A.W. Bowman
Member
- Joined
- May 18, 2025
- Messages
- 18
About 25 years ago, I posted these thoughts on another forum, as a caution to those in a position of spiritual leadership/teacher/counselor.
A Bible study, for the most part, requires extensive preparation and actual "study". Like most people who would be teachers of the word of God, I have taken shortcuts in the writing and presentations of studies. That is, going through some notes and patching them together. Or, I could take a theme that I have been taught on years ago and polish it up with a few different/new words - the same as taking a teaching that someone else did and re-wording it as my own. I have worked to change from that "borrowed knowledge” mode into a more “original” research/study mode. [Note: On this forum, that is exactly what I am doing, i.e., collecting and ‘fixing up’ some of my old teaching, trying to clean up some errors, and to make the teaching more understandable.]
When anyone tries to create a new or original study, they risk adding to, subtracting from, or otherwise changing the scriptures to present something new and interesting, but that is not supported by the text (2 Timothy 4:3). It is neither proper nor acceptable to misapply (misuse) a verse in any teaching or study, even if the point being made is valid. Always use only the appropriate verse(s) to support or make a point. If you cannot find such a verse, most likely the point you are trying to make needs to be re-examined.
While this one danger should be enough to make any teacher apprehensive concerning what and how he/she presents in a Bible lesson, there is another danger even more critical, and that impacts the spiritual health of both the teacher and the student, i.e., the manipulation of scripture to further one’s agenda. Some teachers will use the word of God, attempting to gain authority/control over others (the love of power), to make merchandise of the believers (the love of money), seeking to make disciples of themselves (spiritual pride), or other such-like carnal motivations.
After more than 5,000 years of God working with and through men, it would seem reasonable that by now we would have discovered a workable concept of who and what God is, and what it is that we humans should be doing to establish and maintain a personal relationship with the creator of the universe. The problem: Everyone thinks that they have discovered the “perfect and acceptable way”. When any individual believes strongly enough and is persuasive enough, they can create a personal following. That new group, given enough time, will often create a new religion or at least a new division within an established religion (see the history of Christianity). Frequently, the deciding factor as to which religion (or denomination, group, or organization) becomes dominant in a region, is how ruthless the different religious camps are, and how strong and how bloody they are willing to become to establish their dominance.
Even the history of the Jews and their relationship with the Christian church (remember to love your enemies?) contains page after page of bloodletting in the name of God. Even today, we have factions that would gladly kill fellow believers in Christ Jesus over doctrinal differences. But perhaps this is one reason Jesus admonished us that to hate one’s neighbor is the same as murder. (1John 3:15)
Back to Bible studies:
We are instructed in Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun regarding men's thinking and actions (experiences). However, our God is continually doing new things. Our God did not cease being God and engaging in personal relationships with His followers (children) when John the Revelator died some 2,000 years ago. God has been neither silent nor inactive during this period. The problem: Neither has the adversity been silent or inactive! For every true spiritual leader God has placed in the church, Satan has also raised a false leader (with every kind of title and in every sort of position). For every move of God (e.g., revival) in a community, our adversary moves another Satanic-driven movement – sometimes even within a church organization. (2 Peter 2:1) This is why we must be watchful (vigilant) and both living and walking in the Spirit of God, as well as watching out for our brothers and sisters. Also see, in context, Rev. 11:7 & 13:7,8.
We are in a war! A spiritual war. A gorilla war. Sometimes there may be an army on the field ready to engage in combat with the army of God, but more frequently it is the subversion of individual saints from within, a war of attrition.
An army might have the best and most capable officers any army can have, but if the troops are untrained, undisciplined, ill-equipped, unmotivated, or simply weak, they have lost the battle before they ever take to the field! When the battle starts, they will fail! And, when the attack comes from the companion standing beside them, they become quickly confused and demoralized. Today we are encumbered with spiritual leaders (officers in God’s army) who are no better prepared to fight a war than the army they pretend to lead! The companion who is watching your back might also be a traitor, and you have no way of knowing that until it is too late. When the adversity has placed his operatives into our leadership ranks, then entire divisions of the army are given over to the enemy, e.g. Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. There is but one supreme commander, but few officers are following his orders – they are leading their personal commands according to their plans and good ideas, not God’s!(2 Peter 2:1)
Conclusion:
Bible studies do not have to be original to be true and effective; they only have to be rightly dividing the word of truth. Trying to say something “original” about a particular verse will more often result in teaching error than in revealing a new God-given revelation. When a teacher manipulates the word of God to achieve his own goals, whatever that “goal” may be, he is a false teacher – good intentions are not acceptable. Any teacher who will not accept (welcome) public examination and/or correction is a false teacher. James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters [teachers], knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation [judgment].
Bottom line:
Teachers with hidden agendas, who are not themselves teachable, even while insisting that others accept their doctrines as biblical truth, or who knowingly mishandle the word of God, are to be exposed and rejected. Remember that you, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are your highest spiritual priorities! Everything else is commentary.
Next step:
Questions to be addressed before undertaking any study:
Why am I doing this study? That is, what is my purpose (what motivates me) and what do I hope to achieve (what are my goals)? What is my payoff (what do I expect to personally gain from this study - why)? What should be the expected results in the lives of the students and my own life? How is this to be measured? Who receives recognition (glory) from this study — God or me?
I measure success when my students, in turn, become my teachers. That is when I know I have accomplished my mission. If I have not had a lasting, positive impact on the lives of my students, then why am I wasting their time and mine? How does one make this judgment, and what does one do with the results of such an examination?
