I would rather have a crooked creed and a straight Bible

(Charles Spurgeon)

My love of consistency with my own doctrinal views, is not great enough to allow me to knowingly alter a single text of Scripture. I have great respect for orthodoxy, but my reverence for inspiration is far greater. I would sooner a hundred times over, appear to be inconsistent with myself, than be inconsistent with the Word of God.

If your creed and Scripture do not agree, then cut your creed to pieces and make it agree with this Book. The Word of God is the infallible chart of faith. Follow it closely, for this Book cannot lead you astray.

Some want to shape the Scriptures to fit their creed, and they get a very nice square creed too, and trim the Bible most dexterously. It is astonishing how they do it, but I would rather have a crooked creed and a straight Bible, than I would try to twist the Bible to suit what I believe.

Those who will only believe what they can reconcile in their own minds, will necessarily disbelieve much of divine revelation.

Those who receive by faith everything which they find in Scripture, will receive many things which they can never harmonize into a definitive creed.

 

Charles Simeon:
There are sentiments in the Scriptures themselves, not really opposite, but apparently of an opposite tendency, according to the subject that is addressed.

Most people set these passages at variance, and espouse the one in opposition to the other. But on the whole, it is better to state these apparently opposite truths in the plain and unsophisticated manner of the Scriptures, than to enter into academic subtleties that have been invented for the upholding of humanly invented theological systems.

Many will be ready to condemn me as being inconsistent; but, if I speak in exact conformity with the Scriptures, I shall rest the vindication of my conduct simply on the authority and example of the Inspired Writers. I have no desire to be wise above what is written, nor any conceit that I should teach God to speak with more correctness than He has already spoken in His Word.