Founder of the United Denominations originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, has cautioned Christians and followers not to mistake his writings for Scripture.
Speaking during an exhortation on the Book of Timothy, Bishop Heward-Mills explained that while his books are meant to guide and teach Christians how to understand and apply the Word of God, they are not the Word of God themselves.
He emphasised that many people risk misinterpreting both the Bible and his teachings when they take them out of context. Referring to 1 Timothy 5:23, where the Apostle Paul advised Timothy to “drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities,” Bishop Heward-Mills noted that this verse is a personal instruction from Paul to Timothy, not a universal commandment to the Church.
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According to him, this portion of Scripture demonstrates that the Book of Timothy was a personal letter, and not every instruction within it should be universally applied as divine law.
“If we take everything in the Bible literally without context,” he said, “then from this verse, no one should drink water anymore, and those who do not drink alcohol should even begin to do so.”
Drawing a parallel, he warned that his own books could be similarly misused if readers treat them as Scripture rather than as teachings meant to illuminate biblical truths. “My writings are not scriptures. You can misuse my writings if you think they are scripture,” he stated firmly.
Bishop Heward-Mills further explained that many believers have fallen into error by isolating verses or teachings from their intended meaning and applying them wrongly. “All things written, including my books, should not be taken out of context,” he said.
He recounted a personal experience where a lady at a party declined to serve him champagne, saying, “Oh, because of Timothy, he doesn’t take wine.” Bishop Heward-Mills used the incident to illustrate how Scripture, when misapplied, can lead to misguided conclusions and unnecessary restrictions.
He concluded his exhortation by urging Christians to study the Word of God with understanding and to recognise the difference between the inspired Scriptures and a teacher’s interpretation of them. His books, he reiterated, are tools for learning, not replacements for the Bible itself.
Bishop Dag is one of the most read authors today. You can find his books on his website: https://dagbooks.org/
