The Pick and Choose Method

Most folks have favorite Bible verses.  Some folks have verses they would choose to cut out and throw away if such were an option.  And who knows?  Some feel so strongly against the inclusion of certain verses, they might as well take a pair of scissors to the Word.  And while no one has ever said they would like to get rid of II Timothy 3:16, I suspect there are some out there.  It says, "All scripture is inspired by God..."   The exclusion clan would rather the Word said, "some" instead of "all"   And, of course, the phase "inspired by God "  is certainly suspect since it was written by someone no different than anyone of us and really reflects both a specific time and culture.    

The idea that the Word of God could transcend both time and culture and continue to be both authoritarian and relevant is too big a step for some who practice a "pick and choose" approach to the Scripture.   A Word that had transcending power was no problem for Jesus.  The 4th chapter of Luke tells us of a moment when He came to Nazareth, went into the synagogue, and read the scroll of the prophet Isaiah,  When He finished the reading, rolled up the scroll, and sat down, He said, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your midst."  (Luke 4:21)     

To paraphrase an old spiritual, "If it is good enough for Jesus, it is good enough for me."  Those who practice the "pick and choose" method of reading and accepting the Word may speak of their belief that the Scripture written long ago no longer fits the accepted mores of society, but the truth is that they are also declaring themselves to be the authority in deciding what is the Word of God and what is not.  To read the Scripture with such a mindset is to read it with a "It is all about me" spirit which is a far cry from declaring the Biblical truth stated within the Word saying, "All Scripture is inspired by God."