What does the Bible say? – It's relative.

People are constantly searching for “what the bible says” about various topics. In the hands of someone looking to preach for a profession almost any action can be justified in the bible. If your looking to justify a reason to drink…”there’s a app scripture for that” (sorry, I couldn’t resist).  Leaders can teach church members they SHOULD be in attendance every time the church doors are open and can find a scripture to enforce obedience. People that what to justify drinking wine will refer to the passage of scripture when Paul tells Timothy to “take a little wine for thy stomach’s sake” or the account of Jesus turning the water into wine.

What does the Bible say? That depends on what you are looking for, the truth or justification.  Anyone can search the commentaries or talk to their circle of friends to see what they think.

I find it remarkable that well educated teachers and preacher and  trained clergy can also implement tradition into their teaching with the bottom line of manipulating people. No one wants to call it manipulation but using a few scriptures to justify an action or motivate people to do something is a misrepresentation of Gods word.  I can find motivation and inspiration in the scripture if I search hard enough and sometimes I can just turn to the Book of Psalms and find it.

I find that most people (those I know or those I have asked) will follow most of the rules and bylaws of the church and those that don’t necessarily agree with most bylaws and practices will ask “What does the bible say about?”. Questions like these wont be asked at the place of worship, but in another setting where the one asking wont be shunned and scrutinized for inquiring.Finding what you want to do and what you disagree with in the church can be either found or justified in the Bible. I’m not saying that what you find is correct when its obviously questionable and was not compared with other accounts in the Bible.  If you want to discount the bible as true or imply it as flawed, many people will reference the account in 2 Peter 1:20-21: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (KJV)”

The answer you find is relative to your motive. If you want the truth, you will find it when you study and  will refer to more than two or three passages of scripture. The Bible has a lot to say about many things, but like many things you must stay in context.   Little can be learned about Jewish Culture from the Bible, you must seek out other relevant sources. A study or exposure to Jewish history and culture as it relates to the time of Christ will help anyone to a better understand events and practices in scripture.

Hats off to all the teachers and preacher that spend countless hours in study and research in teaching Gods word with trying to manipulate or keep Gods people in fear. Allowing scripture to speak for itself is important, when its left up to many interpretation it becomes a real disaster.

Originally posted 2009-12-28 23:14:45. Republished by Blog Post Promoter