“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20) Everything that is in the Word of God goes with all that is in the Word of God, not one verse stands apart from another.
Many religious organizations, churches, cults and the like are founded upon singular verses, fabricating an entire belief structure around just a few words. The Roman Catholic cult could not exist if it were not for the Apostolic Succession that they have manufactured around just a few verses our Lord spoke to Peter, concerning rocks (Matt. 16:18) and keys. (Matt. 16:19) The snake handlers in the southern parts of the United States, many Lutheran factions that profess without baptism the soul is lost for all eternity, the Charismatics, who without their speaking in tongues cannot cement the fact of their profession of faith. Singular verses of the Word of God when placed into a religious context create just that, religions, and do not differ in the least from the Pharisees of Christ’s days. “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matt. 15:9)
To help someone trapped in these religious systems is almost impossible, the fear of those in power and their supposed closer relationship to God, their “higher knowledge” of the intent of the Word of God. “To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.” (Prov. 1:6)
The Book of Proverbs is where we go to find the wisdom of God, not in its totality of course, for the entire Scriptures show the unfathomable wisdom of the Most High, of the mind that none of us throughout all of eternity will ever understand completely. “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” (1 Cor. 2:11) Without the Proverbs though, one will be lacking in the understanding of those dark sayings, of the oracles of God, for the wisest man to ever live was chosen by the Lord to write them down. Along with the Book of Ecclesiastes, these two Books impart wisdom, but only to those that the Lord has chosen to reveal Himself to in this way to.
The most proficient theologian may have an earthly sense of their meanings, pastors may be able to read them eloquently, and those in the congregations of churches may hear the words, but only the Lord can impart the meaning to us, and He only does so to those who are willing to humble themselves before Him. “The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.” (Psalm 147:6)
This divine knowledge, if you will, is not to be hidden, it is to be shared with all we meet, in whatever form the Holy Spirit sees fit for that particular circumstance, and for where the person we are speaking to is at that moment in their life, saved or lost. But with this must come the understanding that at times we are not to cast these great pearls of wisdom to swine, (Matt. 7:6) to those who would trample them as useless words. Here is where the study of not only these two Books, but the entire Word of God comes into play, for as we began this short letter, no Scripture is of any private interpretation.
The proof of this, in only one part, are the words that Satan spoke to the Lord while He was being tempted in the wilderness for forty days, he used the Word of God, attempting to twist it to his own design, for his own purposes.
If the church that you are attending cannot back up everything that is taught there with the Word of God, in context, and verifiable throughout the entire Word of God, leave. Attempt to show them the errors of their ways, but if they will not listen, and if you are positive that is the Lord showing you these truths, leave. He may lead you into a dry and thirsty land for a while, but you will never be more satisfied.