Perhaps that sounds like a strange statement.

But we live in an age when everyone seems to know what the gospel is. Or at least they say that they do.

Leading to interpretations of what the gospel is being scattered all over the map. With new interpretations popping up all the time. New heresies, old heresies, and a bunch of mutations on the new and old combined.

Along with new teachers telling us all about how to have gospel-centered ministries. And how to transform your church into a gospel-centered one.

With very few of these “gospel-centered” ideas actually being Bible centered – let alone Christ centered.

Because their view of the gospel is based on or influenced by many things not related to the Bible.

From all this ministry talk, one might think that the gospel must be a very fluid thing. Something customizable, like clay formed by a potter. Something that can be conformed to suit or appeal to the culture or the times in which people live.

But it is not.

The gospel is Not nebulous. Not holistic. Not fluid. And Not open to interpretation.

The source of the gospel is based solely upon the written word of God. By comparing scripture with scripture. By rightly dividing the word of truth.

By taking the whole counsel of God into consideration.

The Bible is NOT “Informed” by the World

In other words, the Bible interprets itself.

And the truths contained within its pages are revealed to the believer within that framework by the Lord Himself through His Spirit.

Nevertheless, it has become commonplace to hear Christian teachers speaking of this or that thing that must be used to “inform” the scriptures. Meaning that the Bible must be interpreted through a specific lens or lenses to be rightly understood.

With that “informing” coming from all kinds of directions. And with the modern believer encouraged to be “open-minded” regarding truth and doctrine. And pragmatic regarding methods and traditions.

Because these popular Christian teachers say, by being open to these new ways of thinking and “doing ministry” and “doing church”, we are better able to win the culture to Christ. Better able to have an impact on the world and not to become marginalized by them.

But there are some very hard realities that these modern Evangelical teachers will not face.

Some “In-Formed” Examples

For example, groups of supposedly “Christian” scientists and theologians have been saying that a proper interpretation of the scriptures must be “informed by science”. And, since they now choose to accept Evolution as science, the scriptures must supposedly be interpreted in harmony with Evolutionary theory.

But this idea is absolutely contrary to biblical truth. And destroys a believer’s confidence in the authority and accuracy of the Bible.

Others say that the morality followed by believers and the church must be “informed by the culture”. Which, practically means, that the cultural norms relating to pre-marital sex, pornography, homosexuality, trans-sexuality, feminism, and so much else should be embraced and tolerated by the church.

Others say we need to be “contextual” (or informed by the context in which we find ourselves) in our teaching and ministries. Because spiritual truth should be changed, softened, and re-configured to win whatever culture we are trying to win for Christ.

Which means that the gospel should be trimmed and deconstructed to please whomever these Christians are trying to “win”. Which they believe they can do by creating a less-offensive gospel. So, they can get more “decisions” for Christ.

And, of course, you have Catholicism and other false religious groups, who teach that the the Bible needs to be “informed by the Traditions” of the Church. They claim that Tradition and the Scriptures are equal. That they “stand together” to give a fuller, richer truth.

Which is absolutely different than the Fundamentalist who accepts the Bible as the final authority. Or at least he used to. Hard to say anymore.

The end result of Traditions or scientific consensus being used as the “guide” is really no different than the “informed” idea. With the goal of such an idea being to move believers away from trust in the literal, historical record – the Infallible Record – of God’s word.

Such as from a belief in the literal, 6-Day Creation or in the world-wide flood of Noah.

The goal has been to make shallow Evangelicals open to an Evolutionary / Symbolic / Analogous interpretation of Genesis 1 and 2. Which destroys the authority of the scriptures.

Since right out of the gate, doubts are introduced.

How to Remain Un-Informed

To put it more plainly, the culture does not “inform” the gospel.

Humanism, socialism, Marxism, nor any other “ism” informs the gospel.

Scientific consensus does not inform the gospel.

Neither Nature nor the natural world nor natural history nor natural law informs the gospel.

Intellectual consensus does not inform the gospel.

No church authority informs the gospel.

The writings of the “ancient church fathers” do not inform the gospel. Especially since heresies were already being introduced into the church in the days of the Apostles.

Neither do Traditions inform the gospel.

No pope, prophet, priest, pastor, elder, teacher, professor, writer, council nor king informs the gospel.

Nothing informs the gospel.

How Then are We Informed?

It is incredibly difficult for today’s believer to deal with this reality. Because all of the mainstream Christian movements are working in contradiction to this fact.

The believer today is being drawn away from trusting the Bible alone. In order that the false spirit of compromise, association, and cooperation with false teaching and false brethren may grow and flourish.

So that a false sense of unity and love among “Christians” may be elevated and promoted.

However, truth and doctrine are forever established according to the written word of God. With the Holy Spirit informing us and teaching us what He means, what we must believe, Who the Lord is, and the Eternal work He alone has Finished.

Jesus Christ Alone, through His Spirit, informs us what truth is.

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (I John 5:13)

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