Misusing the Bible
The Bible should not be used as a textbook for science, but rather to bring men to Christ and make them holy.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that while the Bible is entirely true, misusing it as a scientific textbook is a grave misunderstanding. He critiques the trend of Bible teachers seeking to align Scripture with modern scientific discoveries, pointing out that such interpretations often come after the fact and undermine the Bible's true purpose. Tozer asserts that the Bible's primary aim is to lead individuals to Christ, promote holiness, and prepare them for eternal life, warning against any manipulation of its teachings for worldly validation, which he believes is ultimately harmful.
Text
I believe that everything in the Bible is true, but to attempt to make the Bible a textbook for science is to misunderstand it completely and tragically! It has become a fairly popular practice for Bible teachers to claim to find in the Scriptures confirmation of almost every recent discovery made by science. Apparently no one noticed that the scientist had to find it before the Bible teacher could, and it never seemed to occur to anyone to wonder why, if it was there in the Bible in such plain sight, it took several thousand years and the help of science before anyone saw it. In recent years, the Bible has been "recommended" for many other purposes from the one for which it was written.
The purpose of the Bible is to bring men to Christ, to make them holy and prepare them for heaven.
Any manipulation of the Scriptures to make them speak peace to the natural man is evil and can only lead to ruin!
Sermon Outline
- The Misuse of the Bible
- The Purpose of the Bible
- The Dangers of Manipulating the Scriptures
- To Bring Men to Christ
- To Make Men Holy and Prepare Them for Heaven
Key Quotes
“I believe that everything in the Bible is true, but to attempt to make the Bible a textbook for science is to misunderstand it completely and tragically!” — A.W. Tozer
“Any manipulation of the Scriptures to make them speak peace to the natural man is evil and can only lead to ruin!” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- Be careful not to manipulate the Scriptures to fit your own understanding or desires.
- Remember the true purpose of the Bible is to bring men to Christ, not to provide scientific information.
- Seek to understand the Bible in its original context, rather than trying to make it fit modern scientific discoveries.