The final post in the “Errant Notions” series was scheduled for today. It is written but for several reasons I’m going to hold it for a week. Instead, here is a brief post based on deleted material from that forthcoming post.

One of the worst accusations Christians can level at one another regarding Bible reading and interpretation, right up there with being “smarter than God,” is that of “picking and choosing.” This is the unforgivable crime of believing only some of the teachings and ordinances of scripture while dismissing or ignoring others. It’s the game of liberals and sinners and compromisers who can’t bear to face the full reality of “biblical truth.” Meanwhile, those who make this accusation implicitly claim that they have diligently and thoroughly read, understood, believed, and obeyed all of the teachings and standards of the Good Book. At least they have tried very hard.

Of course, if we’re honest with ourselves, there is no approach to the Bible that is not a fundamental “picking and choosing” of commands, themes, ideas, and perspectives. Given our own cognitive and imaginative limitations and the massive scope and conversant diversity of Bible texts, no one can claim with any credibility to understand, affirm, obey and/or follow every word of the Bible. It may work as a posture or aspiration, but as a practice it is literally impossible. We all “pick and choose,” the question is how we will do it. If we deny that we’re doing it, it will still happen, but we will remain unaware of the subconscious standard we have adopted.  Continue reading →