So many people do this so naturally and without even thinking about it, but i thought i'd break it down for you with some examples.
1) Read the Bible with pre-set assumptions. You will often find what you are looking for. This is actually what every person tends to do.
2) Pick and choose the passages you want to accept and that fit your view and ignore any that don’t. It usually helps to quote these passages to others so that if people do disagree others can support your view.
3) Pick and choose whole sections of the Bible. If you don’t like something you can always say that it is a metaphor and it should not to be taken literally.
4) Redefine a word to make the verse that it’s in fit your view
5) Impose our culture into the Bible as though it was the culture of the Bible times. Attempting to change the Bible to fit the culture is a long held tradition and is especially sought in today’s society.
6) Don’t even read the Bible, and pretend that you know what you’re talking about.
7) Don’t read the Bible and claim that it is irrelevant, ancient, or useless.
8) Read multiple translations. That way you’re more likely to find one that might say what you want it to. This is especially evident in pop-culture "Christian" books.
9) Keep an eye out for new translations. There have been numerous attempts to make more “politically correct” Bibles that sacrifice accuracy for social acceptability.
10) When the Bible does say something that you disagree with point out any possible contradictions in the Bible and say that it is not accurate and should not be taken seriously rather than working through those, so called, "contradictions".
11) Do research and studies through sources that you know & agree with, and disregard as inherantly flawed any that you don't. It usually helps to point those flaws out to others.
If anyone can think of one that i missed, feel free to comment.
I set up a wikiHow article on making the Bible fit your viewpoint.
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7 comments:
Our church conference has been debating the issue of women in leadership (more particularly as senior pastor). I have seen both sides so polarized on the issue and there have been some real artists in what you describe.
Glad to see that it is not a practice of only some Mennonite
Brethren!!!
I've missed your views. These in particular:
7) Read multiple translations. That way you’re more likely to find one that might say what you want it to.
8) Keep an eye out for new translations. There have been numerous attempts to make a more “politically correct” Bible that sacrifice accuracy for social acceptability.
I think you've established that you don't read ancient Hebrew, Gree, or Aramaic. So what translation(s) do you use? When did it/they come about? What political/social choices did those translators make?
Btw, can you settle a paradox for me? Do you believe the biblical story of Noah's Ark to be literal truth? If so why don't you believe in evolution? Because I'm struggling to see how you can believe that a 40 foot by 40 foot boat could hold two of all the species on the Earth today.
I think you've established that you don't read ancient Hebrew, Gree, or Aramaic. So what translation(s) do you use?
Actually, i do have some training in Greek and Hebrew. However, while it's enough for me to attempt to translate some for some Bible study, it's also enough to be dangerous. So i leave the serious translating to the professionals.
I prefer more literal translations like the KJV/NKJV over more loose ones such as the NLT, but most translations serve a purpose.
Do you believe the biblical story of Noah's Ark to be literal truth? If so why don't you believe in evolution?
Actually, my view on this has been publically displayed on Jewish Atheist's site. I'm not interested in getting into a major debate on this right now as these kinds of debates tend to overly consume my time and energy.
Because I'm struggling to see how you can believe that a 40 foot by 40 foot boat could hold two of all the species on the Earth today.
Actually, Adam Clark's Commentary on the Bible does a good job of dealing with this issue. He uses the measurements of "the three hundred cubits of the ark’s length make five hundred and forty-seven feet; the fifty for its breadth, ninety-one feet two inches; and the thirty for its height, fifty-four feet eight inches" using research from measurements and descriptions of the pyramids to ascertain the length of the cubit (close to 22 inches) from a closer time period.
My question is, before the flood, we're there ever rainbows?
Well, according to Gen 2:6 "But there went up from the earth a mist and watered all the face of the ground." the earth was not watered by rain but rather dew from the ground, thus rainbows did not exist.
Also, rainbows exist because of the surface tension of water. If water's surace tension did not exist in the way that it does now (creating droplet shapes that refract light), water would not create the effect of the rainbow.
Hi JC,
Great post.
Kim--
Should there really be a debate about women in leadership? I mean. the bible is very clear on women's roles in the church. What, specifically are they arguing about?
Since the man is to be in headship over his wife, then if he says it is OK for her to be a "Senior Pastor", Then it is OK scripturally.
Can you point me to the Scripture that says women can fulfill the position of leadership over a church?
I see where older women are instructed to teach younger women to love their husbands and children.
Oh, I am certainly NOT an expert in this debate nor do I wish to be. You can go to any egalitarian or complementarian website and get your fill of the debate.
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