The first lie recorded in the Bible is found in Genesis 3 when Satan said to Eve though a serpent, “You will not surely die”. In essence he was saying to her, “You can’t trust what God says, trust yourself”.
In 2010, in pulpits and seminary class rooms, all across America there is a chorus of infidels who join with the evil one in his declaration that God’s words cannot be trusted. These sails with no wind have become so educated that they are convinced they can pick and choose which parts of the Bible record to believe and which parts to reject as only ancient myths, fables, and fabrications.
If Jesus Christ is not who the Bible says he is, and if he did not do what the Bible says he did, there is no Christianity, there is only religion. It seems in every church group there are those who cast doubt the reliability of the Holy Scriptures and the result is a message of good works, self improvement, religious ritual, and nice devotionals.
The most zealous legalist does no more harm to the cause of Christ than those who teach that God will welcome anyone into heaven whose morals are good, who helps the poor, has participated in certain rituals, and is a faithful church member.
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:17,18)
Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14)
Apart from divine revelation we have no message from God. These words from Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, make it perfectly clear why men would stand in church pulpits and tell the listeners they can’t really trust the Bible, certainly not all of it. God’s truth is “folly to him (them)”, or foolishness, and they are “not able” to understand it.
I once took a New Testament course at a seminary in North Carolina and the professor gave no illusions that he believed the Bible. One day as many of us waited in line to eat in the school cafeteria the unbelieving New Testament professor was near where I was standing. A young Christian Church pastor called out to him, “If you don’t believe the Bible why don’t you quit and get into some other line of work? Even the drunks where I live believe the Bible is the Word of God!”
May our Lord help us to be faithful to the revelation given us and to boldly reject infidelity where ever we find it.
Royce Ogle
Grace Digest 
Love your blog, Royce. I appreciate the way it makes me think. Glad I ran across it.
It bothers me that we (generally speaking) don’t, to use your words, “reject infidelity anywhere we find it.” We love to reject it in other people and churches, but we’re not so quick to look for it in us our in our congregation.
I feel, at least in my experiences, that we have stunted our own growth in Christ, both individually and congregationally, by not challenging our own beliefs. It’s unfortunate, because in not doing so we can get awfully comfortable with where we are.
John,
Thanks for you visit to Grace Digest and for your comment.
I certainly agree with your comments. Each of us who are faith followers of Jesus should make two things routine in our lives as Christians. First we should test ourselves to make sure we are in the faith individually. Secondly, we should always be checking what we are taught, even by those we love and respect, by the word of God. Both are biblical practices that will help to keep us grounded in the truth.
May you find God’s truth and walk in it.
Royce
Very interesting post, Royce. I just came across your blog and I enjoy it.
I find the unbelieving professor to be very interesting. But what better place for him to teach? I say that for his goals, and not for the goals of Christ. In his position he would be able to effectively spread his viewpoint, and I’m sure he had some agree with him over the years. I would think it’s a bigger shame of the seminary for keeping him around.
Thomas,
I don’t know if you are familiar with the fight conservatives (in the context of Southern Baptists, Bible believers…) have fought trying to root out infidels from positions in schools and seminaries supported by the SBC. Paige Patterson, then President of Criswell College in Dallas began a battle against liberalism in SBC seminaries and has after many years largely won the battle. No person should be teaching in a Christian school of any kind who does not believe the Bible is true.
Thanks for your visit and comment.
Royce