Properly Handling the Bible

 

Anyone who is honest must admit that the habit of Bible study that we have inherited picks and chooses the application of biblical texts.

It would take me quite a while to count how many times someone has said to me, “well, what about ‘this text’ or ‘that text’?” but will be entirely unwilling to read the text in its entirety, and proper framework. Many times, we simply have not been told how the entirety of the Bible must agree and can, with the proper study and understanding applied.

Today’s verses are a perfect example. I have seen gatherings, large and small, erupt with shouts over verses 5 and 6 of Malachi chapter 4. “Yes! Amen! Do it Lord!!!!” *Without question* these verses are embraced and “believed” by the Christian majority. I’ll tell you right now though, if I waited for the crowd to calm down, walked up to the microphone and then read the verse that preceded these two, I can guarantee you that the excitement would wane almost immediately.

Torah? Law? Rules? Statutes? No, no, no. “We’re free in Jesus now! Send Elijah Lord!!!!” The verses that we *think* that we understand and enjoy, yes! We *love* those! I have seen this, in different forms so... many... times. It saddens me greatly how we cherry-pick the Bible and apply it however we personally desire, often leaving out our covenantal responsibilities.

So why bother mentioning it? Friends, let’s not do this. This is a poor handling of Father’s wonderful Word. Make sure you’re willing to read the Bible in fullness and not merely skip over the parts that you’ve been told “aren’t for you.” The *entire Book* is a covenant story, from beginning to end. One People. One Messiah. One Father of both. Amen.