Several years ago I wrote a column titled, “Why I don’t do dueling Bible verses,” noting how easy it is to extract something from the ancient texts that supports — or can be shaped to support — one’s preferred presupposition.
Social media is the ideal arena for this useless yet popular game. It gets going whenever a debatable issue is raised — such as immigration, gender equality or, now, simply telling the truth.
It is an old game, played less technologically in the past but equally ineffective regarding everything from interracial relationships to wine drinking to poker playing to square dancing. And, more troubling, to slavery and other overt abuses completely inconsistent with Jesus.
It is helpful to note how often professing Christians are well armed with responses that begin with, “but the Bible says,” and how infrequently Jesus’ life and teachings (hint: he is the one to follow) are raised.
Also, it is instructive to note how those armed with a good verse of two in their favor will rarely mention the misuse of such verses in support of past errors — although history provides plenty of examples.
Earlier, I quoted William Sloane Coffin’s insightful reminder: “It is a mistake to look to the Bible to close a discussion; the Bible seeks to open one.”
Most of what occurs during dueling Bible verses is neither conversational nor productive. That’s why I don’t play the game.
And it is why earlier I noted the difference between embracing and respecting the authority of the biblical revelation and pretending the Bible is some consistent catalogue of truth from which a verse here and a verse there can provide a definitive statement on every issue we encounter.
My strong leaning is toward the idea that the Bible is best interpreted through the lens of the highest revelation of God: Jesus, whose life and teachings are recorded right there in the often-ignored Gospels.
Jesus is a better “criterion for interpreting scripture” (as Southern Baptists once but no longer affirm) than human authorities who want that role. And the broader biblical themes of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and love of God and neighbor — so consistent with the life and teachings of Jesus — take precedence for us over lesser ones.
Of late, however, I have noticed one particular phrase being thrown around as if it insulates someone from any liability for their ignorance. It is the warning, “Do not judge” (Matthew 7:1).
At least they are quoting Jesus — from his larger warning about hypocrisy. And it is a good one — using some helpful humor to make the point that too often we pay attention toa little sawdust in someone else’s eye while ignoring the plank in our own.
That fuller understanding is often shortcut to simply, “Do not judge,” and used as a shield from having someone’s bad theology or praxis challenged.
However, I am not willing to accept that we are somehow spiritually prevented from any critique of someone’s misuse and often abusive scriptural rending.
Indeed, God alone is judge. It is not my role or yours to peer into someone’s soul and proclaim the status of another’s relationship to God.
However, it is always appropriate to discern whether what is being said and done in the name of Christianity actually aligns with the life and teachings of Jesus. That applies to all of us who’ve honestly confessed Jesus as Lord.
In fact, Jesus says so as recorded just a few verses down in the same chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.
In verses 15-20, he calls his followers to beware — which involves critique— of those who disguise themselves as truth-tellers when they are indeed the purveyors of a false gospel.
“Therefore,” said Jesus, “by their fruits you will know them.”
Judging results, not peering into the souls of others, is an important distinction.
In fact, it the lack of fruit inspection that has allowed for the Christian faith to so often be defined and delivered in ways that downplay, omit or contradict the very life and teachings of Jesus.
That’s rotten fruit that deserves to be inspected (judged) and rejected.
John D. Pierce is director of the Jesus Worldview Initiative (jesusworldview.org), part of Belmont University’s Rev. Charlie Curb Center for Faith Leadership.