Are You Listening to the “Wrong” Bible Verses?

I have a theory. I believe that many people gravitate toward Bible verses that are “wrong” for them. Before you label me a heretic, let me be crystal clear. Since the Bible is 100% inspired, inerrant and infallible, in reality there are truly no “wrong” verses. God intentionally placed each one there, and we are to take all of them seriously. All Scripture is God-breathed ( 2 Timothy 3:16-17).

What I mean by reading the wrong verses is that some people gravitate – sometimes in unhelpful ways – toward the sections that reinforce their predisposition while minimizing verses that would round out their conclusions. Let me explain.

The Sermon on the Mount includes these startling statements from Jesus:

• “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” – Matthew 5:20

• “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” – Matthew 5:48

And then, just a few chapters later, he offers these incredibly comforting words which seem to be in tension with his former comments:

• “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” – Matthew 11:28-30.

These statements almost seem contradictory, but they are all simultaneously true. Jesus wants us to live lives that reflect our changed nature once we’ve received his forgiveness of our sins. But he also offers the power to do so through the Holy Spirit, so we don’t have to “grunt it out.”

As I said, my theory is that many people naturally resonate with the verses that align with their temperamental bent while overlooking the “opposite” ones.

For example, I know some very conscientious people who sincerely want to please God in everything they do. But since they are only human and sometimes fail, they constantly beat themselves up. They point to the first two verses from the Sermon on the Mount and say, “See. Jesus’ standard is nothing short of perfection, and I certainly am not perfect. He must constantly be disappointed in me.” These folks need to balance their conscientiousness against Jesus’ invitation to enjoy his rest.

On the other hand, some people lack vigor and prefer to relax in their spiritual hammocks, clutching their “get out of hell free” card and “counting on” Jesus’ easy yoke and light burden. These people should reevaluate the extent to which their behavior truly matches God’s prescribed lifestyle.

Let me recommend two excellent books that focus on each end of the tension created by these verses. Kevin DeYoung states in Impossible Christianity, “One of the reasons Christianity can feel impossible is that is that we’ve concocted a Christianity unsuitable for finite creatures. . . . (W)e are not infinite beings. We have limits – lots of limits, God-given limits . . . We simply cannot do everything.”  My overly conscientious friends would greatly benefit from DeYoung’s encouragement that God knows their heart’s desire to please him and that he understands their failures.

A book at the opposite end of this discussion is Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s classic The Cost of Discipleship in which he rails against what he calls “cheap grace.” “Cheap grace,” says Bonhoeffer, “is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ.” Lackadaisical Christians would do well to weigh their lives in light of this truth.

Both books are must-reads, but I encourage you to start with the one that is the opposite of your natural “bent.” Overly serious Christians should start with Impossible Christianity, while the spiritually flabby should crack open The Cost of Discipleship. Both books have the potential to revolutionize your relationship with God.

Probably My Least Favorite Sermon of All Time

I play in our church’s worship band as often as my schedule allows. Our only weekly rehearsal starts at 7:00 a.m. Sundays, just over two hours before the first service, so it means rising early the weeks I play.

As I was getting ready one morning about a year ago, I tuned the small TV in our bathroom to a popular TV preacher and heard part of a sermon that I would characterize as maybe my least favorite of all time. He was wrapping up by admonishing his congregation to live out their faith in some very specific ways. Here is my recollection of his comments:

• “Every Christian should be reading their Bible every day.”

• “If you’re not regularly talking about Jesus, I have to wonder how much you really love him.” “Parents, it’s great that you bring your kids to church, but that’s not enough. When you get home, you should discuss the sermon over Sunday dinner to help them see how to apply it in their lives.”

• “I wouldn’t even thing about putting my kids to bed without praying a prayer like this over them.” And he outlined a lofty prayer that covered all the key aspects of their lives.

I WANT TO BE 100% CLEAR! These are all admirable actions and should be encouraged. Who can argue with any of them? My problem was with the tone of his message and the fact that his sermons typically end with similar admonitions.

I’m definitely not Jesus’ most faithful disciple by any stretch, but I do my honest best to walk with him and honor him every day. So, how do I fare with this minister’s checklist?

• Read my Bible every day? Well, I’m probably three or four times a week – So, I guess I’m guilty.

