Their One-Verse Theology Stinks

The devil loves to deceive many with manipulated interpretations of Bible texts. Deceit is his superpower. That’s all he has. Unfortunately, his schemes work on those who won’t take the time to seek God or even read the Bible in full context.

I grew up in the church being spoon fed Bible texts with twisted interpretations that were based on one-verse theologies. I’m as much to blame. It was stupid for me to expect someone else to teach me what I should have been responsible for myself. How hard is it to read a book? If I had bothered to spend the time reading the entire Bible (yes, including the Old Testament), I could have had enough data to contrast and analyze when a bogus interpretation was being presented. But I was as lazy as most churchgoers are, and I got what I deserved.

But now that I have much Bible reading under my belt of truth, and the benefit of hearing God’s voice in prayer, I can correctly discern misinterpreted theologies with expertise. I don’t enjoy realizing that I trusted the wrong pastors to teach me correctly. It was up to me to take command of my own training. So, let me ask you something … do you think that there should be two sets of doctrines: one for the unchurched and one for the mature believer? I hope your answer is “no”. It seems like The Grove Church and its false doctrines are being excused largely because they are primarily teaching the unchurched (newbies of all ages). Are they right to twist the Scriptures to make it more easily digestible and palatable for the immature believer? The problem with that technique is that one day they are going to discern that their form of religion was largely incorrect. They are going to resent being deceived and wasting their time.

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3 NIV)

I was going to describe some examples of one-verse theologies here, but instead I’m asking for conversation. What one verse theologies have you encountered over the years? Which ones makes you the most concerned for younger generations? Which ones do you feel qualified to dispute? The last question probably has you thinking that you would rather not be in my shoes when it comes to confronting the false doctrines in the churches and rebuking the false teachers. Please feel free to comment about the one-verse theologies that you have seen promoted in the churches that are contrary to the heart of God.