Perhaps you’ve heard it said: God gave us a Bible and a brain, and He expects us to use them both. There is support for this idea from Isaiah where the Lord invites Isaiah, through prophecy, to understand how our sins would be forgiven under the new covenant. There’s support also from 1 John 4:1-6, where it says (and I’m paraphrasing): Don’t believe everything you hear. Use your brains, folks!
I have encountered some incredibly frustrating “arguments” when trying to reason with people from the Scriptures, with both worldly and Christian people. I would like to take some space now, elucidating on some BAD reasoning. Please don’t use these arguments when speaking to people about God’s Word.
- I’m a Christian, and I believe ________________________.
This argument pops up discussing homosexuality, abortion, capital punishment—You name it, you’ll come across this argument. “Well, I’m a Christian, and I believe it’s okay.” This is not a valid argument. For instance, I could say: “I’m a Christian, and I believe the moon is made of cheese.” I don’t care what any silly textbook or scientific study or pictures from satellites (actual evidence) may tell me. I can believe whatever I want. (Are you seeing how silly this is sounding?) Yet, why do we not apply this to Christianity?
“I’m a Christian” is not an argument because no individual Christian gets to decide what is right, wrong, and who gets into Heaven. Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on the earth.” Jesus’s words are all we can use in our reasoning together because He alone is the authority. Christians have none. The Christian’s thoughts and opinions make no impact upon the Word of God. We may only speak where we have been given permission (authority) to speak, and that is from His Word (Matthew 28:20).
- Well, the Bible also says _________________.
This argument, whether people like to admit it or not, assumes that the Bible can be contradictory—as if one statement in the Bible being true negates another being true. Cannot they both be true? And if you believe in the inspired Word of God, yes, they must be! “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Not parts of Scripture. All Scripture.
The biggest thing people seem to get hung up on is that the Bible “also says” to love one another (John 13:34), and to love your neighbor (Mark 12:31)—yes, the greatest thing ever is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Now, how does love contradict teaching God’s desires for mankind? It doesn’t. God defines for us what love truly is:
1 Corinthians 13:4-8 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.”
John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
We cannot forget that the Bible is not bits and pieces shoved together. It is a book that was written by God and it has a unified message. Love does not fail to keep God’s commandments. Obedience is not separate from love, though the world tries to make it so! This is definitely a way I see cultural views seeping into the church—through a worldly definition of love. Stick with the Bible, folks!
- People use that verse to beat others down.
This is painting with a broad brush. Does someone else’s misuse of Scripture mean I shouldn’t use it? Let’s think on what Peter has to say: “…and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:15-18). People who twist Scripture are either “untaught” or “unstable (unsound)”; but, YOU (at the time of writing he had a particular audience—by inspiration of the Holy Spirit it addresses readers today) YOU should beware/ be aware of this and keep yourself from falling away. We can’t get caught up in what other people are doing and how they may misuse Scripture. We only control ourselves. If the verse is being used accurately, then don’t argue against it.
Finally, my favorite:
- People like you are why everyone hates Christians.
I don’t know where people have gotten the impression that people loved Jesus. Sure, there were those who followed Him; but, they weren’t enough to free Him when Pilate offered the masses Jesus or Barabbas (Matthew 27). Read this account. Read how the people cried out for Jesus’s death. I, and “people like me” are not why everyone hates Christians. Christ is. (John 15:18-20). Nothing can infuriate people like being told what the Bible says. It convicts the hearer (Hebrews 4:12). It will make those who do not love His Word gnash their teeth (Acts 7:54).
If the argument gets this far, I think reason left the building a while ago. Anger is no place from which to reason; so, if you’re to the point where you’re just so mad perhaps it’s time to leave the discussion. “…a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1) “Be angry and do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26).
No matter what discussions in which you find yourself. Try to remember who the real enemy is. It’s not the person who is throwing these ignorant and childish arguments around. The enemy is Satan, who’s quite good at using the Bible, too. When Satan tempts Jesus in Matthew 4:6, he is quoting from Psalm 91:11-12; but, he has an “untaught” or “unstable”/unsound understanding as Jesus shows in His answer (Matthew 4:7). This is reason!: Scriptures being brought up to shed light on an issue.
What’s really awesome is that Jesus doesn’t look down His nose at Satan. He doesn’t mock Satan. He doesn’t say, “Well, I’m Jesus and I believe _______________.” (Though He could actually say so and have it matter!) While Jesus was on the earth (Philippians 2:5-8), He showed us EXACTLY how to combat Satan and all those who would try to use Scripture against us. Know the Word. Each time He was tempted, He responded with God’s Word (Matthew 4). In His prayer, He points again to the importance of Scripture saying “Thy Word is Truth” (John 17:17). In order to understand more each day, we must take the time to meditate upon it daily (Joshua 1:8 ; Psalm 1:2 ; Psalm 119:97). Use your knowledge of Scripture, and don’t leave your brains behind! Let us, as the body of Christ, reason together to find that which is so (Acts 17:11).
-Tricia Reno