Greg and Amy explore why faithful preachers sometimes abandon sound theology and warn against viewing Scripture as a magical tool that automatically prevents errors.
Transcript
Amy: Okay, Greg, let’s go on to a question from James: “I’ve always wondered what makes a preacher who once taught the Word faithfully and soaked in it go rogue theologically. If the Word is powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, why does it not affect such an errant preacher as he starts going wayward in his teachings or even rebelling theologically?”
Greg: Well, that verse that was just cited is from Hebrews 4:12. (And, uh, excuse me, [CLEARS THROAT] pardon me.) It is talking about the capability of the Scripture to—if you follow the verse out—to judge the thoughts and the intentions of the heart. It’s capable of doing that. That doesn’t mean that the person is going to respond appropriately to the judgment that the Word makes on the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
So, this circumstance that’s being described here, you know, it mystifies me as well, when you can have otherwise solid people that go astray, and you wonder, what’s up with that?
But you know, in 2 Timothy—Isn’t it 2 Timothy? This is Paul’s last letter, where he talks about Demas. Demas shows up in other letters. Yeah, and Demas is with me, and we’re doing this and that and the other thing, and Demas the faithful, blah, blah, blah, and now, Demas has deserted me, having loved the present world. So, what do you make of that? I think that’s in 2 Timothy. But, certainly, Demas does desert Paul for those reasons. And what do you make of that? I don’t know. I mean, your theology is going to answer the question of whether he was saved before and unsaved now, or he was never saved, or he continues to be saved, or whatever. That’s a different issue. But the point here is, on the surface, on the face of it—de facto—you’ve got a guy who traveled with Paul, who’s now gone astray. Badly. So much so that Paul can mention it in his last writing. I think—is it there in 2 Timothy?
Amy: It’s in 2 Timothy.
Greg: Yeah. And so, along with some other warnings that he makes about people who did him harm. So, yeah, this is a real thing. And what is it in the mind of man that allows such a thing? It’s fallenness. It’s moral freedom. And it’s just the way of the flesh.
Scripture describes it in different ways, but it’s interesting the way Paul addresses the correction of a believer in Galatians 6. He says, “If anyone is caught in a trespass, let you who are spiritual restore such a one, looking to yourselves, lest you also be tempted.” So, Paul is acknowledging that we are vulnerable. We are all vulnerable, and we have to keep on the lookout for that.
Amy: So, I just have a couple things. The first thing is just a quick thing that I will go into more another time. I’ve been wanting to write something on this. But I actually don’t think “the word” in this passage is referring to Scripture. I think it’s actually referring to the word of judgment earlier in the chapter, that God—because sometimes “word” is used for just a declaration of God. Like Isaiah says—where is this? I can’t remember what it says—but there’s a verse, I think it’s in Romans: “God will execute His word thoroughly and quickly.” So, I think it’s just referring to an active declaration of God that was mentioned earlier in the chapter. And I have reasons for that, but I’ll leave that alone for a second. That doesn’t mean I don’t think the Word is powerful, because God works through Scripture in a special way because it is his Word. It is. And we’ve already talked about that—about God inspiring his Word. There is something unique about that.
But what came to mind to me, with this question, Greg, is the parable of the sower. So, in that case, were the seeds powerful? Were the seeds able to grow? Were the seeds bringers of life? The answer is yes. But the problem was with the soil. And the soil, if it was bad soil—if it was rocky soil or hard soil—
Greg: Or weedy soil.
Amy: Then the seeds didn’t grow. And so, the fault wasn’t with the seeds. The fault was with the soil. So, I think the same applies here. God’s Word is powerful, but whether or not our soil is prepared to hear it, I don’t think it depends on the actual seed. I think it depends on the work of God.
Greg: And there is sometimes a temptation—I don’t think it’s inherent in this question—but there is a temptation to treat God’s Word as magical. So, if you just say the words—in this case, English words of the Greek, as a translation from the Greek—if you say the words, then the words go out and do magical things. And God said his Word won’t return void. That’s the way they read that passage, also, I think, in Isaiah. But he says, no, it’ll accomplish what I’ve intended for it. That’s how he finishes that sentence. I have an intention to accomplish that. But it doesn’t mean that the words are somehow magically powerful, and if you say these words and they’re an accurate translation, it’s going to have some kind of effect in virtue of the words being invested with their own kind of energy or power. That’s, I think, an occultic view of language.