A fundamental error in religion, or an error of opinion respecting some fundamental doctrine of religion. But in countries where there is an established church, an opinion is deemed heresy, when it differs from that of the church. The Scriptures being the standard of faith, any opinion that is repugnant to its doctrines, is heresy; but as men differ in the interpretation of Scripture, an opinion deemed heretical by one body of Christians, may be deemed orthodox by another. (Webster 1828 Dictionary) It is not my purpose to condemn any religion, but to enlighten people to the errors made in interpretation of Scripture. We have only one Standard for Faith and Practice, the Bible, ie: God’s Holy Word.
In the time of Jesus, there was a body of 70 learned men call the Sanherdrin. They thought themselves to be the supreme judicial, legislative, and administrative council of the ancient Jewish nation. They interpreted the law and the prophets as they agreed on any topic of discussion. Majority ruled, even if some disagreed with their interpretation.
In their defense, God had withdrawn from active participation in the affairs of Israel for 400 years before Christ Jesus was born. Since they had no actual word from God, they formed what they thought to be an August Body of Believers to make judgments about what Scripture said.
The Problem? In many instances they were hypocrites. They would instruct others in what they thought was right then live after their own heart. Emotions, whether it is expressed as ‘I feel or I think’ have absolutely no value when reading the Word of God.
Our feelings and emotions are not something we can depend on to make the right decisions in our life. Scripture, on the other hand, can be relied on in every instance. It is just a matter of finding the right verses that apply to our situation. That is why the Bible tells us to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.“ 2Timothy 2:15 I heard one person the other day telling others half truths. “God is love and since He is love, He will not send anyone to hell!” The first half was right, but the second half is a misinterpretation of scripture. God absolutely will send people to hell. It speaks of it several places in the Bible, but I’ll show you Revelaion 20:11-15 “And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
I want to make one last point…I do not think anyone or at least not many, go about intentionally misquoting or misusing Scripture. They have been taught what they think and what they preach, by individuals that have an excellent ability to persuade their listeners. What they say needs to match Scripture or it is heresy. What they teach must match the Word of God exactly or it is heresy. The terms, “I think or I feel” have no place in the thought and minds of true men of God.
It seems today that if a man disagrees with the Bible that they have, they simply write another one to say what they want it to say. Ten new one. Widely accepted Bibles have been written since 1984. Many religions of the day have their own preferred Bibles, some because the old ones contradicted their religious teachings.
The Bible is quite clear on the subject when John tells us to check to see if they speak the truth. 1John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
Matthew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Find an every word Bible and stick to it.
