Fact: I’m in the library. Fact 2: I’m wearing a red t-shirt. Fact 3: Distorted Bible teaching makes me want to scream.

In my ministry methodology class, Dr. M said that accurate biblical teaching is the foundation for a church ministry, and I agree.

Why is it so hard to teach the truths of the Word today? Why can’t churches be doing what God has asked us to do? How come believers refuse to be uncomfortable, ask hard questions, see beyond March Madness and what the Kardashians are scandalizing today? One healthy helping of biblical illiteracy, fresh out of the oven!

I think it’s because we’re afraid.

If we truly believe what the Bible says about God and us, then many of us would be living with a ton more humility, reverent fear, and urgency. If we truly lived out the commands in the Bible, then we would conduct ourselves so differently. If we walk in the Spirit, thought, we have to give up our sinful pleasures and amusements. We’re afraid of having to change.

I don’t want to avoid the hard conversations. I don’t want to be silenced when Hebrews 6 doesn’t make sense in light of other Scripture (Gasp! She went there!), when nobody can agree on a God-honoring way to work together in the church as men and women (Oh no! Not that!), or when Calvin is being pitted against Jacobus Arminius again (Everyone immediately gets uncomfortable!) I don’t want to be a teacher of the Scriptures who skates around sin, judgment, death, or God’s wrath, either. I can’t afford to, this world being what it is. None of us can.

I am broken up by false teachings permeating the Body today. We let so much garbage into our churches that is distracting us and swaying us from the Gospel. As Paul wrote to the Galatians, “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you” (5:7-8). We are called to handle the word of truth and make it plain, not to be deceptive or distort it (2 Tim 2:15, 2 Cor 4:2).

Even when we frolic in Psalms and never leave or when we give in to the crowd again on the topic for Bible study, we aren’t teaching the way God wants us to: systematically, the entire counsel, the whole Word. We need to move beyond milk (Heb 6:1-3).

Teach with caution, by the Spirit, by the Book. By his infinite, beautiful power, may we all.

This is why I study. I want to see. Dearest Lord, fuel my motivations.