Distorting Scripture
(While Pastor Josh takes a break from writing these front page articles, I want to continue to focus our attention on his ongoing subject; the Scriptures in the believer’s life.)
As Peter closes his second epistle he states that certain ignorant and unstable people distort…the…Scriptures… While I would be quick to defend myself against being considered ignorant or unstable, I curiously probed the core concern addressed, the distortion of Scripture.
What does the term mean? What are some of the dangers of distorting Scripture? What are subtle ways in which I could be tempted to or even guilty of doing this?
An investigation of distort finds that the word has a root usage to describe an act of torture; putting someone on a torture rack with the result that limbs are twisted and even dislocated. One of the purposes of such an act of torture is to wrest from the victim a confession. The confession may not represent truth. It may simply be an answer given to escape further pain or to satisfy the perspective of the one administering the torture.
This image quickly stirred in my mind the temptation that we may face as believers to “stretch” the truth of Scripture to fit our given circumstance. It would be any situation where our ultimate motive is to use the Scriptures, rather than to probe their understanding and intent and then respond in obedience to the word.
The point of confrontation for me is that it is an ongoing choice (and battle!) to submit my will to God’s will, as revealed in Scripture. I need to take God’s Word, as it is written, as truth, and not seek to undermine its full intent in any way. My motives don’t have to be mean or destructive to distort the Scriptures; they may be primarily self-centered or self-protective. But if I don’t approach Scripture with the intent of submission, am I in danger of distorting what God has said?
Certainly this is a danger to ponder. And the danger of doing so? It’s to my own harm; it perpetuates self being lord and master rather than God; and it establishes a subtle pattern of disobedience. More than that, our actions speak loudly, passing on distorted truth to others.
Pastor Dick High