Some may remember the frightening warning that was issued to the people of Hawaii on January 12, 2018, due to some very incorrect information. An incoming missile alert sent the residents into full-blown panic that Saturday morning before the alert had been declared a false alarm.
Hundreds of thousands of mobile phone users received a message saying: “Ballistic missile threat inbound to Hawaii. Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill.”
Then State Governor David Ige apologized and said it was caused by an employee pressing the wrong button. The alert system is in place because of the potential proximity of Hawaii to North Korean missiles.
Faulty or incorrect information (especially when our national security and personal safety depend on it), is unnerving. Such faulty information can cause emotional, and even physical, harm.
However, with that being said, what about faulty or incorrect information that is spiritual in nature? How harmful can false doctrine be? How damaging can it be to our faith when teachers and preachers misquoting Scripture, causes one to believe something that is not true?
Jesus, in His Sermon on the Mount, told his followers to “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits…” (Matthew 7:15-16a).
Sadly, things have not changed over the past two thousand plus years! If anything, the number of false teachers and prophets have increased; and many have risen for the monetary profit, fame, and prestige they seek to gain.
How can we discern truth from false doctrine? By searching and knowing the Scriptures. When the apostle Paul was on a missionary journey for the teaching of the gospel, he came to Berea. There were those who believed and received the word with all readiness and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
It is laziness on the part of the believer and non-believer alike to just take the word of another without searching the Scriptures to discover truth for yourself. There will be untold millions at the Great White Judgment Throne of God who will try and rely upon the excuse, “But Lord, I didn’t know what you required of me.”
Paul told young Timothy, his son in the faith, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” (2 Timthy 2:14-16)
Some people will also try and rely on the excuse, “Lord, the Bible was just too difficult to understand.” But such an excuse will not be sufficient either because God has declared that he will be found of all who seek him with a sincere heart.
May you come to a clear understanding of spiritual truth as God reveals to you his will and way for your life.
Jerry l. Dunn is pastor of Oak Street Baptist Church in Kingman.
