Blinded by the Light 12 Scripture Twisting - The Trap

[Paul's] letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. (2 Peter 2:16-17 RSV)

The scriptures can be twisted in many ways. The cults do it deliberately in order to use the authority of the Bible to reinforce their claims. But even Christians can fall into the trap of misunderstanding or reading things into the scriptures that are not really there. Many errors have crept into the church in the past because of this. For example, it took Luther to make a stand before the teaching of grace was finally accepted, even though it seems plain to us today.

By ignoring context and picking up bits of scripture, it is possible to prove almost anything from the Bible. For example, “There is no God.” (Ps.14:1).

Here are just a few of the ways in which scripture can be twisted:

1. Ignoring context

This is especially dangerous in the practice of opening the Bible at random and lighting on a verse for guidance, but it can also appear to support teaching which is incorrect. For example:

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.” (Matt.18:21-22).

This verse has been used to prevent people from speaking out when they are being hurt or misused by other Christians, or even their leaders. They are accused of having an unforgiving spirit and made to feel guilty because they can't or won't forgive.

Looking at the context of this passage, the chapter begins with the disciples' question, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” and ends with the parable of the unforgiving servant. Because of his unforgiveness, the king “handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.” The final verse contains Jesus' warning, “So shall my heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother, from your heart.”

Peter is searching for a formula for how to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, but once again, as in so many places in scripture, Jesus points our that God's standards are beyond our reach. It is not a question of how many times we forgive, but the kind of forgiveness. He who cannot forgive from the heart will find himself handed over to the torturers.

Such forgivemess is beyond us, in truth. It is only when we realise our inadequacy that we can turn to the source of our righteousness for the strength to obey. Our only hope is in God's mercy. The emphasis is on integrity, purity of heart, rather than covering up.

It is also interesting to note that in Luke 17:3 we are told “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents forgive him.” Is this saying that our forgiveness should be conditional? Does God forgive those who do not repent? Let us at least say that releasing someone from our vengeance does not mean that we should trust them or associate with them again or associate with them again, certainly does not mean that we should keep quiet about sin.

2. Putting together separate scriptures which do not belong.

For example: 1 Cor.15:31 "I die daily" and Matt.16:24 "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'"

These verses are used on the subject of self-denial. They are used to say that we must do away with every thought for ourselves and shoulder the burdens of what God wants us to do. This can lead away from grace and back to works.

1 Cor.15:31 is in the context of a discussion on the resurrection, not self-denial. Having established the truth of the resurrection, Paul asks "why do we endanger ourselves every hour?", and he ends the chapter with the exhortation "stand firm. Let nothing move you." Paul is saying that because of his confidence in being raised from the dead he feels free to put his life at risk for the sake of the gospel.

In Matt.16:24 the cross we must take up is the cross of Christ.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it... Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matt.16:25,26)

There is no service or sacrifice we can give that will merit us anything in seeking salvation. Self-denial, if you want to call it that, is denying that there is anything that we ourselves can do to merit eternal life, and looking to Christ.

Not only do these verses not teach what they are being used for, but they are not about the same subject.

Illustrating points 1 & 2 together is the amusing story of the lady who opened her Bible at random for guidance and came upon the verse "And Judas went out and hanged himself." (Matt.27:5). Finding this unhelpful she tried again, and found "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:37). Such are the dangers of ignoring context and putting together scriptures which do not belong!

3. Misquotation

Especially when we quote from memory, it is easy to be inaccurate. A classic misquotation is "Money is the root of all evil." The actual verse says "For the love of money..." (1 Tim.6:10). This is not as harmless as you might think. It would make quite a sermon on the value of poverty, particularly if the object was to persuade you to give up all your evil money to the speaker's church or pet cause!

4. Selective attention to scripture

Choosing the parts that fit our way of thinking without reference to the whole message. This is very similar to ignoring context, but on a wider scale. Whole theologies can be built on a range of scriptures which sound very plausible when you are listening to the sermon, but do not check out with the wider message of the books from which they come, or indeed with the Bible as a whole.

For example I once heard a well-respected Christian leader quote "All these people were still living by faith when they died" (Heb 11:13), and use to teach that if we do not test our faith every day we could find we were saved yesterday but not today. The verse continues "They did not receive the things promised, they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance." The writer to the Hebrews is saying that they trusted God, even though they had not seen their salvation. That is why they were still living by faith, not for fear of losing their salvation.

This is a technique known as proof-texting, which is forming an opinion in your own mind and then looking for a scripture to back up what you have already decided. This is very dangerous and cultic thinking. The correct approach is to come to scripture with an open mind, research all that it has to say on the subject, and then reason out what the message is, even if we do not like the answer.

Previous posts in this series:

Introduction
Legalism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Magic Formulas: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Answers to Everything: The Truth,The Trap, The Solution
Scripture Twisting: The Truth
Further posts to come in this series:
Scripture Twisting: The Trap, The Solution
Superstition: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Elitism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
The Need to See: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Conclusion

Blinded by the Light 11 Scripture Twisting - The Truth

As a Christian the Bible means a lot to me. It has been my companion for years. I have learned that its words are God's Word, its commands his will, its perspective on life the only true one. Of course, it has puzzled me with its enigmas and the depth of its insight. I am often frustrated by what I believe God is demanding of me through the words on its pages. it encourages me, but it breaks me. It thrills me and it frightens me.

“But one thing it does not do: it does not come to me in such a way that I can pick and choose what to hold as true or false. As a Christian I find myself under its authority.” (Scripture Twisting by James W. Sire, p.10)

All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim.3:16-17)

Jesus told his followers to search the scriptures, and this is a key element in the life of a Christian. Within their pages is the word of God and the truths of the gospel. But the Bible is not like an instruction manual, with everything set out plainly in logical order. We must be careful in the way we interpret what we read.

