As all things are among Christian brothers and sisters, I was dealing with this exact topic recently in a very painful way. We were forced to meet once again with some people who spitefully use us, who desire our downfall at the least, and admittedly plan for the news of our death gleefully. Needless to say, this meeting is not one we cherish in our walk with Christ, and not one we would even wish on our worst enemies. But yet, we go, over and over, because our precious Jesus Christ has instructed us to do just that.
We talked about if we could ever stop this torturous meeting arranged by people who have such a hatred of us because we love Jesus Christ. We concluded that our actions and our walk identify us as Christians. If we did not live Christ’s Word in the rough times, as well as the easy times, then we would become worse than the most worldly wicked, and betraying our dedication to our Lord.
Your point of Christians quoting the Word of God, but living the ways of darkness was right on. So many Christians are thumping their Bibles, and walking the way of the world. So many know the words, but don’t have the Spirit to guide them. Many gain their stature and their strength from the Word to implement their own agendas.
In fact, every Christian I have ever met has fallen short of Christ’s teachings.
We believe that the Word of God is the Words to us from Jesus Christ. When we hold the Word of God, when we read His Words, it is as True as if Jesus Christ was speaking the Words directly to us.
We have seen these Words twisted and wrongly used by pretend Christians. We have seen pure Christian souls dirtied with the leaven of greed and false teachings.
If we know the Word of God, but fail to embrace and live the Spirit, then our walk with Christ is a lie.
Your stance, however, that studying the Word of God is causing unfavorable eternal consequences for those who study their Bibles, or your suggestion to focus study of the four Gospels only, without regard to the complete Word of God, is wrong.
Please consider this. If you had not known the Word of God, if you had not had access to the Word of God, then you might not have found the Truth of living and walking in the Spirit. Certainly God would have sent His Spirit to guide you toward Him, but so would have the demons of wickedness to guide you away.
I truly do not know how one can know who to listen to with confidence about Jesus Christ today. And if you can’t listen about Jesus Christ from anyone, and it is wrong as you suggest to study the Bible, then I fear you are preventing many people from considering a spiritual life led by Him.
I understand the spirit of your point, because we have the same point.
Every study we have ever done displays the Scripture, and allows the students to know and discern the Truth as led by the Spirit. That’s our whole point, and why we struggle daily to get people to open their Bibles.
Many of our confused brothers and sisters in Christ have been so brainwashed and so tricked by false teachers and false prophets, by greed and power, by laziness and educational arrogance, that they are going to be lost. If the foundation of Jesus Christ is not built on the Truth of His Word, then it is going to fall.
Please remember that young Christians do not have that basic knowledge, because of the ways of the world today, and they have no way of knowing, unless someone leads them in the name of Christ. If they have studied the Word of God, they’re gonna know who to listen to, and how they should really act, to bring glory to His Name.