The result of an erratic hermeneutics is that the Bible has been made a source of confusion rather than light. “There is no folly, no God-dishonoring theology, no iniquity, no sacerdotal puerility,” writes Edward White, “for which chapter and verse may not be cited by an enslaved intelligence. And under these circumstances it is impossible to express in adequate terms the importance of a correct estimate and exposition of ‘The Bible’ “ (Inspiration, p.153). In Bassanio’s mouth Shakespeare puts these words: “In religion, what damned error but some sober brow will bless it, and approve it with a text, hiding the grossness with fair ornament” (The Merchant of Venice, Act III, scene 2).
– Bernard Ramm, Protestant Biblical Interpretation, p. 3)
Time and time again on Facebook, verses are posted out of context, often to support some individuals particular learned doctrine. I an effort to prove their point, some will grasp at straws to argue that their
particular understanding of the scriptures is the only correct interpretation. Much of this, in my opinion, is
the result of preaching, rather than actually searching the scriptures for oneself . I often comment simply
“context, context,context.” Because quite often, as we know, those verses taken out of context can result in
a pretext. The biggest problem that I see in this is the new convert that may follow someone else’s beliefs
and interpretation and be led away from actual scripture understanding. This is why proper discipleship
training is vital in those churches that are teaching the Bible in it’s entirety, and proper context.
See it happen all the time… Entire ministries are built upon erratic hermeneutics. The end result is what Manfred mentioned: men become their own god…
Hey, you cannot have a church of 80,000 with proper hermeneutics and expository preaching so out with that stuff and in with the dancing bears and loud rock bands… Rock on, dudes!
But if one does not use a text out of context to create a pretext, how can he create his own religion and be his own god?