Biblical Malpractice

“But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” - Deuteronomy 18:20
 
 
It is estimated 225,000 people die each year from some form of medical malpractice in which a doctor or health care provider administers the wrong medication, performs some surgical error, or provides a wrong diagnosis that causes someone to become ill, experience injury, and in the most extreme case, die. Any time an error occurs due to negligence or an avoidable mistake, the practitioner is guilty of malpractice.
 
Doctors take what is called a “Hippocratic oath,” which is a promise to do good and not to harm. It is similar to the oath lawyers take when they pass the bar to do justice and to uphold the legal protections of the constitution.  
 
Just as these practitioners are responsible for ensuring there is no professional malpractice to those entrusted in their care, we must make sure that we are not guilty of biblical malpractice—misrepresenting the Word of God and causing others to sin or turn away from God. God entrusts us to be good stewards and representatives of Him. We must not use the Word of God to justify or teach something in which God does not condone.  
 
The best way that we can ensure that this does not occur is: 1) taking into account the language, culture, and history of the Bible verses, 2) seeking spiritual guides that have studied the Word and live according to the Word, and 3) most importantly, praying to God for spiritual discernment that He will lead us down the path of truth.  
 
God is invested in our spiritual walk and in our true communion with Him. He will ensure that we do not commit biblical, and spiritual, malpractice as long as we invest the time in seeking Him.