Start Quoting God Accurately
Preaching
Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees
And 149 Other Sermon Ideas
Purpose Statement: Integrity demands that we are careful and honest with our use of scripture to quote it accurately.
Statements such as "You can make figures say anything" or "You can find a Bible verse to support just about any position" are very familiar. As regards the Bible, it has, in fact, been used to justify everything from most wars to segregation and slavery. It is used to prove capital punishment is both right and wrong. Can it be both ways? There is a humorous book titled Nice Guys Finish Seventh by Ralph Keyes, which cites the many misquotes that most of us take for fact. For instance, apparently the famous manager did not actually say, "Nice guys finish last." The serious question is: "Just how much is our Bible abused by misquotes or improper interpretation?"
a. Of course we have to read the Bible. We must become familiar with passages and background so as to be accurate and understand the meaning or various meanings. We hear, with good reason, "never take a quote out of context" ad nauseam.
b. Seek other sources. It pays to use Bible aids, study books, or guides in order to make the proper rendering clear. With careful analysis, the passage may not say what we want it to say, but we cannot be less than honest.
c. Focus on Jesus. I consider this to be vital for the Christian. Where contradictions arise in scriptures, the ultimate judgment rests with what Jesus said. The Old Testament tells us, "An eye for an eye," for example. However, Jesus actually quotes this law and immediately contradicts it by saying, "Do not take revenge" (Matthew 5:38-39). Also, if one listens closely, one will hear the conservatives quoting Paul much more often than they quote Jesus. With the liberals, the tendency is just the opposite; Jesus is quoted much more often than Paul.
d. One interesting test for accuracy. It is not proof of truth, nor obviously is it the only test. But it is a good one. If you can honestly say, "I don't like what I am hearing," but you believe or accept it anyway, that is a good indication you are playing fair with the Bible! Jesus may seem to say something you don't agree with. Some persons would try to "interpret" the passage to make it say what they want to hear. Do you?
The world is always in a mess and Christians are not in agreement with solutions. The secret is for us to read God's word and get it right.
Statements such as "You can make figures say anything" or "You can find a Bible verse to support just about any position" are very familiar. As regards the Bible, it has, in fact, been used to justify everything from most wars to segregation and slavery. It is used to prove capital punishment is both right and wrong. Can it be both ways? There is a humorous book titled Nice Guys Finish Seventh by Ralph Keyes, which cites the many misquotes that most of us take for fact. For instance, apparently the famous manager did not actually say, "Nice guys finish last." The serious question is: "Just how much is our Bible abused by misquotes or improper interpretation?"
a. Of course we have to read the Bible. We must become familiar with passages and background so as to be accurate and understand the meaning or various meanings. We hear, with good reason, "never take a quote out of context" ad nauseam.
b. Seek other sources. It pays to use Bible aids, study books, or guides in order to make the proper rendering clear. With careful analysis, the passage may not say what we want it to say, but we cannot be less than honest.
c. Focus on Jesus. I consider this to be vital for the Christian. Where contradictions arise in scriptures, the ultimate judgment rests with what Jesus said. The Old Testament tells us, "An eye for an eye," for example. However, Jesus actually quotes this law and immediately contradicts it by saying, "Do not take revenge" (Matthew 5:38-39). Also, if one listens closely, one will hear the conservatives quoting Paul much more often than they quote Jesus. With the liberals, the tendency is just the opposite; Jesus is quoted much more often than Paul.
d. One interesting test for accuracy. It is not proof of truth, nor obviously is it the only test. But it is a good one. If you can honestly say, "I don't like what I am hearing," but you believe or accept it anyway, that is a good indication you are playing fair with the Bible! Jesus may seem to say something you don't agree with. Some persons would try to "interpret" the passage to make it say what they want to hear. Do you?
The world is always in a mess and Christians are not in agreement with solutions. The secret is for us to read God's word and get it right.
