Snares of Satan
435
teachers, not merely as vicious men, but as inculcators of falsehoods
that were fatal to the soul. Elijah, Jeremiah, Paul, firmly and fearlessly
opposed those who were turning men from the word of God. That
liberality which regards a correct religious faith as unimportant found
no favor with these holy defenders of the truth.
The vague and fanciful interpretations of Scripture, and the many
conflicting theories concerning religious faith, that are found in the
Christian world are the work of our great adversary to confuse minds
so that they shall not discern the truth. And the discord and division
which exist among the churches of Christendom are in a great measure
due to the prevailing custom of wresting the Scriptures to support a
favorite theory. Instead of carefully studying God’s word with humility
of heart to obtain a knowledge of His will, many seek only to discover
something odd or original.
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In order to sustain erroneous doctrines or unchristian practices,
some will seize upon passages of Scripture separated from the con-
text, perhaps quoting half of a single verse as proving their point,
when the remaining portion would show the meaning to be quite the
opposite. With the cunning of the serpent they entrench themselves
behind disconnected utterances construed to suit their carnal desires.
Thus do many willfully pervert the word of God. Others, who have an
active imagination, seize upon the figures and symbols of Holy Writ,
interpret them to suit their fancy, with little regard to the testimony of
Scripture as its own interpreter, and then they present their vagaries as
the teachings of the Bible.
Whenever the study of the Scriptures is entered upon without a
prayerful, humble, teachable spirit, the plainest and simplest as well
as the most difficult passages will be wrested from their true meaning.
The papal leaders select such portions of Scripture as best serve their
purpose, interpret to suit themselves, and then present these to the
people, while they deny them the privilege of studying the Bible and
understanding its sacred truths for themselves. The whole Bible should
be given to the people just as it reads. It would be better for them not to
have Bible instruction at all than to have the teaching of the Scriptures
thus grossly misrepresented.
The Bible was designed to be a guide to all who wish to become
acquainted with the will of their Maker. God gave to men the sure word
of prophecy; angels and even Christ Himself came to make known