Scripture Hurlers

Once I was invited to hear a young preacher. He was said to be a phenomenal quoter of scripture. We attended his meeting with high expectations. The young man was true to his build-up. He made his points by quoting and referencing a number of scripture, and people were totally amazed.

But there was a problem: the man was rattling scripture references that had nothing to do with the point he was trying to make. He would preach on love, but reference Romans 6:3 and Acts 2:38-having to do with baptism. The young man didn't know his Bible; he was just "Hurling scripture."

Many preachers and teachers are good at "scripture hurling." They don't care what scripture is actually saying; they are interested only in the fact that it is scripture. By the sheer weight and number of passages, they think their point is made; never mind that the passages are misused.

And people fall for it too. They hear these men, then (in their ignorance) they go away saying, "He must be right. He really knows his Bible!"

Here is an example: what must I do to be saved? Well here is what the man down the road preaches: Romans 10:9 If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Now that is Bible, right? The only problem is that, in context, Paul is not speaking to a lost sinner; he is speaking to Christians, telling them to hold on to faith.

To guard against "scripture hurling," let us insist on the Bible being preached, but do more than count scriptures. Reference and look up those scriptures. Ask the right questions (as the Ethiopian Eunuch did in Acts 8:34). Search the scriptures to see for yourself if what you are being told is correct (Acts 17:11). Using the Bible is vital; but what is more vital is that we "handle correctly the word of truth" (2 Tim 2:15) When one mishandles, distorts and twists the scriptures, he is doing so to his own destruction (2 Pet 3:16).

2 Peter 3:16-18 (New International Version)

16He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

17Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.

18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Go to top of "Union Valley Church of Christ"