When Joseph Smith "discovered" gold plates buried in the side of a hill in upstate New York, he used magic glasses (or a "peep stone") to translate the unknown language (later "identified" as Reformed Egyptian) into English. This "translation" is known as The Book of Mormon.
But the Mormons are not the only ones who use questionable means to interpret Scripture.
Reverend Russell Rathbun (HT: Maggi Dawn) lists some "rules" that Evangelicals use to apply the Bible. Here's my adaptation of his list:
- Everything in the Bible is addressed to me and is about me.
- Everything in the Bible is about what I should do and what I should not do.
- The Bible is a collection of principles and timeless truths that are to be discovered and applied according to rule #2.
- The Bible means what I think it means.
- The Gospel is about getting people signed up for heaven.
- Grace is a good concept, but for everyday life we need clear rules.
- Holiness is a good concept, but God doesn't really expect us to be that way.
Maybe it's time to take off our magic eyeglasses and let the Bible speak for itself.
Pastor Rod
"Helping You Become the Person God Created You to Be"
1 comment:
Thanks, Tia.
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