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Transcript 537A
On Disagreeing with a Bible Teacher
HC: Good evening. Welcome to Open Forum.
CALLER: Good evening, Mr. Camping. We just started a study in the Book of Revelation this evening in church. I talked to the pastor who is giving the study, and don't agree with him in some of the basics of what he's talking about. In that I don't agree with him, should I keep silent, or do I have an obligation to speak up and tell it as see it?
HC: The question is, if we are in a group of believers or a congregational set up and the pastor or the evangelist or the teacher, whoever he may be, makes observations that we feel are contrary to the Word of God, what are we to do?
Well, if it's in the congregational meeting, of course, where there isn't a forum there for asking questions or raising issues, then of course you must keep silent. When the pastor preaches a sermon, you are there worshipping, and that's all you can do. Afterwards, privately, you can go to your pastor and say? "Pastor, I'm troubled by some of the things I heard tonight. I'm troubled by this verse or that verse." And offer him the passages, and ask for an explanation, if he possibly can give it. "In the light of what you said in your sermon tonight, or in your teaching tonight, what do you do with this verse?"
Now on the other hand, if it is in the form of a seminar, where perhaps there will be a message given for a half hour or forty-five minutes, or whatever, and then there will be a time of questions and answers afterwards, then by all means ask, since this is the nature of Bible study. And everyone who is a servant of God bringing the Word of God ought to be ready to give an answer from the Word of God. This ought to be a delight on their part, to face any and all scriptures. And by all means you should very tenderly and very respectfully of course raise the question, if that opportunity is afforded. "Teacher, or pastor, or professor (whatever you would address him), you know, you said so and so. Now what do you do with that particular teaching in the light of these verses here in the Bible? These seem to be contrary to what you have taught. How do you reconcile this?" And this is the way you can approach it.
I think that is better than simply standing up and saying, "Now Pastor, I disagree with you, because I read so and so." It would be better to raise the question, "What do you do with these verses?" And give him an opportunity to try to explain. And then if he does not explain, then I would again ask the question, "Pastor, I read this verse and it seems to me to say this, and the language is very plain. And I don't know what else in the Bible contradicts this. And somehow I'm troubled by what you are teaching tonight." But you want to be very tender and very patient and very respectful as you raise these issues.
CALLER: I see.