It’s been said that a lie will ride in on the horseback of truth. It won’t charge in, all sweaty and frothing, but it will ride in gently, maybe even prancing a little for you, like in a circus ring, decorated with plumes and feathers; dressed up with a fine saddle and glittering bridle.

¹But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. ² And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. ³ And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.” 1 Peter 2:1-3

In the above passage, the Apostle Peter tells us that just like false prophets arose from among the children of Israel, false teachers would arise from within the church, secretly bringing in destructive heresies. In order to bring in their heresies, they have to look like us, talk like us, and for all appearances, they are one of us. They’ll use scriptural language and quote the Bible. They’ll smile and nod approvingly at agreed upon truth. Then they’ll slip in the lie. Consider the following example, an actual comment on a blog post:

“I totally agree with you on the point that the Bible has been miraculously preserved!! It is also authoritative to instruct and to convict. But it is not the Word of God. You don’t need to believe it’s the Word of God to hold it as sacred, as I do.”

“This is important for us to understand and accept because it is partly for the infallible claim we have attached to the Bible that makes those who know even a little about its origin disregard everything it says! The Bible doesn’t need us to defend it. God defends it. It is God who has preserved it. But by saying it is the Word of God, when Jesus is the Word of God, we make an idol out of what is sacred.”

There are kind words of agreement concerning God’s hand in preserving the Bible through the ages. The Bible is acknowledged to be authoritative and useful for teaching us; and excellent guide for growing as believers.

Then comes the lie. “But it is not the Word of God.” But by saying it is the Word of God, when Jesus is the Word of God, we make an idol out of what is sacred.” The Bible is not the Word of God and if we call the Bible the Word of God we are guilty of idolatry.

Jesus is the Word of God but not the Bible, we are told, and somewhat ‘authoritatively’ at that. It’s not offered as an opinion or theological viewpoint. It’s presented as fact. The Bible is not the Word of God. Period. The Word of God cannot be both Jesus and the Bible. The reasoning is somewhat interesting, I must say, and unique among the large amount of material available attacking the inerrancy of scripture.

Well, in my opinion this particular false teacher could use a bit of mentoring in the art of ‘secretly’ bringing in a destructive heresy. Kind of like an ‘Uncle Screwtape’, if you’re a C.S. Lewis fan. The clever heretics don’t just barge in the front door and announce that the Bible isn’t the Word of God. They use the back door or a side door and cast a smidgen of doubt, they attack it little by little. They’ll suggest something to cause just a tiny bit of doubt and then water the poisonous seed, not from a bucket but a teaspoon. Kind of like the serpent in the Garden who asked the question “Did God really say…..?”

Enough has already been posted here concerning the Bible, its inerrancy, its infallibility, and the importance of holding such beliefs. There’s not much I could to what’s been said.

I just want us to be aware of a universal tactic of false teachers and their lies. The most dangerous ones, in my opinion, rise up from ‘among us’. And they ride ‘pretty horses’.

May God bless all who read this and take it to heart!