God’s Word Unfiltered
Part Three about What the Bible (really) says will be the Biblical Condition of the End Time Church
THE IGNORANCE OF CHRISTIANS TODAY
This past week, I’ve had the agony of witnessing two Christians passionately speak about their supposed BIBLICAL beliefs. Neither of them know what they were taking about! And over the past 30 years I have seen this scenario 'play out' hundreds of times! It’s devastating to see so much biblical ignorance in MANY of today’s Christians…including pastors.
I am passionate about the Truths taught in the Bible. Now I understand that in many things, we may not agree, even though we are all reading the same word of God. (P.S. When we disagree on a doctrinal Truth…either we’re ALL wrong…or just one of us is right! The Truths of Scriptures do NOT come with multiple choice options.) However, there are certain things that are taught in the Bible that anyone who has the ability to read should be able to know. But sadly, in these days of vast amounts of biblical ignorance…even many of the most basic, easy to understand Truths of Scriptures are NOT agreed upon by most Christians.
Hebrews 5:11-14 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
And my spirit is vexed when I see so much ignorance in the faith. Again, I am the first one to say we must read our Bibles and be Bereans, searching out what is true. And contrary to what many of my charismatic signs and wonders Brothers and Sisters believe…I wholeheartedly agree that there is NO mystical, supernatural gift of osmosis (which delivers the Truths of Scriptures to the mind of Believers who do NOT study their Bibles!)
Now…when I speak about biblical ignorance, I am not speaking of people who are teaching something different because they have gained (thru their studies (by the Holy Spirit)) some new insight into a Biblical passage…and see things from a different angle, resulting in a different way of thinking. (I truly appreciate ANY Believer who has BIBLICAL convictions! Now…that doesn’t necessarily make them right. But they’re in a much better place than ALL those Believers out there in the Church who are ‘deciding’ what biblical ‘truth’ is based on their feelings!)
Unfortunately, in today’s Church there are MANY who blatantly use Bible passages out of context, avoid verses that say the exact opposite of their beliefs, and EISEGETE the bible text to make their own (incorrect) points. This group is different from those Believers who teach stupid things simply because they are biblically stupid. And I’m afraid the latter type is ‘running’ the churches these days!
SIDE NOTE: EISEGETE is a FANCY LAWYER WORD which means…the process of interpreting text in such a way as to introduce one's own presuppositions, agendas, or biases. It is commonly referred to as reading into the text. It is this practice which ‘allows’ people to ‘use’ the Scriptures to teach pretty much whatever it is they the flock to hear!
EISEGESIS is best understood when contrasted with EXEGESIS. EXEGESIS is drawing out a text's meaning in accordance with the author's context and discoverable meaning…like learning the meaning of Greek words in order to ‘find’ the Truths of the original writers of Scriptures! EISEGESIS is when a reader imposes their interpretation of the text. Thus EXEGESIS tends to be objective; and EISEGESIS, highly subjective.
Speaking the Truth in Love,
Brother Bob
THE IGNORANCE OF CHRISTIANS TODAY
This past week, I’ve had the agony of witnessing two Christians passionately speak about their supposed BIBLICAL beliefs. Neither of them know what they were taking about! And over the past 30 years I have seen this scenario 'play out' hundreds of times! It’s devastating to see so much biblical ignorance in MANY of today’s Christians…including pastors.
I am passionate about the Truths taught in the Bible. Now I understand that in many things, we may not agree, even though we are all reading the same word of God. (P.S. When we disagree on a doctrinal Truth…either we’re ALL wrong…or just one of us is right! The Truths of Scriptures do NOT come with multiple choice options.) However, there are certain things that are taught in the Bible that anyone who has the ability to read should be able to know. But sadly, in these days of vast amounts of biblical ignorance…even many of the most basic, easy to understand Truths of Scriptures are NOT agreed upon by most Christians.
Hebrews 5:11-14 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
And my spirit is vexed when I see so much ignorance in the faith. Again, I am the first one to say we must read our Bibles and be Bereans, searching out what is true. And contrary to what many of my charismatic signs and wonders Brothers and Sisters believe…I wholeheartedly agree that there is NO mystical, supernatural gift of osmosis (which delivers the Truths of Scriptures to the mind of Believers who do NOT study their Bibles!)
Now…when I speak about biblical ignorance, I am not speaking of people who are teaching something different because they have gained (thru their studies (by the Holy Spirit)) some new insight into a Biblical passage…and see things from a different angle, resulting in a different way of thinking. (I truly appreciate ANY Believer who has BIBLICAL convictions! Now…that doesn’t necessarily make them right. But they’re in a much better place than ALL those Believers out there in the Church who are ‘deciding’ what biblical ‘truth’ is based on their feelings!)
Unfortunately, in today’s Church there are MANY who blatantly use Bible passages out of context, avoid verses that say the exact opposite of their beliefs, and EISEGETE the bible text to make their own (incorrect) points. This group is different from those Believers who teach stupid things simply because they are biblically stupid. And I’m afraid the latter type is ‘running’ the churches these days!
SIDE NOTE: EISEGETE is a FANCY LAWYER WORD which means…the process of interpreting text in such a way as to introduce one's own presuppositions, agendas, or biases. It is commonly referred to as reading into the text. It is this practice which ‘allows’ people to ‘use’ the Scriptures to teach pretty much whatever it is they the flock to hear!
EISEGESIS is best understood when contrasted with EXEGESIS. EXEGESIS is drawing out a text's meaning in accordance with the author's context and discoverable meaning…like learning the meaning of Greek words in order to ‘find’ the Truths of the original writers of Scriptures! EISEGESIS is when a reader imposes their interpretation of the text. Thus EXEGESIS tends to be objective; and EISEGESIS, highly subjective.
Speaking the Truth in Love,
Brother Bob