Twisting Scripture through Mis-Application
I was struck this morning by the beautiful, comforting truths found in Psalm 91. This poem contains some thoughts that have brought me great encouragement over the years - thoughts such as, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty" (v.1).
Verses 11-12, however, reminded me of how important it is to not mis-apply Scripture. Satan actually does a great job of quoting these two verses to Jesus. Matthew records this incident in the temptation of Jesus narrative. Satan takes Jesus up to a high point in the Temple and tells him to jump off. After all, "it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone'" (Matt.4:6).
Jesus replies, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'" (Matt.4:7).
The point? APPLICATION MATTERS!
Satan doesn't just distort the meaning of Scripture...he doesn't just deny the truthfulness of Scripture...he also tempts us to think and thus act on the basis of improper application of Scripture.
One test to know if we are mis-applying Scripture is by simply evaluating whether or not our application of any given text results in challenging God in any way. Is this not what Jesus gave as a response to squelch Satan's temptation? Do not test the Lord...
Perhaps we should be careful in our proof-texting. Here's what I mean. Most people who've been around church for awhile have become familiar with certain, popular passages of Scripture. The problem is that it's easy to hear a verse and then rip it out of it's literary, theological, and plain sense context and make it fit in our own personal situations. While personal application is important...the application we unfortunately end up with sometimes is simply making the text of Scripture communicate something it was never intended to communicate.
Let me give you some popular examples. Philippians 4:13 is used by many to remind themselves that they can do anything through Christ who strengthens them. So, with that mantra in hand they encourage themselves. While it is true that God does strengthen his people...it is also true that something else is in view in this verse. Truth is, this passage (contextually) is addressing the fact that Paul had learned to joyfully handle times of plenty as well as the lean times and all for the sake of the Gospel. This is set in the backdrop of the larger immediate issue of addressing the financial gift the Philippians gave to the apostle. He is saying that he has learned to joyfully endure anything for the sake of the Gospel.
A proper application of this passage? Perhaps we should personalize it by asking God to help us learn to competely orient our lives around his purposes of Gospel advancement - that he would help us discover that the things of this life are empty if simply used for self...but enriched when used for his Kingdom purposes.
One more illustration of mis-application. Have you ever heard someone say when facing a troublesome situation, "Well, the Bible says that he won't give us more than we can handle"?
This is an allusion to a beautiful truth regarding God's rescue during times of our personal temptation. The passage is 1 Corinthians 10:13 where the Holy Spirit tells us that God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear...but will provide a way out.
The promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 is that God will give us the way, in each occasion, to experience victory over temptation...not some guarantee that God is not going to send us (or allow) some situation to come into our lives that is way over the top. Are there not plenty of examples in Scripture of people who were given circumstances that were way to heavy to bear? Certainly! Do not overwhelming circumstances kill personal pride and drive us to recognize our desperate need for God?
Why is it important to understand and properly apply this passage? Well, for one, it will keep a person back from testing God through personal anger when God blows past your expectations and allows devestation into your life.
Does not God cause / allow some overwhelming circumstances to come our way in order to purify us and chip off the ungodly edges all in the process of conforming us into greater Christlikeness? Does he not use all good and all difficult things as means toward this end?
I could go on illustrating my point with other popular mis-applications of Scripture such as 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Jeremiah 29:11...but I hope the point has been well made. It's important to rightly understand and apply God's Word.
Verses 11-12, however, reminded me of how important it is to not mis-apply Scripture. Satan actually does a great job of quoting these two verses to Jesus. Matthew records this incident in the temptation of Jesus narrative. Satan takes Jesus up to a high point in the Temple and tells him to jump off. After all, "it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone'" (Matt.4:6).
Jesus replies, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'" (Matt.4:7).
The point? APPLICATION MATTERS!
Satan doesn't just distort the meaning of Scripture...he doesn't just deny the truthfulness of Scripture...he also tempts us to think and thus act on the basis of improper application of Scripture.
One test to know if we are mis-applying Scripture is by simply evaluating whether or not our application of any given text results in challenging God in any way. Is this not what Jesus gave as a response to squelch Satan's temptation? Do not test the Lord...
Perhaps we should be careful in our proof-texting. Here's what I mean. Most people who've been around church for awhile have become familiar with certain, popular passages of Scripture. The problem is that it's easy to hear a verse and then rip it out of it's literary, theological, and plain sense context and make it fit in our own personal situations. While personal application is important...the application we unfortunately end up with sometimes is simply making the text of Scripture communicate something it was never intended to communicate.
Let me give you some popular examples. Philippians 4:13 is used by many to remind themselves that they can do anything through Christ who strengthens them. So, with that mantra in hand they encourage themselves. While it is true that God does strengthen his people...it is also true that something else is in view in this verse. Truth is, this passage (contextually) is addressing the fact that Paul had learned to joyfully handle times of plenty as well as the lean times and all for the sake of the Gospel. This is set in the backdrop of the larger immediate issue of addressing the financial gift the Philippians gave to the apostle. He is saying that he has learned to joyfully endure anything for the sake of the Gospel.
A proper application of this passage? Perhaps we should personalize it by asking God to help us learn to competely orient our lives around his purposes of Gospel advancement - that he would help us discover that the things of this life are empty if simply used for self...but enriched when used for his Kingdom purposes.
One more illustration of mis-application. Have you ever heard someone say when facing a troublesome situation, "Well, the Bible says that he won't give us more than we can handle"?
This is an allusion to a beautiful truth regarding God's rescue during times of our personal temptation. The passage is 1 Corinthians 10:13 where the Holy Spirit tells us that God will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear...but will provide a way out.
The promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 is that God will give us the way, in each occasion, to experience victory over temptation...not some guarantee that God is not going to send us (or allow) some situation to come into our lives that is way over the top. Are there not plenty of examples in Scripture of people who were given circumstances that were way to heavy to bear? Certainly! Do not overwhelming circumstances kill personal pride and drive us to recognize our desperate need for God?
Why is it important to understand and properly apply this passage? Well, for one, it will keep a person back from testing God through personal anger when God blows past your expectations and allows devestation into your life.
Does not God cause / allow some overwhelming circumstances to come our way in order to purify us and chip off the ungodly edges all in the process of conforming us into greater Christlikeness? Does he not use all good and all difficult things as means toward this end?
I could go on illustrating my point with other popular mis-applications of Scripture such as 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Jeremiah 29:11...but I hope the point has been well made. It's important to rightly understand and apply God's Word.
Labels: 1 Corinthians 10:13, application, Philippians 4:13, temptation, twisting scripture
posted by James Hunt at
7:44 AM
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