Twisting scripture, taking verses out of context, and ignoring the whole verse or passage … are but a few of the subtle techniques used to defend false doctrine. It is by these means that we erect our defenses from within our doctrinal ditches.
“There is nothing more offensive to God that the distortion of His word.” – Dr. Youssef
Our tendency to camp out in one ditch or another often leads to scripture twisting to defend our position. However, it is usually no outright twisting of scripture, but rather willfully ignoring the context. Thus, the verse used as a proof text appears to say something, or apply to a belief that it does not, when read in context. It becomes a defense for our pretext using a proof-text taken out of context (paraphrased from the late Dr. Walter Martin)
Related to ignoring context, is a tendency to conveniently leave the rest of the verse or passage out when it is quoted. I remain shocked at the number of Christians know selected partial scripture verses – only. They are usually shocked when I quote the rest of the verse or passage or explain the context. It frequently leaves them without words – sometimes angry.
How many among us know the passage that says “all things work together for good”. It must be the most quoted verse in all of scripture. It is usually quoted comfort someone in illness or affliction. It is used to imply, more often than not, that God will make everything work out wonderfully for us. However, as promising as it sounds, there is more to the story.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
You see this is extracted out of a passage that is clearly all connected. This is just two verses from this passage, but they make the point. First of all, it states “to them that love God”. This would be a condition for this promise. This is rarely quoted. Furthermore, verse 29 is connected with the word “for”. Therefore, it would seem this verse explains the oft-quoted portion of 28. The purpose of the good is “to be conformed to the image of his Son”.
No doubt this is “good” too. God’s overriding purpose in everything is to “conform us to the image of Christ”. Thus, it is not a promise to solve all of our problems (though, God also promises to deliver the righteous from all their afflictions). But, rather use “all things” to make us more Christ-like. So the “good” is Christ-likeness – spiritual maturity, righteousness, and holiness. That is His purpose; it is what God “predestinates” for us. Not exactly the magic bullet verse as it is so often used as.
This notion is reflected time and time again throughout scripture. We cannot miss it unless we willfully miss it. Another example is in another commonly butchered verse. The typically quoted part is “are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises”. But, as before, there is more.
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
It is usually partially quoted to support that all the promises in scripture are to bless us – especially, among the health and wealth prosperity teachers. However, obvious purposes of the precious promises are to “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” that we “might be partakers of the divine nature”. Again, to make us Christ-like, more spiritually mature.
Don’t get me wrong, the Word is filled with “promises” for our life here in the world. To deliver us from affliction, to heal us, to meet our financial and material needs, help us, etc. But, those stuck in the ‘prosperity’ ditch, too often ignore the “divine nature” aspect. They try to stand on God’s promises to have a problem-free, healthy and wealthy life. It is all about them living a blissful life.
Unfortunately, God never promised such. He, in fact, promised the opposite. He never promised a “rose garden” … sadly, Eden disappeared following Adam and Eve’s sin. We now live in a fallen world. My pastor cuts straight to the point:
“Jesus promised us that we will suffer, but that He is with us and has overcome the world (see John 16:33; Romans 5:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:12; Luke 14:27)” – Dr. Youssef
Yes, God promised to “deliver us from all of our troubles”. But, He never promised a trouble-free life. To ignore the promises, as some do, is a ditch. Likewise, to over-claim the promises out of context is another ditch – albeit on the opposite side of the road.
God is interested in our here and now, our daily struggles; but, He is more interested in our Christ-likeness and our eternity. Yes, He wants to bless us, but He would prefer we were “conformed to the image of Christ”. That’s the rest of the story.