Scripture Twisting (4)

Those seduced by feminism twist I Timothy 2:12 which declares (regarding the church institute), "I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man." We are told that this was only for their day, as if the ascended Christ was not laying down rules for the governance of His church till the end of the age (6:14). We are told that Paul was a bigot or a male chauvinist, as if "our beloved brother Paul" were not an inspired apostle who wrote "according to the wisdom given unto him" (II Peter 3:15).

Scientism teaches that the universe was formed through a massive explosion billions of years ago and that life evolved from the primeval slime. Those who swallow this false teaching and seek to retain some connection with the Bible then "reinterpret" (i.e. "twist") Genesis 1 and other passages. The fourth commandment’s "in six days the Lord made heaven and earth" goes onto the torturer’s rack, as do the "days" and the "mornings and evenings" of Genesis 1. And, lo and behold, we find that "days" here are millions and millions of years.

Professed Christians twist Scripture when they claim that it does not condemn sodomy, and so we could continue. In fact, some modern hermeneutical theorists are arguing that the reader and not the text determines the text’s meaning!

Against all Scripture twisters, the believer must hold fast the Reformed truth that Scripture interprets Scripture and that "the whole counsel of God" may be "deduced" from Scripture by "good and necessary consequence" (Westminster Confession 1.6). So watch out for Scripture twisting in seminaries and in churches; in books and in tapes; by theologians, by ministers and by professing Christians. Do not be deceived!

People perish in hell for unrepentant Scripture twisting. Westminster Larger Catechism 113 explains this as a sin against the third commandment which forbids "any way perverting the word, or any part of it." Perverting the Scriptures "enables" a man to reject more of the Word and to live more loosely. Those teachers who twist the Scriptures lead others to perdition for "if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch" (Matt. 15:14). The Scriptures which they twisted shall judge them at the last day.

Scripture twisting is a characteristic of the false church. Belgic Confession 29 states, "As for the false church, she ascribes more power and authority to herself and her ordinances than to the Word of God, and will not submit herself to the yoke of Christ." The false church practises Scripture twisting to support her false teaching and her power. Therefore Christ will destroy the false church.