Knowing the Truth

“Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” (II Timothy 4:2-4 NIV)

I watched “The Bible” last night, as I have the past several weeks, along with millions of others.  I had high hopes, given what the producers were saying before it began to air and the number of churches that were promoting it.  But, honestly, it has been quite disappointing.  Simple facts of biblical history have been left out, such as Aaron being the spokesperson for Moses. The film has Moses doing all of the talking to Pharaoh.  And last night, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, not by calling him out of the tomb as John 11 describes, but by entering into it and placing his hands on his uncovered head.  “Artistic license” doesn’t seem necessary in these instances.  

But what troubles me more is a scene showing Jesus and His disciples at the Last Supper.  He says to His disciples, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  It is a quote from John 14:6, but it leaves out the last part of what Jesus said: “No one comes to the Father except through me.”  This is a crucial part of the statement, yet it is left off of Jesus’ lips.  Why?  

We live in a culture that has no tolerance for absolutes, but what Jesus says in John 14:6 is an absolute statement—no one can have a relationship with God but through Him.  To an audience who admires Jesus as a great teacher, but believes His is just one of many ways to God, John 14:6 is too narrow and, for some, offensive.  For it eliminates all religions and good living as means to God.  And this does not fit with the cultural belief that sincere religious people, or non-religious good people will get to Heaven.  So, I can only conclude the producers sought to avoid offending their audience by making Jesus less than He claimed to be.  

Sadly, there is a lot of that going on today.  Sound doctrine has been eroded by efforts to please and be accepted by the culture.  Rob Bell recently stated that the church should abandon its teaching against homosexuality because, in his words, “that ship has sailed.”  Because the culture is now turning toward accepting homosexuality as a normal way of life, although the Scriptures do not (Romans 1:26-27; I Timothy 1:10), he is saying the church should follow suit.  This is what Paul warns Timothy to stand against.  Sound doctrine is not determined by cultural practice and belief, but by the Word of God.  

Today, be on your guard against beliefs and practices in our culture that are contrary to the Word of God.  Know the Word so you won’t be led away from the truth.

© Jim Musser 2013