To be an effective teacher, one must first become (and remain) an excellent student.
Let the studies begin!
A Bible study, for the most part, requires extensive preparation and actual "study". Like most people who would be teachers of the word of God, I have taken shortcuts in the writing and presentations of studies. That is, going through some notes and patching them together. Or, I could take a theme that I have been taught on years ago and polish it up with a few different/new words - the same as taking a teaching that someone else did and re-wording it as my own. I have worked to change from that "borrowed knowledge” mode into a more “original” research/study mode. [Note: On this forum, that is exactly what I am doing, i.e., collecting and ‘fixing up’ some of my old teaching, trying to clean up some errors, and to make the teaching more understandable.]
When anyone tries to create a new or original study, they risk adding to, subtracting from, or otherwise changing the scriptures to present something new and interesting, but that is not supported by the text (2 Timothy 4:3). It is neither proper nor acceptable to misapply (misuse) a verse in any teaching or study, even if the point being made is valid. Always use only the appropriate verse(s) to support or make a point. If you cannot find such a verse, most likely the point you are trying to make needs to be re-examined.
While this one danger should be enough to make any teacher apprehensive concerning what and how he/she presents in a Bible lesson, there is another danger even more critical, and that impacts the spiritual health of both the teacher and the student, i.e., the manipulation of scripture to further one’s agenda. Some teachers will use the word of God, attempting to gain authority/control over others (the love of power), to make merchandise of the believers (the love of money), seeking to make disciples of themselves (spiritual pride), or other such-like carnal motivations.
After more than 5,000 years of God working with and through men, it would seem reasonable that by now we would have discovered a workable concept of who and what God is, and what it is that we humans should be doing to establish and maintain a personal relationship with the creator of the universe. The problem: Everyone thinks that they have discovered the “perfect and acceptable way”. When any individual believes strongly enough and is persuasive enough, they can create a personal following. That new group, given enough time, will often create a new religion or at least a new division within an established religion (see the history of Christianity). Frequently, the deciding factor as to which religion (or denomination, group, or organization) becomes dominant in a region, is how ruthless the different religious camps are, and how strong and how bloody they are willing to become to establish their dominance.
Even the history of the Jews and their relationship with the Christian church (remember to love your enemies?) contains page after page of bloodletting in the name of God. Even today, we have factions that would gladly kill fellow believers in Christ Jesus over doctrinal differences. But perhaps this is one reason Jesus admonished us that to hate one’s neighbor is the same as murder. (1John 3:15)
Back to Bible studies:
We are instructed in Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun regarding men's thinking and actions (experiences). However, our God is continually doing new things. Our God did not cease being God and engaging in personal relationships with His followers (children) when John the Revelator died some 2,000 years ago. God has been neither silent nor inactive during this period. The problem: Neither has the adversity been silent or inactive! For every true spiritual leader God has placed in the church, Satan has also raised a false leader (with every kind of title and in every sort of position). For every move of God (e.g., revival) in a community, our adversary moves another Satanic-driven movement – sometimes even within a church organization. (2 Peter 2:1) This is why we must be watchful (vigilant) and both living and walking in the Spirit of God, as well as watching out for our brothers and sisters. Also see, in context, Rev. 11:7 & 13:7,8.
We are in a war! A spiritual war. A gorilla war. Sometimes there may be an army on the field ready to engage in combat with the army of God, but more frequently it is the subversion of individual saints from within, a war of attrition.
An army might have the best and most capable officers any army can have, but if the troops are untrained, undisciplined, ill-equipped, unmotivated, or simply weak, they have lost the battle before they ever take to the field! When the battle starts, they will fail! And, when the attack comes from the companion standing beside them, they become quickly confused and demoralized. Today we are encumbered with spiritual leaders (officers in God’s army) who are no better prepared to fight a war than the army they pretend to lead! The companion who is watching your back might also be a traitor, and you have no way of knowing that until it is too late. When the adversity has placed his operatives into our leadership ranks, then entire divisions of the army are given over to the enemy, e.g. Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple. There is but one supreme commander, but few officers are following his orders – they are leading their personal commands according to their plans and good ideas, not God’s!(2 Peter 2:1)
Conclusion:
Bible studies do not have to be original to be true and effective; they only have to be rightly dividing the word of truth. Trying to say something “original” about a particular verse will more often result in teaching error than in revealing a new God-given revelation. When a teacher manipulates the word of God to achieve his own goals, whatever that “goal” may be, he is a false teacher – good intentions are not acceptable. Any teacher who will not accept (welcome) public examination and/or correction is a false teacher. James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters [teachers], knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation [judgment].
Bottom line:
Teachers with hidden agendas, who are not themselves teachable, even while insisting that others accept their doctrines as biblical truth, or who knowingly mishandle the word of God, are to be exposed and rejected. Remember that you, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are your highest spiritual priorities! Everything else is commentary.
Next step:
Questions to be addressed before undertaking any study:
Why am I doing this study? That is, what is my purpose (what motivates me) and what do I hope to achieve (what are my goals)? What is my payoff (what do I expect to personally gain from this study - why)? What should be the expected results in the lives of the students and my own life? How is this to be measured? Who receives recognition (glory) from this study — God or me?
I measure success when my students, in turn, become my teachers. That is when I know I have accomplished my mission. If I have not had a lasting, positive impact on the lives of my students, then why am I wasting their time and mine? How does one make this judgment, and what does one do with the results of such an examination?
To be an effective teacher, one must first become (and remain) an excellent student.
Let the studies begin!
