Previously, I began a list of texts in the book of Malachi that showed how Israel had utterly rejected God and His word. This rejection of God by Israel can be easily seen in churches and nations throughout history including our own. We Christians would do well to learn from history!

The list continues with three more examples.

1. The ministers of God had led the people astray.

"For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of theLord of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts. Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.” (Malachi 2:7-9)

Rather than teaching the Children of Israel what God said to do, the priests chose to mix in the doctrines and practices of men. This caused the children of Israel to fall into gross error and sin. The office of priest polluted itself and lost the respect of the people. It is the same today when men who set themselves up as ministers of the word of God teach philosophies of men and encourage worldly entertainment over true worship of God. It is no wonder that true ministers of the gospel are held in such contempt or ignored altogether.

1. The teaching of poor doctrine has led many to impurity in life and religion.

"Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.” (Malachi 2:11)

The priests mixed in the traditions and beliefs of the people whom they had conquered when they inherited the promised land. This led to great confusion in the children of Israel. They could no longer distinguish between God’s way and man’s way. And so it is with many Christians today. By mixing in the doctrines and entertainments of men, preachers have confused their congregations and made it nearly impossible for the people to know how God truly requires that we worship Him. What is worse, is that this impure practice in religion leads to the next error – sanctioned immorality.

1. The eventual result of lax doctrine and practice is a immorality that is sanctioned by religion rather than taught against.

"Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him?When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” (Malachi 2:17)

The Pharisees had so perverted the word of God with their own writings and opinions that they had become masters at sinning and self justification. Without the word of God, there is no basis for morality. What God says is sin is a sin. There is no gray area of situational ethics.

On this last point, I am reminded of a very disturbing event I experienced a few years ago. While trying to start up a Bible study group which included people from various denominational backgrounds, I decided it would be best to start on common ground and then teach the doctrines of sovereign grace from there. I chose the subject of “sanctity of life.” To my utter shock, I immediately met with resistance from confessed Christians who adamantly supported abortion. Eventually, the conversation revealed root of the problem when one lady said, “I don’t care what your Bible says."

The day Christians stop using the Bible is the day they declare themselves to not be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.