Yes — handling the Word of God carefully is essential because God will judge believers by this Book alone, and careless teaching can mislead people.
Les Feldick teaches that believers will stand before the Lord and be judged on the basis of the Bible and nothing else, so it behooves us to know what the Book actually says — including what it does not say. Many people are 'brainwashed' into believing things are in Scripture that are not, which is exactly why the Word must never be treated carelessly. The remedy is to search the Scriptures by comparing Scripture with Scripture and to read slowly and carefully rather than merely reading to check a box.
2 Timothy 2:15 — Paul's command to study and rightly divide the Word of Truth is the clearest biblical mandate for careful handling of Scripture.
2 Peter 1:20 — Because no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation, the Word must be handled by comparing Scripture with Scripture.
Acts 17:11 — The Bereans searched the Scriptures daily to test what they were taught — the model of careful, verifying Bible study.
The Bible commands believers to study the Word so that they may be approved by God as workmen who are not ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Scripture is not of any private interpretation (2 Peter 1:20), which means no passage can be understood apart from the whole of Scripture. The Bereans in Acts 17:11 provide the pattern: they received the Word with readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see whether the things they were taught were so.
The Word of God carries an awesome responsibility and must never be treated carelessly or flippantly. Les acknowledges that differences of opinion can be perfectly legitimate — the Lord recognizes that — but that does not excuse careless handling of Scripture. The stakes are eternal: believers will not stand before the Lord pleading what their denomination said; they will be judged on the basis of this Book and nothing else, so it behooves everyone to know what the Book actually says (Clips 0, 1, 6). Careful handling means showing people not only what the Bible says but also what it does not say, because so many have things 'construed in their mind' and have been 'brainwashed' into thinking things are in Scripture that are not. Les urges his audience to search the Scriptures for themselves — comparing Scripture with Scripture — rather than trusting tradition or any group's claims. His stock answer to callers with questions is 'what does your Bible say?', and if they cannot find it, 'you better run from it' (Clips 2, 5, 6). Finally, careful study is for every believer, not just the educated few. God wants everyone to become students of the Book — as Paul told Timothy, to study and rightly divide the Word of Truth. This means reading slowly and carefully, never glossing over a passage or taking it lightly (Clips 4, 7).
Les Feldick says most people have been 'brainwashed' into thinking a lot of things are in the Bible that are not, and they think things ought to be in certain places where they are not. He frequently gets calls from viewers who cannot find a teaching in their own Bible, and his stock answer is: 'If you can't find it, then you better run from it.' Because believers will be judged by this Book and nothing else, careless handling that lets error spread is a serious danger.
Les says the whole idea of Bible study is to read carefully — not just read to say you have read. Since no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation, no verse stands alone; God expects believers to search the Scriptures by comparing Scripture with Scripture. This is why Paul told Timothy to study, to show himself approved unto God and rightly divide the Word of Truth. Les takes passages slowly and carefully because none of it can be glossed over or taken lightly.
Les Feldick points out that people often ask why God did not make the Bible plainer or simpler. His answer is that 'God knew He wasn't dealing with third graders. For the most part God is dealing with adults.' God knows believers have the ability to search the Scriptures, and the way to search is by comparing Scripture with Scripture.
No. Les Feldick teaches that you do not have to be highly educated or have a great theological education to comprehend the Scriptures. He notes that the Dark Ages came when the church pulled the Scriptures away from the common man and confined them to the monasteries because they thought only the monks and educated could discern the Word of God. But God intends for every one of us to become students — to study, not just to read.
Les warns that many believers are 'hidebound by tradition,' and he reminds his audience that 'if there's any word in the Scripture that is condemned, it's tradition.' Believers must be careful not to find themselves locked into a tradition that is not in line with the Scriptures. His goal is to help people see what the Bible really says and how it is so gloriously and supernaturally put together that human hands could never have done it.
Careless Treatment Is Never Excused
Les teaches that even though legitimate points of difference exist, believers must be so careful that they never treat the Word of God carelessly.
We Will Be Judged by the Book
Les teaches that believers will stand before the Lord and be judged by this Book alone, so it behooves everyone to know what the Book actually says and does not say.
No Private Interpretation
Les teaches that no Scripture is wrapped up in a single verse — God expects adults to search the Word by comparing Scripture with Scripture.
Beware of Hidebound Tradition
Les teaches that tradition is a word condemned in Scripture and believers must guard against being locked into traditions that are not in line with the Word.
Study, Not Merely Read
Les teaches that God wants every believer, not just the educated, to become a student of the Bible in the way Paul described to Timothy — to study and rightly divide the Word.
Know What Is NOT in the Book
Les teaches that most people have been brainwashed into thinking things are in the Bible that are not, so recognizing what is absent from Scripture is as important as seeing what is present.
Test Everything Against the Bible
Les teaches that the safeguard against error is to search the Scriptures for yourself — and if you cannot find a teaching in your Bible, you better run from it.
Read Slowly and Carefully
Les teaches that the whole idea of Bible study is to read carefully and take passages slowly; none of the Word can be glossed over or taken lightly.
2 Timothy 2:15: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Paul's instruction to Timothy is the biblical mandate for disciplined, careful study and right handling of the Word.
2 Peter 1:20: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
This verse is the basis for comparing Scripture with Scripture rather than isolating a single verse.
Acts 17:11: These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
The Bereans model the careful practice of testing every teaching against the written Word.
Les Feldick says there may be points of difference that are perfectly legitimate and that the Lord recognizes that. But on the other hand, believers have to be so careful that they do not treat the Word carelessly. Legitimate disagreement does not remove the responsibility of every teacher to handle Scripture with care.
Many people have things 'construed in their mind' — thinking the Bible says things it does not actually say. Les says his goal is to show people what the Book says and what it does not say, because a lot of what people believe cannot be found in Scripture. If a teaching cannot be found, the safest response is to run from it.
No. Les teaches that believers are not going to stand before the Lord and plead what their denomination says — that will not work. 'We're going to be judged on the basis of this Book and nothing else,' he says, which is exactly why careful handling of the Word matters.
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