BREAKING BAD BELIEFS – 20 (last) (Debunking Christian Half-Truths)

Not my interpretation

What we believe:

“We realize that there is no ‘objective, one, right way’ to interpret a passage – and we recognize that there is no reading of any text – including the Bible – that doesn’t involve interpretation. We also realize that each person interprets the text via their own personal experiences, education, upbringing, socio-political context, and more.”*

Why it is wrong:

All of us have heard the retort, “That’s not how I interpret the passage,” and have likely been fearful of responding, thinking we might be the one misinterpreting the text. To us, misrepresenting Scripture is synonymous with tying millstones around baby Christians and tossing them into the sea of ignorance. However, querying our interpretations leads to revelations; whereas, acceptance of multiple, subjective, relativistic interpretations can lead only to an unwillingness to learn the singular, objective, absolute truth. The sin isn’t misinterpretation but rather the belief that more than one interpretation exists. The latter leads to obstinacy while the former forces a struggle to learn through study and discussion with other believers.

Satan’s first temptation tests our willingness to interpret God’s Word His way: “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of EVERY tree of the garden?” (Gen 3.1). An observant Christian notices first that Satan alters God’s Word to provide a meaning that requires an interpretation different from the one originally intended. God said they could eat of any tree EXCEPT “the tree of knowledge of good and evil,” a correction Eve is quick to provide the Devil but with an added interpretation of her own, “God has said, ‘You shall not eat it NOR shall you TOUCH it, lest you die.’” We misinterpret His Word because we do not take God at His Word but add “interpretations” that alter the meaning to match what we want to believe, thereby creating truth rather than trusting in it.

How we ought to believe:

– Not translation. First, many people (mostly unbelievers) confuse translations and interpretations believing that since the King James uses the word “charity” and other versions, “love,” the Bible’s meaning is subjective since the words themselves differ in connotation. Translation chooses the proper word(s) to portray the original meaning of the writing(s), whereas interpretation provides an understanding that transcends language. Translation is simply what it says in our language, while interpretation is what it means in any language.

– Not application. Next, Christians often confuse differences in “application” with interpretations of the Word. “Baptize” has a universal meaning but its application, when not specified in the text, could range from Spiritual indwelling to immersion in water to sprinkling by water. Similarly, “worship” or “make disciples” or “fellowship” should transplant a singular interpretation but imply multiple applications. We might play cards, eat dinner, conduct Bible study, or play Halo, but it’s still fellowship despite the difference in our activities (applications).

How to Interpret:

1- “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke… by the Holy Spirit” (2Pt 1.20, 21). According to Peter there can be only one interpretation, the Spirit’s, as even the prophet who inscribed the words wasn’t the one who inspired them. After appealing to believers to become “perfectly united in mind and thought” (1Cor 1.10), Paul explains that God transplants “the mind of Christ” through His Spirit so that all might comprehend what “God has revealed to us” in His Word (1Cor 2.9-16). Because there is only one Spirit, there can be only one interpretation of the Author’s writing. Believing this and then searching for the right interpretation is more “Scriptural” than accepting that God inspires all interpretations.

2- “Let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless… let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind…. Join in following my example” (Phil 3.15-17). Most Christians struggle with their interpretations because of a lack of maturity, fitting their understanding of the Word to the “itching of their ears” rather than “having ears to hear.” The best way to learn that my interpretation is wrong is to attempt to prove it right to mature believers who share an opposite point of view. According to Paul, maturity will win out and we will eventually “think otherwise” if we are of the “same mind” as God’s Spirit.

3- “Long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation” (1Pt 2.2). Learn to study the Bible rather than “do Bible study.” Jesus chastised the Pharisees because they were “in error because [they] did not know the Scriptures” (Mt. 22.29). Similarly, Paul warns Christians to “no longer be infants… blown here and there by every wind of teaching” (Eph 4.14) while Peter says false teachers’ favorite victims are those “just escaping from those who live in error” (2Pt 2.18). In other words, the less we know of God’s Word, the more likely we’ll fall for false interpretations of it.

If there is only one interpretation for Scripture, then it’s our duty to discover it. If there are many interpretations, then our own only duty is to divide.

REFERENCES: *http://www.patheos.com/blogs/rogerwolsey/2014/01/16-ways-progressive-christians-interpret-the-bible/; http://www.gotquestions.org/baptism-John-3-5.html; http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2015/02/07/do-you-literally-interpret-the-bible-literally