A Knife
I bought a new butcher knife recently because the one that I had was too small to work with the meat I was preparing effectively. The older knife was also very dull. I would sharpen it slightly to get a better cut but only enough to cut through what I needed. One thing you might realize is that if you get used to using a dull knife, you are getting close to danger. As I pulled out the roast and prepared to trim the meat with my new knife, I made a mistake. I applied the pressure that I normally did with the dull knife and then it happened, I cut myself. The new sharp blade cut through my fingernail and pierced my skin. It was not a good feeling at all and weeks later my fingernail was not fully grown back. What can such an instance teach us about the teaching of God's Word?
A Dullness is Dangerous
When you are used to working with a dull knife and you switch to a sharp knife you risk the danger of being cut. I have seen this manifest in many congregations over my years in the church. Classes are dull. I am not saying they are boring or the teachers themselves cannot keep the attention of the hearers, but rather I have found that teachers do not use the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God with its intended purpose (cf. Eph 6:17).
What is the intent of the sword other than to cut? How does it cut? Hebrews 4:12 reminds us, "For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." God's Word is living, it is not some dead, ineffective book, but a Word that changes the lives of all who hear and heed it. It is not inactive, it is a Word that demands action, a change, a modification of behavior, and a renewing of the mind (cf. Romans 12:1-2). It is not dull. It is sharp and cuts our consciences when we open our hearts to its meaning and accept that we are not God.
Dull teaching does not use the sharpness of the Scripture. I am afraid that in many congregations ill-prepared teachers focus on all applications without any exegesis (to explain the text, literally to draw the meaning out of the text). This dull teaching will often soften the cut of the sword of the Spirit and make it largely subjective. The natural reaction of this type of teaching is that the teacher and student are both using a dull object (man’s emotions, thoughts, and, at worst, lusts) to satisfy what they have termed Biblical education. As you can imagine, it is harder to cut with a dull knife, so it would be with dull teaching.
Sharpness Can Sting
The result of dull teaching is that when the switch is made to sharp teaching, people will feel the sting. God’s truth cuts. It should cut. God is not interested in sin management; He is interested in a saved people who are called by His Name. God is Holy, how should His people be? The Spirit of God explains,
Wherefore girding up the loins of your mind, be sober and set your hope perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as children of obedience, not fashioning yourselves according to your former lusts in the time of your ignorance: but like as he who called you is holy, be ye yourselves also holy in all manner of living; because it is written, Ye shall be holy; for I am holy.
This holiness does not happen by accident for the New Testament Christian. It happens when we are pricked, cut, and feel the sting of God’s Word. The inspired message of Acts 2:36-37 included stinging words that cut the hearers. It is written,
“Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and the rest of the apostles, Brethren, what shall we do?”
If the Holy Spirit had not taught the cutting truth that the Jewish hearers were guilty of crucifying Christ, would they have ever responded with "What shall we do?" The Word of God is the only thing that will prompt change in the life of a sinner to bring them to repentance. A dull knife can never do what the sharp Word of God does. So, one must remember this lest they count themselves offended by what the Word of God says.
The one wielding the sword of the Spirit will not use it to hurt intentionally but to cut nonetheless. For those who have been tucked in quietly by dull teaching, this might sting, but before you close your ears to the teacher using the sword, ask yourself this first: is what he is saying true? If yes, you must submit to God's Word. Second: is what he is saying refutable with the proper use of God's Word in another passage? If yes, what is that passage? Can you explain why it is such?
We Need to Learn How to Handle the Word Safely
A dull knife lulls the child of God into error. He will go to great lengths to explain away clear passages. He will also take obscure and difficult passages and weaponize them to make strange doctrines. A sharp knife, though it stings when it cuts our consciences, helps us to understand what we are called to be as children of God. It helps us to avoid sin and become disgusted by the trouble it yields in our own lives and those we know and love.
The Word of God will change us for better or for worse. For better if we allow the Word, though sharp and stinging at times, to move us to repentance of sin. For worse if we allow dull teaching to callous our hearts so much that the Word cannot penetrate in. Paul asked the Galatian Christians this question, “So then am I become your enemy, by telling you the truth?” (Gal 4:16). If we are willing to use the sword as intended, we will never be an enemy, but if we allow dull teaching, we will never live the truth.
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
