Pet (peeve) verses: A case for context

Every now and then, I confess I succumb to a bit of melancholy over the state of biblical literacy in the church. I specifically lament the fact that many Christians – even ones who have been followers of Christ for a long time – don’t seem to know how to read or interpret the Bible. Even worse, it’s difficult for some Christians to even see that there is such a thing as universal rules of interpretation. It’s a serious problem that causes lack of clarity and and agreement about just what God has said in His Word.

But then a blog post like this one comes along – Five Bible twists (and how to correct them) – and I’m filled with new hope. It’s so good to know there’s another brother out there who gets it and isn’t afraid to step on people’s toes for the sake of a pure hermeneutic. Said toe-stepping takes place when someone’s “pet verse” is called into question, inasmuch as the way the pet-verse owner likes to interpret it. This is not to condone questioning of the value of the verse or passage itself, but of the often-assumed manner in which it is understood.

You know what “pet verses” are, don’t you? They’re the verses or passages that get trotted out in virtually any situation in which they seem the least bit relevant or applicable. I’m thankful the above-mentioned blogger listed Jeremiah 29:11 first, because it is to pet verses what Pikachu was to Pokemon. It’s the poster child of misapplied Scripture. It’s the go-to Bible verse when anyone is in a bad situation or anything looks hopeless. It works just as well on a “get well” card as it does a graduation card, on a baby balloon bouquet or a funerary wreath. This phenomenon is at such an epidemic level in Christianity that I’ve taken to calling Scriptures such as these “pet peeve” verses. And again, I’m not in any way trying to cast aspersions on God’s holy Word. This is merely to state that I deeply long for believers to become more thoughtful and true to the Bible when we use it in the various situations and circumstances of life.

One of my biggest “pet peeve” verses is 1 Corinthians 10:13. Has another well-meaning Christian ever told you that “God won’t give you more than you can bear?” He or she had this verse in mind. Unfortunately Paul didn’t write this to the Corinthian church so they would know God would never give them more than they could bear of anything. The verse is in context of a larger statement about the temptation to sin. God will always provide us a way of escape when we’re tempted, and the temptation itself will never be more than we can withstand. But as for suffering, affliction, and other hardships of life, there may be times that the pain is more than we can bear. That’s when God applies His grace and strength to carry us through it. Biblical truth? Yes. Biblical truth that 1 Cor. 10:13 teaches? No.

The Bible is so filled with rich promises and truths about every possible life situation. That’s why it’s such a tragedy when Christians fail to correctly apply and appropriate them. Part of maturing in the faith is learning how to handle the Word correctly, so that it will transform us according to its truths and so we can become trustworthy teachers for others. Let’s stop keeping verses as pets, and instead release them to do what God created them to do.

How about you? Do you have any “pet peeve” verses? Are there any Bible verses or passages you see constantly used out of context? What is the correct interpretation of that verse?