By Lewis Willis
That’s what a caller on the BIBLE TALK program said last Sunday morning. She had asked a question and I had cited a passage of Scripture to her that did not say what she wanted it to say. So she responded, “I don’t think much of that Scripture.” What an appalling thing to say about God’s inspired Word!
Many who would never think of saying what this woman said apparently think the same thing about the Scriptures as she does. They want to know about baptism, but when Acts 22:16 is read, they don’t accept it. Ananias told Saul, “And now why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” They don’t think much of that Scripture because it says sins are washed away in baptism.
They want to know about the music God put in the church. Paul told the Ephesians, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19). They want to use mechanical instruments of music, so they don’t think much of that Scripture.
They want to know about baptizing babies. But, when you quote Mark 16:16 (“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved”), they don’t think much of that Scripture. It prohibits baptizing babies because they can’t believe.
They want to know about falling from grace. They don’t believe it is possible for a Christian to fall from grace. So, when you quote Galatians 5:4 to them (“Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace”), they don’t think much of that passage.
It is often the same with some church members. They want to know about attendance at the worship, “Do I have to be there?” We quote to them Hebrews 10:25: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” But, they don’t think much of that Scripture.
Dear reader, if the answers given to our questions by the Scriptures are not acceptable and satisfactory, we will not be reached, changed or converted by any other reasoning. Our responsibility is to give the scriptural answers. It is the responsibility of the questioner to accept and obey what God’s word says.
Guardian of Truth XLI: 3 p. 9
February 6, 1997