Previous posts in this series:

Introduction
Legalism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Magic Formulas: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Answers to Everything: The Truth,The Trap, The Solution
Further posts to come in this series:
Scripture Twisting: The Trap, The Solution
Superstition: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Elitism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
The Need to See: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Conclusion

Blinded by the Light 10 Answers to Everything - The Solution

Since the Christian faith is about relationships rather than dogma, there are bound to be areas which are not clear-cut. It takes maturity in our faith to accept the fact that there are many things we do not understand.

Immature faith is like the child who continually says “Why?” The child may ask “Why is the sky blue?”, and we know that there is a scientific explanation, but it is far beyond the ability of the child to understand, perhaps beyond our ability too. Yet we cannot accept that we may be in the same position regarding the things we do not understand on a spiritual level.

Part of our faith in God is that he can be trusted, even when we don't understand. It is only necessary that we know him. We all have to work on our own relationship with him, which will differ in some respects because we are different people with different needs.

It is worth quoting Hudson Taylor again here: “We do not need a great faith, but faith in a great God.” This trust is vital in guiding our lives according to his will.

I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. (2 Tim.1:12)

Previous posts in this series:

Introduction
Legalism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Magic Formulas: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Answers to Everything: The Truth,The Trap
Further posts to come in this series:
Answers to Everything: The Solution
Scripture Twisting: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Superstition: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Elitism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
The Need to See: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Conclusion

The Flight of the Kestrel

I read the latest Writing Magazine, and an article in there suggested sharing your writing on your blog. This is something I haven't done really, up to now. My blog header says it will be about my interests, but my fiction writing has not yet featured. So here we are.

I am writing a science fiction series called The Flight of the Kestrel. The Kestrel is a PACT ship with a crew of 11. The Planetary Alliance for Cooperation and Trade was set up between Earth and the other planets they made contact with. As part of the cooperation, these ships, all named after birds of prey because they are fast and deadly, were set up to be a kind of inter-planetary police force. They deal with incidents that need a fast response and sort out whose jurisdiction they come under afterwards.

The idea began because I used to love watching Star Trek, Blakes Seven, and Babylon 5, and used to make up stories for them. I knew there was no way I could contribute to them, so I had to make up my own ship to give the adventures to. They say there's a book in everyone, so there you are. I am learning writing technique as I go along, and although these novels will probably never see the light of day, I am getting great pleasure from the process.

I had written three stories when I looked back and realised that they are all too long for short stories and not long enough for novels (about 15,000 to 20,000 words). Then I realised that stories two and three could be combined, and story one referred to a previous incident, which could be written and combined with story one. Because of my growing writing skills, this new story is much better written than the originals, so the others all have to be re-drafted - which authors need to do anyway, no one writes a perfect book first time, they go through many drafts.

On the way, my characters are getting more defined and more complex, and this is a new challenge which I am relishing. So I will be posting updates now and then in the hope someone would be interested. The current status is as follows: The new story is Kestrel 1 part 1, and the old first story is Kestrel 1 part 2. Combined, this Kestrel 1 is called Intruders. I am in the middle of re-drafting part 2. The second novel is called Adept, and will combine the old second and third stories.

I already have some ideas for further stories, but I think I have enough to do for now. I have also started looking at competitions, as I have a few other stories which are the right length, and could be worked up to be worth sending off. I have just discovered the existence of 'flash fiction', which is very short stories, and I even have one which I wondered what I could do with, as it's so short. I might even consider poetry competitions, as I have written one or two recently, which quite surprised myself. So watch this space for this new topic, as well as the ongoing ones. Any encouragement and suggestions would be gratefully received.

Good Friday

I just wanted to remind you that today is Good Friday. Good, not because we get time off work and hopefully a chocolate Easter egg, but because it's Easter, and because of what that means.

Good Friday is good for us, because it wasn't good for Jesus. Today, over two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ was tortured and crucified, when he had done nothing wrong. But he was punished for our wrong-doings, so that we would not be punished ourselves. God set a high standard, and then provided the way for us to meet it. And all we have to do is ask, and it is a free gift.

I'm not apologising for preaching - someone has to tell you. If you want to be right with God, you need to accept the free gift from Jesus, and ask him to be Lord of your life. And then Easter will be really important, and today will be really GOOD Friday!

To those at the time, who didn't understand what was going on, this was a really bad day. The man they had set their hopes on, had been executed, and it looked as if it was all over. But then Sunday came, and he rose from the dead. So, as I heard someone preach once, if your life is down, and it feels like that Friday, remember - Sunday's coming!

Easter blessings,
love,
Ann Marie.

Blinded by the Light 9 Answers to Everything - The Trap

One of the attractions of many cults is that they offer an answer to everything – every question you may have about God and his purposes, and where you fit in. A precise interpretation for every passage in the Bible, even the irrelevant ones. A complete set of beliefs covering every eventuality. It can be a comforting thought to have no uncertainty, to know exactly what to believe about everything. Unfortunately, many of the answers are wrong.

Which is it better to have, no answer or any answer? The cults would seem to prefer the latter, and come up with all sorts of contortions to explain every tiny point. The comfort of knowing there is always an answer can become the restriction of always checking our what you think you believe with the 'party line'. You can lose the ability to think for yourself.

If you look for a rigidly defined set of beliefs you are heading back to the law, and will soon find them a straightjacket rather than a comfort.

Previous posts in this series:

Introduction
Legalism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Magic Formulas: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Answers to Everything: The Truth,
Further posts to come in this series:
Answers to Everything: The Trap, The Solution
Scripture Twisting: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Superstition: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Elitism: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
The Need to See: The Truth, The Trap, The Solution
Conclusion