Scriptures That Are Greatly Abused By…

Illus: Makes me think of a young lady who occasionally walked through the park after work, stopped to have her picture taken by a photographer on this particular day. She was very excited about her picture being taken. As she walked out of the park, she looked at the Polaroid picture in total amazement. She turned and headed back to the cameraman. When she got there she stated, "This is not right! This is not right! You have done me no justice!"

The photographer looked at the picture and looked at her and stated, "Miss, you don’t need justice, what you need is mercy."

But one day when we stand before the Lord we are going to get JUSTICE and MERCY!!!

There are many scriptures in the Bible that are abused ignorantly by preachers and laymen.

If I had the time I would like to deal with some to these abused scriptures in the Bible. But it would take the whole service to deal with many of them…

Let me show you the favorite scriptures that some like to talk about.

(1)1 Timothy 5: 23 seem to be a favorite Scripture for some.

We read “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities.”

Some take this scripture completely out of context.

For example, Paul had written to Timothy, who had a stomach condition, and he said to him to drink a little wine for his stomach condition.

Paul is not encouraging Timothy to start drinking as some would imply. Paul is talking about using it for medical purpose.

It is obvious from this verse of Scripture Paul is addressing a physical problem that Timothy had.

From what we read in the scriptures, it had to do with a stomach problem, but he also had other infirmities bothering him.

Notice, we all know we should drink water every day but he specifically told him, “DRINK NO LONGER WATER.”

Why?

Illus: Often, those who go to foreign countries have to buy water to drink because the water is so contaminated that if they drink it, it will cause some serious pain in their stomach and some other related problems.

This could be the situation with Timothy. Possibly the water was contaminated, and was causing Timothy some serious problems.

This seems to be the problem because Paul specifically said, “DRINK NO LONGER WATER.”

But generally when this verse is quoted by some you hear these words only “…Use a little wine….”

They never put this verse of Scripture in the context that Paul knew.

Let us put this scripture in context, the reason Paul recommend this …

(1)Timothy had a stomach condition (medical purpose)

(2)And he knew the problem of the sickenss was due to drinking contaminated water.

Alcohol in the days of Paul, like today, was used for medicinal purposes.

But those things that are used for medicinal purposes can also be abused.

Illus: For example, Nyquil is used by many for colds but it contain a lot of alcohol. (Humor)It can be abused, if you drink to much of it you can start to enjoy your cold!!!

Many medications are abused!

There are folks who do not care a thing about what the Bible teaches, but when it is convenient, they do not mind taking a Scripture out of context and using it to promote something they want to promote.

Another favorite verse of scripture that is used by some folks who know very little about the Bible is...

(2) Matthew 7:1-2, “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

Yes, the Bible specifically states we are to “Judge Not”, we all agree on that.

But is that verse of Scripture teaching us that under no circumstances are we to pass judgment on anyone?

Absolutely not!!!

If that is what this scripture is teaching we have some serious contradictions in the scriptures, such as…

(1)If that verse is teaching that, the Lord could not be the sinless Son of God, because he often judged people to be hypocrites

(2)If that is what the Bible teaching the Bible contradicts itself because we are told in Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. to judge a false prophet. How could we beware of false prophets if we can not judge them to be false prophets.

(3)If that is what the Lord is teaching we are not to judge, it would be wrong for us to serve on a jury. Why? Because that is what a jury does, they take the evidence that is placed before them and they pass judgment on someone.