“Do you sit in judgment on the Bible or does the Bible sit in judgment on you?”
I do not remember who first asked that question or where I read it, but it is an extremely important one.
When I come across a passage of Scripture that seems to go
counter to my preferences or even cultural conditioning, I am faced with two
questions.
First, am I understanding what it says using the best understanding of the
sacred text?
Proof-texting is an error commonly practiced by Christians. Finding one
passage, without any context or real understanding, they declare they know the truth
about … well, let us just say that the list is long. When we fail to understand
that Scripture interprets Scripture, that different parts of the Bible are to
be read with a different lens, or the context into which the text was first
written, we may well go wide of the mark in our application, no matter how
sincere we are.
That is why good study is important. Choosing those from whom you receive teaching is equally important. Ask this - Are they humble? Are they letting others help to guide their study? Peter reminds us that “private interpretation” is not God’s way when he writes of the authority of the Word of God. “No prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things.”
Second, I must confront the question about whose
authority will prevail –
God’s or my own?
Christians may well be tempted to reject passages that seem ‘out of date,’ as if we are wiser than God. Better to be diligent in study, humble, and teachable. That is harder than it sounds, I promise you that.
I approach the sacred text with a high view of the Scripture, believing that in those pages we are given the inspired word of God.
Realize this – we can honestly admit when we find a hard
passage - "I just don't get it." That is very different from outright
rejection of a passage. There are truly some obscure and difficult
passages but to ignore the beauty of the whole Holy Scripture-
the prayers and meditations of the Psalms,
the accounts of God's love and provision for His people,
the amazing revelations of the grace of God in Jesus Christ,
the guidelines for Christian community in the letters – is a tragedy!
On some pages I just honestly admit I do not understand the
why, sometimes the what!
But I do understand, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only
Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal
life." (John 3:16, NLT)
We are called to "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a
worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
(2 Timothy 2:15, NKJV) That includes the "huh?" passages that defy
our full understanding as much as those that yield easily to our minds and that
feed us with Truth. We must come to the Bible with humility. We cannot assume
to be its judge. It judges us!
Yet, at the same time, I am not gullible, nor do I give up my mind to simplistic or emotional interpretation of the Scripture. Instead I study diligently, remain humbly teachable, and pray for the written Word to become the Living Word through the revelation of the Spirit.
If we would please God, we will remain submitted to the God who gave the Word to us. This is the Truth: "All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right. It is God’s way of preparing us in every way, fully equipped for every good thing God wants us to do." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NLT)
Are you a student of the whole Bible?
Do you read the words with reverence and love, praying for the Spirit to guide
you into all Truth?
Life will be richer as we discover the heart and character of our Amazing
Creator/Father.
Make this your prayer.
"How sweet are your words to my
taste; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no
wonder I hate every false way of life. Your word is a lamp for my feet and a
light for my path. I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise again: I will obey
your wonderful laws."
(Psalm 119:103-106, NLT)
Here is a promise, a word from the Word. –
He “whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.” (Psalm 1)
Amen
__________________
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