It's not often I find comments worth reading on large Facebook groups, but sometimes I get lucky. Someone had shared a meme with three verses on it (Matthew 24:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:1; Revelation 22:20), with no further comment. Below was the comment seen in the header image. This comment displays a rather painful truth.
As Christians, we should never have an issue with the Scriptures. If we do have a problem with the Scriptures, the problem is on our end, for the Bible is the word of God, and every word of God is pure. Therefore, when Scriptures are shared, we should not feel such heavy resistance. And yet, many of us do. I know that even I have been guilty of this, being ready to pounce when I see the Scriptures being shared on their own. I have also felt the bitter sting of others pouncing on Scriptures I have shared. The question: Why?
I think the answer lies in the contentious nature of the human race. We constantly look for fights, and unfortunately, we all too often pick them with God Himself. But not only that, when we see these verses, we recall fights we have already had with man. The tragic thing is, man twists Scripture, and there are some Scriptures which are easy pickings. We see anti-Trinitarians wielding John 14:28 like a sword. We see Catholics throw around 1 Timothy 3:15, singing it like a national anthem. Calvinists, who are not even heretics, yet are nevertheless often needlessly quarrelsome, love Romans 9 so much that Arminians (or other non-Calvinist groups) practically believe it should be expunged from Scripture.
As a result, these verses, and more, cease to appear Godly to us, and instead become hard pills to swallow. I know that for me, as an apologist, explaining what certain verses do not mean makes it harder to focus on what they actually do say.
And my brethren, is this not exactly what Satan wants? He is able to cause so much division within our ranks that we are actually divided against Christ! By causing his ministers to abuse God's word, he actually causes us to hate it! What sense is there in this? When man hung Christ on the cross, though His disciples abandoned Him in fear, did they hate Him? Did not His mother, and the disciple whom He loved, actually stand at the foot of the cross, grieving for Him? When He rose in power, did they look at Him in disgust? They worshiped Him! And this? This is His word. When we look at Scripture, we shouldn't see an object of disgust, we should see the word of our Lord. Can it be twisted? Sure. We can even twist it ourselves if we don't apply due diligence. But it is no less Holy, no less authoritative, no less precious, when sinners abuse it for their own gain.
My brethren, believe me, I understand the temptation. I am, in my flesh, a quarrelsome man, full of wrath, and of pride, and even of blasphemy. But we all need to get ourselves back in gear, humble ourselves before our God, and unite under the word He has given us upon the Earth. Let us pray, Holy Spirit, guard us from errors. Let us make war against the flesh. Let us diligently study, and rightly divide the word of God, that we may show ourselves approved. This strife must dissolve, and disintegrate, if we are to be effective for the Lord on the Earth. Until we hear Him speak with His tongue, let us read the words of His pen.