It is becoming common place to see Christians getting into arguments with other Christians over the internet.
The arguing often gets into a scripture battle where people use the resources we have to find Bible verses to present their case.
Now that seems like a great thing and it can be. However some are using the Bible in reverse by taking their already formed opinions and using scripture to justify them.
What’s wrong with that you might say?
Well in some instances the verse that gets quoted has nothing to do with their argument and is being used out of context because they jumped in the middle of scripture without knowing what the scripture is referencing.
The proper way to use scripture is to read the Bible first then form your opinion based on scripture. Do this and you will be following God’s word.
It is crucial to understand God’s word and I will show you why in the Temptation of Jesus.
Matthew 4:1-11(English Standard Version)
4 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,
“‘He will command his angels concerning you,’
and
“‘On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”
7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” 8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written,
“‘You shall worship the Lord your God
and him only shall you serve.’”
11 Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.”
Did you see that in the second temptation? Satan was using scripture to tempt Jesus. But Jesus of course knew the Word better than the enemy.
So remember that and know scripture that way the enemy can’t use it against you or even use you to present a distorted version of scripture to your brothers and sisters.
I have one more point I want to make in that we also need to handle disagreements better. Lets be the unified body of Christ and not cause division by lashing out at each other in anger over opinions on matters. Let’s discuss matters with love and compassion.
So that way the world sees us as the light and not more darkness.
Have a Blessed Week,
Chris.
The Good Word 