• Talk about Jesus? – I do pretty well here, but I certainly miss opportunities – This one is probably OK.

• Process the sermon with the kids?  – They’re both grown now, but when they were young, we were spotty at best about doing this – So, not so much.

• Praying a galaxy-scraping prayer over the kids every night at bedtime? – Can’t check that box either.

So, I guess my score is:

• Guilty

• Decent

• Guilty

• Guilty

All that in just 10 minutes. Wow! I can’t wait to tune in next week so I can get beaten up again.

Again, I take no issue with these instructions. They are all important. And there is clearly a role for periodically highlighting God’s standards and reminding us where we fall short. But is it healthy to get a steady diet of messages teaching that God is probably highly disappointed in me and that I need to get much more serious about my relationship with him?

I have known many people who were raised in this type of legalistic environment, and the impact of the constant haranguing can be (at best) discouraging or (at worst) highly destructive.  Many people who grew up being constantly scolded like this believe God has an ugly scowl on his face whenever he thinks about them. And many others, convinced that they will never be good enough, simply walk away from the faith altogether.

Isn’t this type of performance-based message the very thing that irked Jesus about the Pharisees? Although he certainly never compromised on God’s standards, he focused on God’s love and grace. Doesn’t his emphasis explain why, although the religious establishment despised him, the prostitutes, tax collectors and other outcasts flocked to him?

Does God care about my behavior? Of course! Should I be striving to better reflect his character more completely and live a more holy life? Of course! But why am I doing it? Is it to earn God’s favor so he won’t punish me for my shortcomings, or is it to reflect my gratitude for what he’s already done and continues to do in my life? And isn’t a focus on God’s grace far more attractive to outsiders than a message of “do’s and don’ts”?

What Would Jesus' Attitude Towards Immigrants Be?

Last month, my wife and I were blessed to be able to visit both sets of our married kids in Los Angeles. During one of my morning runs, I came across a yard sign with an intriguing message in three languages (Spanish, English, and a Middle Eastern language). The English said, No matter where you are from, we’re glad you’re our neighbor. 

“What an interesting sign,” I thought. “That’s a very nice sentiment.” But then, I immediately recognized the political overtones implied by including the two non-English languages. And it got me to thinking, if Jesus had a front yard, would he put this sign in it?

I both watch CNN/network TV news and listen to a few talk radio shows, so I am familiar with both sides of the “culture war” issues. This sign was obviously placed by someone who welcomes Hispanic and Islamic neighbors, implying a more progressive view toward immigration. Just because someone is Hispanic or is a Muslim doesn’t mean they have done anything illegal. But some Hispanics have broken immigration laws, and some Muslims (a very small percentage) espouse violence against Westerners.

So, would Jesus endorse this sign or not?

The anecdote from Jesus life that sheds the most light on this question is in John 8 – the account of the woman caught in adultery. You know the story. The Pharisees and teachers of the law haul an adulterous woman before Jesus, hoping he will say something that would allow them to claim he didn’t follow the Law of Moses. Of course, Jesus sees right through this and invites anyone who was sinless to pick up the first stone. None is, so none does. Once it was just Jesus and the woman, he tells her he didn’t condemn her either.

People of a more liberal bent tend to stop here. Their application of this story to many cultural issues tends toward the progressive side, and many would support a position that ignores current immigration laws and allow in anyone who wants to come to our country.

 But not so fast. This position ignores the story’s concluding verse where Jesus tells the woman, “Go and sin no more.” So, although Jesus doesn’t condemn her, neither does he invalidate the laws against adultery. It’s the perfect illustration of the old adage, Love the sinner but hate the sin.

Sometimes, people of a more conservative bent – like the Pharisees and teacher of the law in this story – focus exclusively on upholding the law and fail to act lovingly toward individual perceived lawbreaker. But sometimes, people with more progressive inclinations seem to forget that Jesus never supported lawlessness. He said in Matthew 5:17 that he didn’t come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them. The Old Testament laws regulated both religious and civic behavior. 

So, where does this leave us? Would Jesus endorse this sign or not? I believe he would. But just like he calls everyone to obey the laws of God and man, he would not support behavior that breaks the law.

What do you think?