06 April 2024
Let me suggest an exercise, something we each should do for ourselves.
On of the most useful points raised in the book Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes was the fundamental flaw of personalizing everything in the Bible, a sort of religious solipsism. When it comes to Bible exegesis, my first encounter with Charismatics was like running into a buzz saw. While they are hardly the only ones to use that approach to Scripture, they have really invested heavily in this. Now it's everywhere.
This would be a good time to go back to all of those favored passages in which we have been told there is a promise for us today and reexamine whether it is so. I would never suggest that there are no principles hidden in the Old Testament passages, the promises in particular. Rather, we need to back off the giddy embrace of everything that even sounds like a blessing and make sure that's what it really is.
Look at the context, and make sure you see it from all the angles. Keep in mind how Paul said openly that some of what Israel experienced, particularly in the Exodus and Conquest, could be a typology of the gospel spiritual life (1 Corinthians 10:6-11). Here's one that I will affirm: Exodus 23:30. In the broader context, God is telling Israel that their primary mission coming into the Land of Canaan will be to destroy the pagan shrines and drive out those who built them. He would send the fear of Him to drive the people out, rather like hornets driving people out of a residence.
But it would not happen overnight. Should He do so, the vacant cities would become haunts for wild animals that would harm the people of Israel. So, God promised to do it little by little. The idea is that Israel should occupy the land and resources. Take control and put things to work. This is echoed in what Jesus implied in Luke 11:24-26 about filling your life with God's work. If the Spirit occupies your soul, the demons can't come back. But you can't simply blow them all out at once. You'll need to occupy the empty space and ensure the Lord is comfortable there, and that takes time -- little by little.
I'm willing to bet you can find contrary examples of Bible passages falsely interpreted that don't workout that well.
This document is public domain; spread the message.