We received many comments and questions about Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) from our E-News on January 27th. Jane's offer of encouragement and discernment to the group leader who called her was in response to what was happening in the local group and not a reflection on the BSF organization as a whole. Historically, it has proven to be an organization that has helped many Christians grow in their understanding of God's Word. However, like any international organization, the local group is only as doctrinally sound as the leadership that is responsible for ministering the Bible study.

I spent a year in BSF before going to seminary so I can speak from personal experience about the organization. BSF does an excellent job of encouraging people to study God's Word. The discipline of daily study and answering questions helps believers grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The policy that I had a difficult time with was their relationship with unbelievers, especially those of the Catholic faith. The BSF policy does not allow anyone in the small group to lovingly and gently correct a person who voices fatal errors or comments on the Gospel of salvation. We must ask the question, what good is a Bible study if the absolute authority for truth is not used to correct those who are in error? Paul makes this point well in 2 Timothy 3:15-16, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." I can understand the BSF policy when it comes to non-essentials of the faith, but when people who embrace a false gospel can not be corrected, there is a serious problem. To encourage confusion instead of clarity over the Gospel when eternity is a stake goes directly against God's Word. An example of this is the apostle Paul. He did not encourage the Judaizers who infiltrated the church in Galatia with their perversion of the Gospel (Gal. 1:6-9).

The small group leader, who called our office to talk with Jane, expressed her concerns with the local BSF leadership. The lecturer was affirming the rumors that "thousands of Muslims were coming to Jesus after seeing visions." Whereas we know God has used visions in the past, He has a specific way to save sinners in the church age through the Great Commission. Saving faith comes from hearing the objective truth of His Word, not from seeing subjective visions (Rom. 10:17). Every spirit must be tested by the Word to determine if it is from God (1 John 4:1). When the women in BSF heard that God was saving people through visions instead of hearing the Gospel, we must wonder what effect this had on their evangelism? Any Bible study leader who refuses to stand on the Word of God needs to be lovingly corrected.

The group leader also was concerned about the BSF endorsement of The Message Bible which, you may know, is a very loose translation of God's Word. Many interpretations of Scriptures in The Message Bible are so perverted they misrepresent the truth. She was also alarmed at the choice and endorsement of the apostate church in which the BSF meetings were being held. She did not want to be affiliated with or associated with that kind of church. When she approached the leadership with her concerns, they defended their position rather than correcting the problems. 

In these times of great deception we must encourage everyone to be good Bereans, to have discernment, to test everything and hold on to what is good. Compromise is occurring everywhere. The temptation to accept it and go along with the crowd is great. However whenever the purity of the Gospel is being undermined we must contend for the faith regardless of how unpopular it makes us. There is much at stake if we don't - the glory of God, the sanctity of His Church and the eternal destiny of souls. May God help us to never shrink back in the battle for truth!