Misread 3: Protecting From The Bible

Faithful teaching lets Scripture stay strange rather than softening it into something safer. This core conviction reminds us that the Bible's message should be presented faithfully, allowing its inherent truths to speak for themselves without being diluted or reinterpreted to avoid challenging concepts.
The scriptures, such as Genesis 6, Psalm 82, and 2 Peter 2, confront us with categories for spiritual beings, their rebellion, divine judgment, and God’s ultimate authority. Genesis 6:1-4 describes “the sons of God” engaging with “the daughters of man,” a passage that connects to a broader biblical narrative about an unseen realm and rebellion. Psalm 82:1 presents God presiding over a "divine council" and judging "gods," explicitly situating Him in an authoritative position over other spiritual entities. And 2 Peter 2:4 specifically recalls that “God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness.” These passages demand that we engage with the text on its own terms rather than attempting to soften or sidestep what might seem difficult or unfamiliar. Faithful teaching of scripture means explaining what it actually says, not shielding people from its specific claims.
Embracing the Bible’s challenging passages is essential because these difficult sections often contain and safeguard major biblical themes. If we remove the perceived difficulty from a text by explaining it away, we risk removing the profound teaching and theological insights it offers. Allowing the Bible to speak for itself, even in its most complex parts, strengthens your understanding of God's character, His divine plan, and the reality of the spiritual world as revealed in His Word.