THE BIBLE has many spiritual as well as practical applications. One is that the information it holds is pre-eminently suitable for instruction and education. These biblical categories, however, are of the highest classification, and must be handled with care and preserved as truth of the first order. Paul instructs us to “Do our best to present ourselves to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15)
Very often in the broad culture of the world, and occasionally in the narrow culture of the church, we may find ourselves distressed from errant displays of both intentional and sometimes unintentional misinterpretation of God’s word. For the astute bible student, the intentional fraudulent use of scripture is evident. More difficult is the unintentional or well-meant misinterpretation. Perhaps you’ve seen a pastor vocally agree with a highly-charged but errant consensus of mindset during a Bible study. One actual example of that occurred as a predominantly female group of middle-aged women stated in agreement, vehemently and with outrage, that adultery was an unforgivable sin. This is in opposition to Jesus’ teachings. (cf. Matt. 5:27-32, Matt. 19:8) The issue in Jesus’ lessons was not that adultery was unforgiveable and that therefor divorce was permissible; the issue was that hardness of heart leads to lack of forgiveness, making reconciliation difficult or impossible, further damaging families and their individual and collective relationship with the Father. The pastor in this circumstance was conciliatory, saying “Of course, you’re right, you’re right.” This smoothed over the heated moment, and perhaps was the best course of action in order to keep teachable momentum. But one wonders at what price.
In the wider culture, some years ago, the film *“The Passion of The Christ” created uproar from diasporic Jews worldwide as well as in the state of Israel. During a scene in Jesus’ trial the crowd rejected him in favor of Barabbas, crying out, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” (Matt. 27:25) This was a biblically accurate quote, one that across two millennia has been uttered by Christians against Jews and which has led to past pogroms and the reality of the horrific Holocaust of the twentieth century. Worldwide, Christian denominations denounced the film as anti-Semitic in order not to be perceived as bigots, and perhaps with a nod towards ecumenical reconciliation. The film’s producer made numerous public apologies; the scene was expurgated.
The Bible has many hard-edged truths, which oftentimes requires a delicacy in discussion tantamount to handling unstable nitroglycerin. “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Heb. 4:12)
So, did the pastor violate scripture during the Bible study, or did he wisely deflect until a more teachable moment? Did the worldwide Christian church cave in on an incredibly crucial point of Biblical historical truth, or err on the side of mercy and grace, as she recognized her own historically egregious deficiency and culpability in those areas? Such questions are neither academic nor rhetorical. They demand real answers to real-life issues that can have incredibly damaging or incredibly liberating impact on human lives.
Very few of us have to deal with problems of this scope. But, we all have to deal with these problems. We deal with them with family and church family, with co-workers and with friends. We do so almost on a daily basis, at some level of relational interaction. As Christians, we recognize that our nature has been changed, and that we’re on a life-long journey of becoming more like Jesus. The entire thrust of the N.T., past the point of salvation, is to become more like Jesus. Acting like Jesus requires us to study what that means, but even more so to become what that means. And it is for the purpose of serving others, as one ‘who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.’ Recognizing the power of the word of God, that sharp two-edged sword, calls to accountability those who wield it. We must remember that this sword can kill, or it can heal; we must also remember that anyone undergoing spiritual surgery has a fear of the knife.
Teaching the word may expose us to a struggle in powers and principalities, a struggle against heresy, a struggle against our own biases, and a struggle in conscience. It requires diligent life-long study, and it requires constantly resolving tensions between a natural strain towards legalism and a pull from supernatural charismata. It serves no good to ask who is up to such a task. It is the task to which we have been assigned. Pray, then, that our Father enables us in those moments when our spoken word requires that it be “like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Pro. 25:11), so that our word “does not return empty.” (Isa. 55:11) As to our own opinions, “Let God be true, and every human being a liar.” (Rom. 3:4) God’s truth should, after all, start with a capital ‘T.’
Q. Is my knowledge of scripture tempered with merciful wisdom?
* Mel Gibson, producer and director, “The Passion of the Christ” – 2004.
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