Attitude to Scripture
—Four wrong attitudes
Another page of teachings in the Bible that many folk find hard to hear, but the Bible still needs to be believed and taught. This page is about people’s attitude toward the Bible. We look at four wrong attitudes and the right attitudes that should replace them.
1 "I don't want to hear!"
11"But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. 12 They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts" (Zechariah 7:11-12 NASB).
Everyone has a relationship with God. We are either in friendship with him, or in rebellion against him. Your relationship with God depends on whether you listen to His Word or refuse to hear it.
"They did not listen to Me or incline their ear, but stiffened their neck; they did more evil than their fathers" (Jeremiah 7:26 NASB).
Those who don't listen become more and more sinful. Those who truly listen, and welcome the word, become more righteous.
2 "I do it My Way!"
People travel through life, and direct their steps, by their own assumptions and feelings. The wise, however, walk the way taught by God in his word —the way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).
If we say, "No, I'll go my own way", the Bible replies, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12 NASB).
3 "I Modify the Scriptures!"
False teaching is often the result of adding to the Scriptures or taking something away. Those who do that will be punished with plagues (Revelation 22:18-19).
However, false teaching can also come from wrongly dividing and wrongly applying the Scriptures. Paul exhorts Timothy, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2Timothy 2:15 NKJV).
For example, many people today obey laws that were meant for people of the past. The Old Testament was not written for our obedience. However, it was "written for our learning" to direct us to Christ Jesus. His law is sufficient for us (Romans 15:4).
4 "I Go by God’s Voice!"
People like to mix their own doctrines and revelations with God's word. They may even claim that God speaks to them and they hear his voice directly. So they go by that voice, and not altogether by the Bible.
Paul, however, tells us that the Scriptures of the prophets and the apostles are fully sufficient and therefore we should be determined not to add anything more to them. "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2Timothy 3:15-17 NKJV).