Taking Scripture Out of Context, "Is this really the day the Lord has made?"

We recently had a short series of Sunday school classes

based on the theme of using Scripture out of context. It was a challenging set of lessons for some and a truly revealing exercise for many. 

Some of the passages we looked at were; 

• Mt 18:20, where we found that the two or three gathered were not for the purpose of Bible study or prayer, but for church discipline
• Mt 18:18, where we see that the binding and loosening are things that are already prohibited and permitted in heaven, not a process that begins here on earth but a part of the disciplinary process the church is to use in restoring an individual to fellowship. The same goes for Mt 18:19. Obviously there is much that is misunderstood and much that is inappropriately applied regarding this short passage. 
• Mt 7:20 which actually shows us how to discern a false prophet rather than how to determine whether someone is saved. 
• Psalm 118:24, a verse describing the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the day redemption came to the world, not necessarily a proclamation about the current day.
• Php 4:13, instead of a mantra for positive thinking and empowerment, an encouragement that  God is the source of strength for times of struggle as well as times of great victory. 
• Rev 3:20, rather than an evangelistic tool portraying a
  
  Christ who is patiently waiting for someone to "invite Him into their heart", this verse is an admonishment to the Laodicean church, a church of people that were already believers, to abandon their lukewarm ways and refocus their lives and their church activities on Christ. 

Many of these passages are precious to a lot of people. Many will see something like this and say, "Well, I've always been taught....", then simply choose to ignore the lesson being taught. How do we know what to embrace and what to reject?

The key is in the context. Context is everything!

To determine if the claims above are true, all that needs to be done is to read the verses surrounding the verse quoted. Read as far as needed until the verse comes into focus. 

The fact of the matter is this; The church has an amazing propensity to read one verse, then form a doctrine or theology around that single verse, taken out of context, even if the verse does not actually mean what the malformed doctrine

practices. This is popular because it is easy. It requires no study and little thinking. It fits on a bumper sticker or a refrigerator magnet, allowing for a subjective interpretation, using the verse for something it was never intended to be used for.  

This is not only a very bad practice, it can be dangerous. How dangerous? Take a look at the way Eph 5:22, the opening verse for a beautiful passage about marriage, has been used, in the past to control and subjugate women. Certainly, the concept of a submissive wife is a godly concept and should not be minimized. But, it has to be taken in the context of a husband that sacrifices himself for her and a relationship that is totally submitted to Christ on all accounts. This is not a

verse that establishes the husband as king and lord over the woman, having his way with her and treating her as some sort of personal slave or servant. It is a verse that begins to set the parameters for a marriage that is totally surrendered to God with both members acting in a selfless, sacrificing manner, treating each other as more important than themselves. 

Bottom line? We do  not have the prerogative to interpret Scripture for ourselves, applying it any way we see fit.  The by-now-familiar method of group Bible study in which everyone in the group gets a chance to share what the Scripture means to them, then celebrates the diversity of God's truth, is not how our Bible is to be applied to our lives. We are to read the Scriptures the way they were written, applying them in the manner they were intended. 

The only way this is possible is by reading in context. 

How does this affect the various memorization programs that

are available to us? How does it affect the AWANA program, a comprehensive set of studies designed to help our children memorize Scripture?

Certainly, any effort to memorize Scripture is worthy and beneficial. The word of God nourishes our soul and comforts our spirit, sometimes soothing us, sometimes challenging us. Knowing Scripture by heart can be invaluable in those times when life can be difficult. In that light, AWANA provides a wonderful and desperately needed foundation for the faith of our children and young adults. 

The difficulty outlined in our Sunday school class comes not from memorizing Scripture but from using it outside the context it was written. 

So, don't abandon your Bible memorization studies, they are invaluable to you and your soul. Just read the verses surrounding the ones you memorize...and keep them in context.