I have noticed a troubling trait among those of us who have been trained for many years with a certain theology.  I of course am noticing it in people who whold a different view than mine, but I am not unwilling to accept that I may have the same weakness, perhaps even in the same area.

I’m going to speak in generalities because the particular question on my mind at the moment is one on which I have an opinion but do not yet have full confidence to stand against the storm that will surely commence when I make my position known.  The specific issue isn’t really important to the point I’d like to make. That is, your doctrine ought not to be dictating the way you read your Bible.

With distressing regularity I hear very devout and scholarly individuals explain away certain passages of scripture that say inconvenient thangs in very plain language that don’t happen to fit very well with prevailing theology.  Usually they reference two ore three mainstays and then go to great lengths to explain how the scripture just cannot mean what it plainly says based on these other scriptures.  They will say we can’t take scripture out of context while taking their own scripture out of context.

Context is important.  We have the collection of scripture that we have because it all works together to present the truth that Yahweh wanted us to have.  We need to read it all as it was intended to be read, but let no one use that as an argument to distract you from actually doing what they suggest.  I’d just like to ask you to stop and consider something.  If you keep reading things in your Bible that conflict with what you’ve been taught, it is possible that what you’ve been taught is wrong.  Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to the truth.