Examine the Scriptures

Have you ever listened to a sermon and thought, “Wait, what? That’s not what the Bible says”? Ever scroll through social media and pause to look up a quote someone has attributed to Psalms or Proverbs only to discover it’s not even in the Bible? If you’re nodding your head, I want you to know that you’re not alone.

On more than one occasion, I’ve spent a Sunday afternoon dissecting a section of Scripture to learn the “whole story” rather than the partial verse that nicely wrapped up a three-point sermon earlier in the day.

These moments are more than disappointing. One of the top-cited rationales people who deconstruct their faith give for losing trust in the capital-C Church is the misrepresentation of Scripture.

The challenge I’ve encountered personally is that Scripture is often misrepresented by both those seeking to assert authority and those who desire to paint a picture of an all-loving Jesus.

On the one hand, it’s possible to hear a lecture about Romans 13:1-3 that demands submission to a governing authority but stops short of including Romans 13:8-10, which says,

Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (CSB)

However, those who push against the authoritarian view of God can miss the mark, too. I once read a passionate article asking those who felt cast aside by the Church to read the story of the adulterous woman in John 8. The author pointed out that not only did Jesus refuse to throw stones at her, but he suggested only the sinless should punish her.

This tender recounting reminded us that we, too, must welcome everyone into the body of Christ because we are all sinners. But sadly, the impassioned plea was overshadowed because the writer failed to finish the story.

John 8:10-11 says,

When Jesus stood up, he said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

“No one, Lord,” she answered.

“Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” (CSB, emphasis added)

Minimizing or ignoring Jesus’ instruction for the future changes the context of the story, but it doesn’t change Jesus’s love for the adulterous woman.

We will continue to encounter inaccurate presentations of the Bible for many reasons. Among them is that we are all in different places in our biblical literacy journeys, and rather than taking the time to double check a passage, some people will rely on their memory alone when they present a point of discussion. In addition, sometimes we fail to understand the Bible because we read a passage through a modern-day lens or Western Civilization lens (or both), rather than the cultural context that it was originally written.

Jesus told the disciples that they would have the help of the Spirit to guide them. John 16:13-14 says,

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. (CSB)

We also know that at Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit filled the apostles, they were able to communicate to those who believed in Jesus even though they did not speak the same language. Acts 2:11-13 says,

“… (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”

So how do we ensure that we will identify the truth even if we encounter inaccurate information? The answer comes from a lesson from the Bereans in Acts 17:10-15, which says,

As soon as it was night, the brothers and sisters sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. Upon arrival, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Consequently, many of them believed, including a number of the prominent Greek women as well as men.  But when the Jews from Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul at Berea, they came there too, agitating and upsetting the crowds. Then the brothers and sisters immediately sent Paul away to go to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed on there. Those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible, they departed. (CSB, emphasis mine)

 

If we read this passage with Western eyes, we may find ourselves tempted to assume that the people of Berea believed the teachings of Paul and Silas because they “were of more noble character.” Somehow, because the Bereans were smarter or richer, they were more put together, life was easier, and they understood and accepted God’s love.

But the lesson we can take and replicate in our studies is in the next sentence. The Bereans listened eagerly and then examined the Scriptures daily to see if Paul and Silas spoke the truth.

The best part of this passage is that Paul and Silas weren’t concerned with this method because they knew that the more the Bereans studied and asked questions, the stronger their faith in Jesus would become.

This is an important lesson we can take from Paul’s and Silas’  interactions with the Bereans as we consider how we present the Bible. Rather than omitting part of a passage, let’s trust that God is powerful enough to clarify the context of his words for those looking to learn more about him.

Let’s learn a lesson rather than unintentionally causing someone to stumble in their faith journey. Like the Bereans, let’s listen and check Scripture for ourselves whether we teach or listen to someone else.

Beth Walker is a football coach’s wife and mom of two energetic boys. She strives to encourage those around her to pursue their best lives in Jesus whether she is near the game field, in church, or at the local coffee shop. As a writer, Beth has been striving to find her voice through seeing Jesus in the ordinary and extraordinary of daily life. She blogs at Lessons from the Sidelines.

Photograph © Jasmine Ne, used with permission