balls. The word KANON in Greek means, “measuring stick.” The Bible is a collection of books that include the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament writings of the early church. They were put together and accepted as the Canon or measuring stick by the church in the 2nd Century largely in response to Heresies and attacks on the Scriptures by the likes of Marcion. The Bible is the inerrant, authoritative word of God and has been accepted and honored as such by Christians for two thousand years. It has also been attacked vehemently throughout the ages, yet never more than at the present time. Most “Mainline” and “Liberal Churches” and the so-called “Emerging Church” no longer consider it authoritative and sadly, many in the Charismatic and Revival Movement frequently undermine it as well. Most don’t do it out of disrespect and unbelief in the Bible, but because they have succumbed to the notion that reliance on its truth alone is old fashioned, “religious,” and insensitive in a so-called “postmodern” culture. They often say things like, “There are so many divisions over Bible doctrine and stuff, who knows who is right?” “Why does it matter so much?” “Why don’t we just follow the Spirit and do what we hear Him saying?” “Isn’t that the point of the Bible anyway?” These are arguments commonly presented as wisdom by a flippant, celebrity-crazed Christian culture, yet they are fallacious and about as dangerous as shooting oneself in the head. And they don’t just come from young ministry school students who have never actually read the Bible, but from a host of pastors and leaders who consider Biblical Scholarship and Theology about as necessary as stained glass windows. Nevertheless, we are now paying the price for this disdain of doctrine.
The modern church is reeling from its lack of adherence to the Biblical plumb line. Having ignored the lessons of history, she is now dangling over a pit of apostasy. This is the shaking of God. This is the judgment that we are told will begin with His house. Just like the culture that refuses to be accountable to the revelation of God’s Word, the church is dangerously close to the same precipice. Dear friends, it is time to wake up.
The Bible is not just a book. It is the Word of the Living God. It is not an add-on or a sermon source. Without its objective truth, there is nothing reliable. Indeed, if the Scriptures are not totally sure and trustworthy, then neither is our relationship with God. We cannot base anything we are doing on personal experience and revelation of the Spirit. We are to be filled with and led by the Spirit, but without the measuring stick of Scripture, we are unable to know where we are going and who is guiding us. That is why God gave us the Scriptures. His word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.[153] Listen for a minute to what the Bible says about itself:
“Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?” Mark 12:24
“…The Scripture cannot be broken…” John 10:35
“For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Mt 5:18-19
Make no mistake about it; Jesus did not consider the Scriptures to have any flaws or mistakes. He presented them as an immovable and unbreakable measuring rod and plumb line that is to be loved and adhered to by all His followers.
“Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures…” Rom 1:1
“…and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2Tim 3:15
Notice how Paul affirms that the Book itself is holy. “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Rom 15:4
“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2Tim 3:16-17
All Scripture is God-breathed. It does not need to be breathed upon by the Spirit or anointed again as some assert. The Holy Spirit is already in it and on it. Notice Paul said that “All Scripture” was not only God’s word, but that it was necessary for the training and equipping of every man and woman of God. “But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation…” 2Pet 1:20
The Bible has one interpretation that was intended by the author under the direction of the Holy Spirit. That is not to say that principles cannot be taken and applied to other situations and events, but one does not have the right to offer a private interpretation or understanding. If pastors and leaders took this seriously, there would be a lot more dialogue and accountability in Bible teaching, and we would not be afraid to have our views challenged for fear we should be in error. It was this respect and submission to the Scriptures that caused Paul, who had received His message and commissioning directly from Christ, to discuss his teaching with the apostles in Jerusalem for fear that he might be in error.
“…just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction.” 2Pet 3:15-16
Peter made it clear why people distort the Scriptures. He gave two reasons, ignorance and instability of character. He also made it clear that destruction would befall those who did the distorting.
“Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 1:3-4
Jude warns us about those who turn the grace of God into licentiousness. There are to be sure, HG teachers who do not promote licentiousness, yet the HG message will, in time, lead in this direction and eventually to denying the Master Himself. However, we must all carefully heed the warning and contend for the faith that has been delivered to us. This is not contending for one’s personal revelation or ministry emphasis, but for the truth and integrity of the Scriptures, since that is what has been “handed down” to us. Though this is not a call to be contentious or to operate in a critical spirit, it is clear that we should not give a pass to people who skate dangerously close to the edge, regardless of the size of their ministries or their relationship to us.
Though the Scriptures are true regardless, and will outlast all of us, we must be prepared to defend the integrity and authority of the Bible against every challenge, no matter where it comes from. This attitude, together with the love of God for His people, will protect, unify and equip the church. Sound doctrine does not divide, and if it does then it is a necessary division. Those who say their concern for unity requires them to be lax in their demand for Biblical accuracy are actually causing disunity by their negligence and unwitting approval of Biblical distortions. There is not much point to all being in the same boat should the voyage be that of the Titanic. Sound doctrine does not cause division among those who love the truth. Rather, it is those whose hearts are not right, who distort the Word and disobey its teaching, that cause division among believers. Thus giving them license to do so will not bring godly unity. It is time, therefore, for all pastors and teachers who care about their spiritual future and that of their churches, to stop making statements and giving off attitudes that demean the authority and integrity of Scripture. The Bible is Holy and should be treated as such. Those who love Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit love the Scriptures also. Failure to love and study the Scriptures, and hold fast to all the counsel of God, always leads to deception and darkness. Let us now take a moment to look at some of the common attitudes and actions that may be well-meaning, but are helping to lead the modern church away from the safety of Scripture into the murky waters of subjectivity.
Excerpt from “Grace Gone Wild: Confronting the Error of “Hyper Grace” & Restoring the Integrity of Scripture” by PJ Hanley
