I Know What the Bible Says BUT…

Our years in the United Kingdom were some of the most shaping of my ministry and my family’s life. We loved the people, the history, the sense of community. But when people ask me, “What surprised you most about living there?” I always pause for a second and then say with a laugh, “Getting confronted publicly while preaching right in the middle of my sermon!”

Most people don’t believe me at first. They assume I’m exaggerating. But I’m not. It happened more than once. And it taught me lessons I’ll never forget.

It was a Sunday morning, and I was preaching in a small but vibrant church. The service had been going smoothly, the worship had been powerful, and people seemed hungry for the Word. As I preached, I made a passing statement I had shared many times before:

“It wasn’t love that held Jesus to the cross. It wasn’t even the nails. It was the purpose of God.”

The moment the words left my mouth, a woman about halfway back stood up and shouted, “You’ll never convince me of that! It was love that held Him there!”

I was stunned. For a split second, I thought maybe she was joking. But she wasn’t. She was red in the face, her voice trembling with emotion.

I took a breath and tried to steady the moment. “Ma’am,” I said kindly, “according to Mark 14, when Jesus prayed, ‘Father, if there be any other way, let this cup pass from me,’ we see that it was His obedience to God’s purposes that kept Him there.”

Before I could even finish, she shouted again: “I know what the Bible says, but you’ll never convince me differently!”

That sentence hung in the air like smoke. I know what the Bible says… but.

I didn’t even know how to respond. I glanced at the pastor. I glanced at the congregation. And then I just stood there, quiet, letting the weight of her words sink in.

After the service, our family laughed it off. “That was probably a one-off,” I said. “A strange moment that won’t happen again.”

But three weeks later, it happened again.

That Sunday, I was preaching from Matthew 26 about the woman who poured expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus. Everything was going beautifully. The congregation was engaged, leaning in. Then I made a statement that many scholars agree on: that she likely bought that perfume with the money she earned from her former life as a prostitute.

Before I could elaborate, a man stood up, his face set in anger. “There’s no way you could convince me that Jesus would allow oil bought with that kind of money to be poured on Him!”

The room went tense.

I raised my Bible and gently said, “If you’ll turn in your Scriptures with me”

And that’s when he cut me off and bellowed: “I DON’T CARE WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS!”

I’ve ministered around the world. I’ve been challenged, debated, even disagreed with and I welcome healthy dialogue. But here’s the thing: not once have I ever been confronted because I misquoted Scripture. Not once has it been because I twisted God’s Word.

It has always been this: “I know what the Bible says, BUT…”

And when you hear those words, you know you’ve stepped onto dangerous ground.

Matthew 22:29 records Jesus saying, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.”

Over and over, Jesus confronted people who twisted God’s Word to fit their preference. He said things like:

   •   “You have heard it said… but I say to you…”

   •   “You know what is written… but you ignore the weightier matters…”

The problem wasn’t ignorance. They knew what the Scriptures said. The problem was rebellion. They didn’t want to submit.

And if we’re honest, don’t we all feel that temptation?

I tell my congregation often: If you ever hear yourself saying, “I know what the Bible says, but…”you’re standing in a dangerous place.

   •   “I know what the Bible says about forgiveness, but you don’t know what they did to me.”

   •   “I know what the Bible says about purity, but times are different now.”

   •   “I know what the Bible says about generosity, but my finances are tight.”

   •   “I know what the Bible says about marriage, but my situation is unique.”

Do you see the pattern? The issue isn’t confusion it’s a refusal to obey.

That morning in the UK, when that woman stood up in anger, my first instinct was to defend myself. But over time, I realized it wasn’t me she was rejecting it was the Word of God.

And here’s the truth: God doesn’t ask for our agreement; He asks for our obedience.

The Bible is not a menu where we pick the parts we like and leave the rest. It’s the living Word of God. It corrects us, shapes us, and yes it confronts us.

The next time you feel the urge to say, “I know what the Bible says, but…” stop yourself. Because in that moment, you are revealing your heart.

Either God’s Word is your authority or your feelings are.

And here’s the sobering truth: feelings change. Opinions shift. Culture evolves. But God’s Word stands forever.

So, when faced with a choice between my feelings and God’s Word I choose His Word every time.

Because His Word isn’t just true. It’s life.