Encountering the Whole Word of God
The sermon warns against the dangers of selectively reading the Bible, highlighting the importance of reading the whole counsel of God to avoid heresy and error.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes the danger of selectively interpreting Scripture, warning that both cults and mainstream believers can fall into the trap of ignoring uncomfortable truths in favor of comforting ones. He points out that this tendency to highlight only the passages that align with our preferences can lead to a form of heresy, as we unconsciously neglect the full counsel of God's Word. Tozer encourages believers to confront the entirety of Scripture, including the challenging and rebuking verses, to avoid spiritual complacency and ensure a well-rounded faith.
Text
Almost every cult with which we have any acquaintance practices this art of selecting and ignoring. The no-hell cults, for example, habitually stress everything in the Bible that seems to support their position and play down or explain away all the passages that deal with eternal punishment.
But we do well to look closer to home. Proneness to heresy is not confined to the cults. By nature, we are all heretics. We who count ourselves to be in the historic tradition of sound doctrine may in actual practice become heretics after a sort. We may unconsciously select for special attention such Scriptures as comfort and encourage us and pass over the ones that rebuke and warn us. This trap is so easy to fall into that we may be in it before we are aware.
Take, for instance, the "well-marked" Bible. It might be an illuminating experience to peep into one sometimes and note how the owner has underscored almost exclusively the passages that console him or that support his views on doctrine. We habitually love the verses that are easy on us and shy away from the ones that disturb us.
Sermon Outline
- The Dangers of Selective Bible Reading points: - Cults and Heresy - Our Tendency to Selectively Read the Bible
- The Consequences of Selective Bible Reading points: - Ignoring Difficult Passages - Focusing on Comforting Verses
- The Importance of Reading the Whole Bible points: - Understanding the Full Counsel of God - Avoiding Heresy and Error
Key Quotes
“We habitually love the verses that are easy on us and shy away from the ones that disturb us.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Be aware of your tendency to selectively read the Bible and make sure to read the whole counsel of God.
- Make an effort to understand and apply difficult passages of the Bible, rather than ignoring them.
- Prioritize reading the Bible as a whole, rather than just focusing on comforting verses.