Plus and Minus (Notes on Discernment)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2Timothy 3:16-17

Many people have the idea that the Bible is an incredibly vague document that can be interpreted any way people want.  And therefore, they say, many religions and sects have come from the Bible, and claim the Bible.

So in popular media, the “that’s YOUR interpretation” card is played regularly.

It is true that many religions, sects, and denominations claim the Bible.  But is the Bible itself to blame?

Paul’s words above makes it clear what he thought.  All Scripture – is all you need.

No, not all you need to play great hockey or cook a soufflé.  All you need to live the Christian life – all you need for every “good work”.

One of the battle-cries of the Reformation was Sola Scriptura – Scripture alone.  All of Scripture, and only Scripture.

When I visit other churches (and I’ve visited dozens in several countries), talk to other believers, read books, look through history . . . when I hear from other believers, I see an amazing consistency.  I can read a document from 1500 years ago, or from the other side of the world, and find amazing agreement.

That is, among those who accept all of Scripture and only Scripture.

Most of the disagreements seem to come from Scripture+ and Scripture-.

Those whose authority is the Bible plus their own ideas, or traditions, or the Book of Mormon, or an authoritative leader or organization – well, there’s not so much agreement all of a sudden.

Or those whose authority is only a part of the Bible.  Only the Torah.  Just the parts about morality.  Only the words of Jesus.  Just the parts I like.  Not so much agreement there either.

If Paul is right, this is just what we should expect to see.  Much more agreement among those who take the Bible at face value, all of it, and without adding to it.

Yes, there are parts of the Bible that are difficult.  There are other reasons why there are disagreements, too.  Maybe we can talk more on that later.

But I would rather learn from a friend who is from a very different type of church or denomination – and yet a friend who desires to be under the Bible’s authority, than someone who rejects part of the Bible or adds to it.

And by the way – we all have our own ways of adding and taking away from the Bible.  It’s a favourite pass-time.  Let’s be careful before we get too smug and start pointing fingers at everyone else.

How to preach the Bible (without preaching the Bible)

Before we leave this topic, here are a couple of great ways that preachers add to and take away from Scripture without anyone noticing . . .

One clever thing to do is read a mountain of verses, and ignore their context.  This is where you can teach any doctrine you want, and sound very intelligent and spiritual while doing it.  You can take away the true meaning and put in your own at the same time.

This is apparently what some teachers were doing with Paul’s words, as Peter warned – Scripture twisting (2Peter 3:15-18).

Another favourite trick is to read a nice long passage (so far so good), and then teach something that doesn’t come from the passage at all.

Sometimes this might even feel like an “in-depth” study.  But when you actually think about what was said, and what the author of the passage of Scripture was actually saying . . . well, you realize that a lot of “human tradition and philosophy” was thrown in.  (See Colossians 2:8 and 1Corinthians 2:13)

Beware of Scripture+ and Scripture-.  We all do it – but we must be diligent to watch for it, and not call something “God’s Word” that isn’t.