MONDAY MEDITATION: When Someone Quotes the Bible… (March 9)

The devil brought him into Jerusalem and stood him at the highest point of the temple. He said to him, “Since you are God’s Son, throw yourself down from here;  for it’s written: He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you and they will take you up in their hands so that you won’t hit your foot on a stone.” Jesus answered, “It’s been said, Don’t test the Lord your God.”  — Luke 4:9-10, 12

When it comes to the Bible, it’s pretty clear that people can use it–intentionally or not–to make it say what they want it to say. An antidote to that is to fight verses with counter-verses, which is what Jesus famously did with the devil. Satan used Scripture to lay a trap for him. And Jesus quoted a passage that put Satan’s passage within a larger context.

That’s the thing with the Bible: there’s always a larger context. And for Christians, that larger context is Jesus.

When verses are bantered about regarding human sexuality, nationalism, clean/unclean, good/evil, etc., it’s helpful to recall some quotable things from Jesus.

As you’ve done it to the least of these, you’ve done it to me.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

Forgive your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

It’s what comes out of a person that contaminates someone in God’s sight.

What do you recall Jesus saying that could be added to that list?

So much of the Bible was written to address specific times, locations, and issues. To snip verses from those passages and make proclamations about God’s will is Bible abuse.

Jesus transcends the culture-bound portions. Let’s stick with him.