Judging What the Bible Should Have Said
My wife and I didn’t kiss each
other until the week of our wedding. It wasn’t that we were scared of physical
intimacy (far from it!). It was based on a desire to avoid temptation and
pursue purity (2 Tim. 2:22).
Some proponents of purity seem to
disagree. I recently read an article about an upcoming documentary on
virginity. The film’s protagonists appear to elevate certain extra-biblical
practices to the status of universal Christian principles. These practices
include no kissing between a man and woman until their wedding day and no
college degrees for women who desire to be wives (since the money spent would
be a waste).
Now, I’m all for waiting until engagement or marriage before kissing. I’m all for stay-at-home moms. Depending on the circumstances, these pursuits can be wise and honorable.
What’s troubling is the idea that these things are required. When we think that way, we’ve added something to Scripture that wasn’t originally there. Suddenly, kissing outside marriage is equated with sex outside marriage. College degrees for would-be moms equal a waste of time and money. With these pronouncements, we presume to put our words in God’s very mouth.
We know not every Christian couple
has followed the same practice. That’s because God hasn’t laid out all the
specifics regarding how we are to pursue romance and marriage. Where Scripture
is unclear or silent, we need to exercise wisdom and discernment in our
choices. In such cases, if our desire is to glorify God—and not to get as close to the line of
compromise without actually crossing it—God will, I think, be honored in our
differing practices.
Now, I’m all for waiting until engagement or marriage before kissing. I’m all for stay-at-home moms. Depending on the circumstances, these pursuits can be wise and honorable.
What’s troubling is the idea that these things are required. When we think that way, we’ve added something to Scripture that wasn’t originally there. Suddenly, kissing outside marriage is equated with sex outside marriage. College degrees for would-be moms equal a waste of time and money. With these pronouncements, we presume to put our words in God’s very mouth.
I’m reminded of the sober warning
in Revelation 22:18-19:
The reference is to the book of Revelation itself, but I think there is a principle here that applies to all of Scripture. That principle is summed up well in the words of Bible commentator Albert Barnes: “it is obvious that no one has a right to change any part of a revelation which God makes to man; to presume to add to it, or to take from it, or in any way to modify it.” (God says as much in Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32.)
If anyone adds to these things,
God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone
takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his
part from the tree of life, from the holy city, and from the things which are
written in this book.
The reference is to the book of Revelation itself, but I think there is a principle here that applies to all of Scripture. That principle is summed up well in the words of Bible commentator Albert Barnes: “it is obvious that no one has a right to change any part of a revelation which God makes to man; to presume to add to it, or to take from it, or in any way to modify it.” (God says as much in Deuteronomy 4:2 and 12:32.)
As with the documentary example
above, I’ve noticed a particular tendency in some conservative circles—to turn certain
practices into mandatory principles. In order to ensure God’s Word is followed
closely, we fill in the gaps where Scripture is inconveniently silent. The
practice is tantamount to Phariseeism. It creates a burden no one was meant to
bear. It leads easily to legalism and self-righteousness.
Similarly, I’ve noticed a tendency
in some liberal circles to take away from Scripture, particularly in the areas
of sexuality and gender. Ironically enough, this is also tantamount to
Phariseeism—of a different kind. The Pharisees may (rightly) have a reputation
for adding to the Word of God, but they also ignored aspects of God’s law they
found inconvenient (Mark 7:9-13). They treated part of God’s revelation as
burdensome and unnecessary.
Both of these errors are serious.
Both should give us cause to check our own hearts. In the words of Bible
commentator Justin Edwards, “To attempt to require of men what God does not
require, or to absolve them from what he does require, is a great sin.” It is
sinful to add to the Word of God, as if His revelation was insufficient. It is
equally sinful to take away from the Word of God and to shirk principles and
practices He has addressed.
I’m aware that I’ve made some generalizations in the above
paragraphs. To be clear, I realize that embellishing Scripture is not unique to
conservative Christians, and liberal Christians don’t hold a monopoly on
gutting Scripture. The tendencies I have noticed may not be universal. Conservatives
and liberals can’t be so neatly fitted in a box.
I understand something else as well: God Himself cannot be placed
in a box of our own personal leanings. If His ways and thoughts are far beyond
ours (Isa. 55:9), and if He alone knows the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:10),
and if His gospel is for all cultures of the world (thus addressing the
fallacies that exist in all cultures of the world) (Rev. 5:9)—if all these
things are true, then it stands to reason that His Word would have omissions
that some of us find uncomfortable and inclusions that some of us find
distasteful.
The God who called us out of darkness and into His glorious
light is not a product of any one culture or time period. If we had a Bible
that fit perfectly within one particular culture or subculture, we would have a
God of mankind’s making. Such a God is not the glorious God we serve. Let us
not make the mistake of thinking He is just like us (Ps. 50:21). He is far
better and far greater.