Discernment That Leads To Excellence - Part 3

Sometimes it is astounding when you realize the dominant role that food plays in biblical literature.  No less important is the food that feeds the soul. Peter calls us to be “like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—” (1 Peter 2:2, ESV).  Taking a different angle on milk, the writer to the Hebrews admonishes his readers “for though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:12–14, ESV).

As we are aware from nature, not all foods are good for you.  Some indeed are harmful. For example:

“And Elisha came again to Gilgal when there was a famine in the land. And as the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “Set on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” One of them went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds, and came and cut them up into the pot of stew, not knowing what they were. And they poured out some for the men to eat. But while they were eating of the stew, they cried out, “O man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it.” (2 Kings 4:38–40, ESV)

"There is death in the pot."   Well meaning Christian teachers can prepare a harmful diet for their listeners and readers.  I am unwilling to suggest that all are "false teachers".  Many are saved and often are godly.  For whatever reason they have bought into a means of teaching that is fundamentally harmful.  In my experience there are two main issues that will tend to poison the pot.  They are:

1. Going Beyond What Is Written[1].  The Bible anticipates such teaching that involves everything such as "cleverly invented stories"  (2Peter 1:16), promoting "myths" (the word is μῦθος [muthos ] meaning fiction, fables, etc. ^[2]) (2Timothy 4:4; cf: 1Tim 1:4, 4:7, and Titus 1:14.).  This includes the avoidance of hermeneutical standards and sound exegesis for the sake of personal ideas and notions. Oppositely, “we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Corinthians 4:2, NIV).

You may want to refer to a blog I wrote in August 2014 that gives an example of this.  You can view it by clicking HERE.

This style of teaching is so popular, it is astounding.  A very favorite teacher of mine, preached an "amazing" sermon on Genesis 24 elucidating the steps to find a good wife.  That is eisegesis. The importance of this chapter has to do with God preserving the chosen seed from Abraham to Isaac.  Eisegetical preaching, extensive allegorizing, finding all kinds of hidden "mysteries" that proper study would never produce, are all built on a desire to be relative and sensational.  Ultimately they harm.

2. Displacement of Christ and the Gospel. In Colossae the issue was that Christ was good but you need to supplement Him with ritual and human rationality.  Paul wrote, “. . . the reality, however, is found in Christ.” (Colossians 2:17, NIV).  In Corinth the issue was that Christianity is wonderful and it sits well alongside Hellenistic philosophy. 

Today's modern preaching strives to be motivational through positive messaging. It tends to focus on therapy rather than theology. The overarching message that has mass appeal, where Christ and the Gospel are not dismissed – just displaced, is "You can do it!" 

Now well-meaning preachers don't throw out the Bible in such cases.  Most often I witness two problems:  1. Applying the Old Covenant stipulations and promises to the Christian rather than seeing them fulfilled in Jesus; and 2. Ripping verses out of context to suit the need.  An example would be my recent blog on Philippians 4:19.  Click HERE to review.

Paul instructed Timothy to “follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:13, ESV).  That word "sound" is the Greek word ὑγιαίνω [hugiaino].  It means "wholesome" or "healthy".^[3]  In fact Paul warned that “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,” (2 Timothy 4:3, ESV).   By nature we love junk food. 

One of the best questions that ought to be asked when hearing a sermon, reading a Christian book, or listening to Christian teachers is, "How did you arrive at that conclusion?"   If the answer isn't rooted in a carefully study of the text, bearing upon is rigorous hermeneutical standards there's a problem.  If Scripture does not support and illuminate Scripture there is a problem.  2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) reminds us:

¹⁵ Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

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[1] 1 Corinthians 4:6

^[2] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.

^[3] Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship.