A radio broadcast of H. G. Wells’ novel The War of the Worlds panicked thousands of listeners back in 1938. People who tuned in actually believed that aliens had landed on a farm in New Jersey and were preparing to attack the United States. They mistook a work of fiction for actual current events! A series of phony news bulletins featured a reporter giving an “eyewitness” account of terrifying happenings. As a result, confused citizens swarmed police stations and hundreds of people required medical help for “shock and hysteria.”
Confusion was a key factor in the fall of humankind. Most of us know the story: The snake struck up a conversation with Eve by asking, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1). No! Eve corrected the serpent, but she didn’t get God’s statement right; she added something. She claimed that God said, “You must not eat it or even touch [the fruit]; if you do, you will die” (Genesis 3:3). But God never said anything about touching the fruit.
The snake carried on his campaign of confusion. “You won’t die!” (Genesis 3:4) he said. He insinuated that sampling the “illegal substance” would make life better for Eve because she would become “like God, knowing both good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). Eve took the bait, but life did not improve. When she and Adam nibbled the forbidden fruit, “at that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame” (Genesis 3:7). (Can’t you hear the snake snickering in the background?)
Today, Satan confuses people by lying about what God has said and suggesting that consequences for sin don’t exist. He uses various opening lines: Just once won’t hurt . . . no one will ever know . . . everyone’s doing it. Accurately quoting God’s words and acting on His truth when tempted (Psalm 37:31; Matthew 4:1-10), however, means we won’t become bewildered by lies.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Esther 2:1-23
More:
Read Proverbs 30:6 to see why it’s important to handle Scripture accurately. Compare John 8:44 with John 12:44-46 to see where we should place our trust.
Next:
What aspect of God’s Word has Satan tried to twist in your life? How can the Bible help you combat the temptation you face today?
tom felten on May 3, 2013 at 8:45 am
Thanks for these insights, Jennifer. Tolerance, as society defines it, can confuse many believers in Jesus. It can become a means of suppressing the truth of God’s Word. We must continue to graciously live out and speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
jennifer benson schuldt on May 3, 2013 at 3:46 pm
Hi Tom,
Good points! I agree that love is key when it comes to communicating God’s truth. Without love we are noisy gongs, clanging cymbals (1 Corinthians 13:1). On the other hand, I think it’s possible to love people, yet uphold the truth of God’s Word. It’s a tough balance to strike, especially when we are all sinners. May God give us the wisdom to know how to support His standards and show compassion at the same time.
winn collier on May 4, 2013 at 7:18 pm
I think one of the greatest lies, though, is this: “God doesn’t love you.”
daisymarygoldr on June 7, 2013 at 2:17 am
Good post and a pertinent topic, Jennifer! Adding does not mean using additional words for the purpose of exposition as in commentaries and translations. It means to not alter the actual meaning of God’s words. Why is God so particular about His words? Is He a legalist or a literalist? Whether we add or subtract, it does not change the truth. Scriptures cannot be altered (John 10:35). Then what is the purpose for accuracy?
God’s word gives us directions to eternal life. It is important to communicate the truth just as it is. Changing the truth will mislead and make us to err. Imagine the confusion if the words “Do not” is added to the “Stop” sign and deleted from the “Do not Enter” sign. It is dangerous to tamper with the truth. Every word of God is pure, proven, precise and perfect. Those who add to God’s words do so to their own destruction. It is important to handle Scripture accurately for in doing this life is preserved.
Why would someone want to add to what God said? It is because His words may not appeal to their sense of reasoning. Simply put those who don’t want to obey God, change His commands to make it more relevant and acceptable. Moses urged the people to not add to or subtract but just obey the commands of the Lord (Deuteronomy 4:2).
So, if someone is struggling with homosexuality, it is better to obey what God said about homosexuality even though your church says it’s okay. When God tells us to forgive, simply forgive and don’t add clever caveats to His command. When Scripture is clear about the frequency for observing the Lord’s Supper, churches cannot take the liberty to change the command to keep it on the first Sunday… unless in that church’s calendar, the first day of the week comes only once every month.
This principle of not adding but obeying can be applied to other areas of our lives including marriage, divorce, church leadership, covering our heads, giving/tithing, and every other command that is rationalized away as unnecessary in our postmodern culture. When we look for loopholes to find some way around and avoid fully obeying God, it will cause us to go astray, lose our own secure footing, and eventually fall away from faith.
And it is not enough to quote scripture accurately. The devil correctly quoted Psalms 91: 11-12 to tempt Jesus. We need to rightly apply God’s words to our lives by knowing the right interpretation of His thoughts. And how can we know His thoughts? The Holy Spirit that we have received teaches and guides us into all His truths and helps us understand God and know His thoughts (1 Corinthians 2:11-13).
Inaccurate knowledge of scripture leads to a twisted understanding of God. If we don’t know God, then we will not trust Him. When we don’t trust God’s commands are for our own good, we will not obey Him. Those who know God, keep His commands. And whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what He commands is a liar (1 John 2: 3-4).