Self-styled theologians, always cloaked in a facade of benevolence, are purveying a gospel that is a rude departure from the sound, uncompromising truths of Scripture. They twist the words of the Bible to advance a secular agenda, often under the guise of social justice, repackaging the gospel to suit modern sensibilities and political correctness. In this distortion of Divine revelation, the essential doctrines of the Christian faith are discarded, leaving behind a hollow shell that may appeal to human pride but lacks the power to save.

Paul Washer’s admonition rings with thunderous clarity: “Twist not the word of God, lest you be like Satan.” This is not mere rhetoric—it’s a sobering reminder that even the devil can masquerade as an angel of light, quoting Scripture for his own ends, as he brazenly did in his temptation of Christ. Yet, unlike the wavering of some, Christ’s response to such perversions of His own words was not one of tolerance or accommodation but of authoritative correction.

A tweet has recently surfaced by one of our times’ most notorious social gospel Scripture Twisters, Kevin M. Young, (not to be confused with Kevin DeYoung), that portrays the exchange between Jesus and the inquirer about eternal life, focusing on the parable of the Good Samaritan, as if mercy in isolation from doctrine, repentance, and belief were the sole requirement for salvation. This interpretation is not just erroneous, it is a flagrant perversion of the Gospel. It’s a misstep of colossal proportions to suggest that Jesus, in His response, set aside the weighty matters of faith for a simplistic call to ‘just mercy.’

First off, what an absolutely stupid thing to say. The narrative of the Good Samaritan was for the purpose of teaching the Jews that no matter how righteous they were they could never achieve justification before God. The Good Samaritan was not about how to be a good guy and show charity. It took the most extreme example of selflessness that the Jews would recognize and was presented to them because they knew they would never do it. It’s like when Jesus said that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees you will die in your sins.

He wasn’t saying that because of how rotten and nasty the Pharisees were. The Pharisees were the Pinnacle of righteousness and purity in the eyes of the Jews. His point was unless you are more righteous than anything you could imagine, you will never justify yourself before god. That’s what the Good Samaritan is about—not going about being a feel-good do-gooder.

Don’t be fooled by trash like this. That tweet is just a social gospel abomination—go about being a selfless giving person and you will be fulfilling the law of Christ. It’s been around forever. Ironically enough, it’s exactly the spirit of the Pharisees. What he is saying is “Look at me. Look how good I am.” Same with the Rich Young ruler. All of these examples that Jesus is giving the Jews are for the purpose of demonstrating to them that their entire quest for justification before God by The works of the law was entirely in vain.

Again, ironically enough, it wouldn’t be until they actually got some sound doctrine that they could be justified before God. It could be said with some validity that Jesus’ earthly ministry before his death burial and Resurrection carried with it the same purpose of the law itself. To be a teacher to lead them to his atoning sacrifice. “I thank thee Lord that I’m not like this publican”—attempted justification by The works of the law. The publican beats his breast with his head down and cries “Lord have mercy on me a sinner.” Justification is secured through the mercy of God, which is manifested in the fulfilled prophecy of the Messiah’s sacrificial atonement.

Satan knows sound doctrine but doesn’t want you to know it.

So let’s be clear, the gospel is not a social justice manifesto. It is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, rooted in the death and resurrection of Christ, demanding repentance from sin and faith in Jesus. The parable of the Good Samaritan is not a negation of sound doctrine but rather it refutes the notion that good deeds, devoid of the need for repentance and belief, is to amputate the gospel of its regenerative power. It is a distortion as sinister as it is subtle, a sleight of hand that exchanges the crown of thorns for a garland of flowers, the cross for a cushion. The church, the Bride of Christ, has no room for such capitulation.

Do not be enticed by the siren songs of false teachers who would dilute the Gospel to a mere ethical guide. The message of the Bible is not up for negotiation or reinterpretation based on cultural whims. Mercy, as glorious as it is when rightly understood, is the companion of truth, not its substitute. As the Bride of Christ, we are called to guard the truth with a holy fervor, proclaiming the undiluted Gospel with the unshakeable conviction that comes from knowing it is the very power of God unto salvation. It is only through the unaltered Gospel that we can truly know the fullness of mercy that leads to eternal life.