I like riding motorcycles. In fact, I belong to a local chapter of Christian motorcyclists.
In our Chapter, several of us ride Harley Davidsons. However, not all of us. If you were to join us on one of our rides, you would find Hondas, Yamahas, Can Ams, and one guy rides a big ole’ Indian. As a Harley guy, I often joke that if you have to shut your bike off to hear if the bike next to you is running … Well, then… something ain’t right!
But it seems like no matter what make or model of bike each one of us rides, we’re quick to give our opinion on which bike is better. But who decides what motorcycle is best or which motorcycle is the right one? And by what authority do we make this claim?
Let’s just say for a moment I suffer a dramatic brain injury and I buy a Honda. Did I change what I think is right or best? It’s a matter of preference or opinion. But there is nothing factual to support our own claim that there is a superior motorcycle. But we all know in our hearts it’s a Harley …
How many times have you found yourself debating someone who has a different interpretation of scripture? You go back and forth, neither of you giving an inch in your own personal opinion of your interpretation. The truth is, you could put 500 people in a room and you could have 500 different interpretations of what a certain passage of scripture may say. Here’s the thing. No matter how many ways we interpret the Bible, the truth is revealed to those who listen to God. And his message is irrefutable and unquestionable.
John records these words in his Gospel: “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” -1 John 4:6
So how do we discern the true interpretation of the Bible? Well, first we must read the Bible. Without truly studying the Word, we are just assuming something may or may not be found in it.
Second, we cannot take the Bible out of context. Like the dangers that go with riding a motorcycle, there are dangers to take a single verse from the Bible and build an entire argument or, worse, an entire theology around that singular verse. We must understand the context in which that verse was written. Like what was the period in time? What events were occurring when the verse or passage was written? Who wrote the words? Who was the intended audience? What cultural norms may have influenced the words?
Now, when we have the context, we are more informed of the scriptural meaning. Before we give an opinion on a motorcycle, give it the once over, kick the tires, take it for a spin around the block. Having more information will make our opinion have value.
Same is true regarding scripture. Before sharing our interpretation, pray over the unclear passages, approach the Word with humility, and be sure to stop and reflect on the verses and passages we are studying. Then our claim regarding the interpretation of scripture will come with God’s authority.
