Scriptural Whistle Blowing
Scriptural Whistle Blowing-Taking Scripture Out Of Context
The following are notes from my “Writer’s Notebook”-ideas that might develop into a Tuesday Column. They are presented here for two reasons: (a)because some of you only need a seed idea to get what you want from me-something to think about. And (b) some of you like to give your input on the front end-shaping what I might later say. So either take this and think about it, or respond with your input to keith@tuesdaycolumn.com
Scriptures commonly taken out of context and the original meaning
| Scripture Meaning | Use | Original |
|---|---|---|
| For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. — Jeremiah 29:11 | As a promise that God has plans for me, and wants to prosper me…as if God wrote the verse to me. | Of course the verse was not even written to Jeremiah personally-we are reading someone else’s mail. It is a promise for the exiles in Babylon, an actual group of ancient people to whom God made this specific promise and there is no evidence it was a universal promise to all people everywhere. |
| But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. Philippians. 3:13-14 | We need to forget past negative experiences and move on toward the future, not looking back | What Paul was forgetting was not past negatives but his past achievements. |
| So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about to spit you out of my mouth. — Rev. 3:16 | We need to be hot-hearted and not half-hot. | The geographical and Scriptural context suggests the whole thing is about usefulness, not heat-hot water and cold water are useful-cold isn’t the bad guy in this verse. |
| Where there is no vision the people perish -Proverbs 29:18 | Our church needs a vision; we need to do this strategic planning or we will die-God wants us to have a clear picture of our future. | The proverb is sandwiched between two other proverbs on correction, and the second half has to do with keeping the law not doing modern strategic planning or making mission statements. |
| In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with God -John 1:1 | As a teacher of literature and lover of words this is my favorite verse because it addresses my vocation of writing. (I am not making this up). | The WORD here was not a collection of letters admired by writers seeking the best word, but Jesus Christ. {gasp}. |
| Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. -Proverbs 22:6 | We can count on the promises of God that if we train up our children right-when they are old they’ll stick to it. | Proverbs are not promises; proverbs are sayings that are generally true, but they are not direct promises. |
Why this chart is here?
The purpose of this chart is to help us all develop our hermeneutic. Whatever you said to yourself while reading the above verses exposed your own hermeneutic-the principles of how you interpret and apply the Bible.
This exercise forces many to abandon the notion that “the Bible means what it meant.” That the original meaning of the Bible is what it always means and no more. The truth is the vast majority of the church takes the Bible to mean what the Spirit enlivens to us today. While they revere those who give their life to discovering the “original meaning” of the text, (for it may be an anchor for the Bible’s interpretation) the church today as always (including Jesus and Paul) commonly wrests the biblical text out of context so that it becomes Scripture-meaning something far beyond the original intent of the first writer and reader
OK… you’ve got started…what are your principles of interpreting the Bible?
©2004 Keith Drury 1-4-03
Keith Drury served The Wesleyan Church headquarters in Christian Education and Youth leadership for 24 years before becoming a professor of religion at Indiana Wesleyan University. He is the author of more than a dozen books of practical spirituality, including Holiness for Ordinary People, Common Ground and Ageless Faith. Keith Drury wrote the Tuesday Column for 17 years (1995-2012), and many articles can be found on his blog “Drury Writing.”
Keith Drury retired from full time teaching in 2012. Keith is married to Sharon and has two adult sons and several grandchildren. He is retired in Florida with Sharon and enjoys cycling.
