We all depend on those with more expertise than ourselves from time to time, whether it is a medical doctor, the HVAC technician, the car mechanic, or the plethora of skilled and knowledgeable people from whom we seek help. The same is true in our biblical studies. We need our pastors and Bible study teachers at church and biblical scholars who write commentaries or articles online and even blog posts to help us understand God’s Word.
(To be clear we at the RBC are in no way claiming to be scholars. We simply are seeking to share what we have learned with others. Yet, like with others you need to test what we are saying)
It can be like finding a spouse. You end up kissing a lot of frogs before you find the real deal. It is a caveat emptor (buyer beware) situation. Many will claim authority which they do not possess. They do this out of ignorance of their own short comings, out of a desire to defraud and take advantage of others, or because they have an alternate theological view: they are knowledgeable but wrong. Many biblical scholars are not Christians. They do not come to the Bible with a heart and eyes of faith but mere scholarship which leads them down wrong paths.
Think of the Egyptian religion scholar: she knows many things about Egypt, its history and its many gods of the past. Yet, she does not believe in Ra(the sun god) or any of the many other gods of ancient Egypt. The Egyptian scholar has a fascination with the area and the ancient time period but not a life-defining faith. They see the world and religion from a naturalistic perspective which denies the spiritual and the miraculous. Sadly, to her, religion is a sociological phenomenon without a God to be believed in it is merely a set of rules and rituals to study for gaining an understanding of man.
The same is true with many biblical scholars. They are fascinated with the topic and enjoy the studies of the history and even the teachings, but this does not mean they have a faith in Christ. This, no matter how learned the “scholar”, will color their understanding of Christianity. Others will combine Christian teaching with a liberal worldview creating a very non-Christian theology. Some are even atheist seeking to mock and argue against our faith.
For far too many believers, the criteria for what is truth is not the Bible but how something sounds to them. How it makes one feel. How often do you hear “I like the way the teacher puts it, it feels so right”? They will also deny the truth based on the same poor reasoning: “Hell can’t be real; my God would be more loving.” This is where we have put our feelings as the authority for faith and practice rather than the Word of God.
This being said there are good—some very good—scholars doing amazing work writing books and putting out material for the body of Christ. Many schools are producing great men and women of God able to equip the body of Christ. While we are warning strongly of the false teachers in the world and in the church, in no way are we speaking against all teachers and institutions or implying godly ones don’t exist.
So, how does one determine if a particular scholar is a good one; one from whom is worth learning. This is the million-dollar question! Sometimes it will feel like it is easier to win the million on Survivor or the Amazing Race than to find a true Christian, Bible-believing scholar.
The number one question to ask: “Is it biblical?”. Does the author keep to the Bible? Does he support what he says from other teachings in the Bible? If he depends on merely philosophical arguments, be cautious. If he seems to reject the spiritual nature of a passage or downplays the possibility of the miraculous, you should probably look for another teacher. Does he reject or question the deity of Christ? RUN away from that “scholar” as fast as you can (I John 2:21-25).
Sorry, there is no easy answer here. We don’t have a list for you. It will take time to know scholars and institutions which are trustworthy. You need to read reviews of various works and bios of the writers. The first time you read a new author you need to proceed carefully. Give them some grace to make their case. Don’t jump to conclusions when first encountering a new teacher but be ready to abandon it if it is not biblically based. It will take time to gain an understanding which will give you the foundation needed to make qualified evaluations.
Your first place to go is your pastor. Yes, he is a busy man, but nothing would thrill his heart more than to know you are seeking to dig deeper into the faith. Now don’t expect him to know every writer, book, YouTuber, or blogger out there on the drop of a dime. Send him an email asking for suggestions for resources on a subject you are interested in or an author, YouTuber or blog site which could be helpful. This will give him time to put together suggestions which will be right for you and time to investigate the sources you are questioning. If you don’t know where to start, ask him. He would love to be part of this journey of growth with you and to pray for you.
Just as when looking for a spouse, it may be best to keep a new teacher at arm’s length until we know they are the real deal rather than “puckering up” to one not worthy of our Lord and not the help you are looking for.
Until the next time we see you here at CultivatingFaith.org, God Bless! #CultivatingFaithOrg
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