A prominent pastor and conference speaker recently stated in an evangelical meeting that we should stop focusing so much on whether the Bible is God’s Word and get back to preaching Jesus’ death and resurrection. I agree that we should definitely emphasize the preaching of Jesus’ death and resurrection. But at the same time, the fact that the Bible is God’s Word is also crucial considering that I Cor. 15:3-4 reveals Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection were “according to the scriptures”. If the scriptures are wrong, so possibly is Jesus’ death and resurrection! 

More and more believers are trying to emphasize how unimportant proper interpretation of scripture is. For instance, some would stress that however you interpret Prov. 22:6, the main thing is that you properly train your children. The problem with this thinking is that what you believe affects how you behave and how you behave determines what you become. For instance, Gen. 1:1 is a foundational verse for Christianity. Many criticize anyone who believes God created the universe in 6 literal days from nothing. If you believe the universe came from chaos or that there are “gaps” in the Genesis account of creation, it negatively affects the way you interpret the rest of God’s Word and God’s ways. One example of the negative effect: these type of people (like the Deists) tend to believe God barely interacts with His creation via present-day miracles, revival, etc…. That belief system greatly affects our behavior and what we ultimately become. Or what about Jesus as the only Savior of the world? Many criticize those of us who believe that there is no way to get to heaven except through Jesus (Jn. 14:6). If you just accept anything for salvation, however, that affects everything else you do, especially your eternity. 

Proverbs 22:6 is a foundational verse to parenting. It gives direction and hope at the same time conviction if you do not line up. The person who doubts this verse or waters down this verse or fights this verse tends to do the same thing throughout their parenting. They tend to make exceptions in their chastening, in holiness, in commitment, in consistency. One excuse and exception always leads to another excuse and exception. For instance, the person who doesn’t hold high music standards also tends to have lower dress standards, lower TV standards, lower standards in life in general. Mark it down: what you believe affects how you behave and how you behave determines what you become. This is one reason why interpreting Proverbs 22:6 is so crucial.