Mission Venture Ministries

Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar. Proverbs 30:5-6 

The Bible is the source for our existence. Its content have been “for ever . . . settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89) and were transmitted to men on earth through God-called prophets, whose writings were given to them by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16), thru a designated period of time in human history. 

John was the last of the apostles and prophets when he wrote Revelation, and at the end of the completed inspired Scripture he is told to writes these words: “I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book”

(Revelation 22:18). This sober warning was given by the glorified Lord Jesus Himself (Revelation 22:20), so it should be taken very seriously. 

Everyone, especially ministers of the Gospel, should study the Bible and understand what God says in His Word, since it is imperative that no one add to His Word or subtract from it. No one should exaggerate what the Word tells us because you will be proven a liar, since exaggerating means ‘overstating the truth.’ Instead, we need to stick to the facts since doing otherwise will lead the flock to false teaching. Basically we must not make the Bible say what God is not saying. Therefore we need to be careful to differentiate between our opinions or views and what God says in His Holy Word. For that reason, beware of presenting your opinions as if they are God’s Words. 

Joshua 1:8 says, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” 

And the Lord said to Jeremiah, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that My word is fulfilled.” (Jeremiah 1:12). God is watching so if it is not in the Bible don’t teach it – instead, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). 

There are ministers and teachers who, for different reasons add or take away from the Word of God in their message, which shows their lack of fear of God and even worse contempt for God by acting as if they know more than God and end up confusing or misleading their flock.   

If a pastor does not understand the message, just declare the Word and don’t mislead the congregation who probably believe that since it is the minister that is teaching that he knows the truth of God’s word and therefore take literally everything what he says as truth. Sadly most churches lack Bereans (Acts 17:11) or someone that will challenge their pastor to show them where what he preached or taught it is written in God’s word. Book, chapter, verse please!   

Please understand that when we confront someone about God’s truth we should do it in love and God’s Word gives guidance on how we should do this. “Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 2:25). Note that the manner is specified ‘with gentleness’ as well as the motivation ‘that God would grant repentance.’ 

Paul confronted Peter when he learned that Peter was behaving hypocritically with respect to gentile believers (Galatians 2:11–14). This was a helpful confrontation because it was motivated by love and a passion for the health of the church. In the Old Testament, God sent Nathan the prophet to confront David about his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12:1–14). This confrontation resulted in David’s repentance and restoration. Nathan’s confrontation was not selfish because it was motivated by his best interest toward David.

If Paul had not confronted Peter, Christianity may have veered off course in the first century and dissolved into legalism or a form of Judaism. If Nathan had refused to confront David when the Lord sent him, David may have never been restored to fellowship with God and the nation of Israel would have suffered. As we see there are times when confrontation is necessary, because evading it is not good especially when it comes to declaring the truths found in God’s Word. 

The most important point is to confront caringly, for this shows respect and that you want what’s best for everyone. Trust God to help you, knowing He will give you the grace you need to obey Him. Trust also that He will work in the heart of the other person. 

Second Peter 1:20-21 says that no prophecy of Scripture becomes a matter of someone’s own interpretation, for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. 

God said in Deuteronomy 4:2, “You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, so that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I am commanding you.” 

Again, He says in Deuteronomy 12:32, “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.” 

The attitude of a person to the Word of God shows how much regard they have for God. By adding to His Word or subtracting from it does not show that they honor God who has exalted above all things His name and His word (Psalm 138:2). 

We need to learn to interpret Scripture correctly since New Testament passages affirm that Christians have the Holy Spirit to “understand the things freely given to us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:10, 12). The letter to the Ephesians teaches that God has made known to Christians “the mystery of His will” (Ephesians 1:8) and, in that letter, Paul prayed that Christians would receive “a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him” (Ephesians 1:17). We should therefore use these passages, to avoid possible well-meaning misuse of anything in the Bible and especially of the Old Testament passages addressed to Israel. 

The reason God is so adamant on this is because “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments is everlasting” (Psalms 119:160). 

Christians are called to renounce error and proclaim truth, even when it feels confrontational to the hearer; because, when confrontation is clothed in love and humility, it can accomplish a lot of good. 

Therefore, take time to familiarize yourself with this Magnificent Book and to draw nearer to God. When others teach you, make sure that you are getting the absolute truth from God’s Word by taking time to search the Scriptures for yourself just as the Bereans did “for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). 

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