The Danger of Cherry-Picking Scripture

As Christians, we are called to live according to God's Word, but it's easy to fall into the trap of cherry-picking scripture to justify our own desires and sins. This approach to biblical interpretation is not only misleading but also dishonouring to God. In this sermon, we'll explore few examples of how cherry-picking scripture can lead us astray. 1: Justifying Divorce Some people might quote Matthew 19:8, where Jesus says, "Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning." However, they might ignore the preceding verse, Matthew 19:7, where Jesus emphasizes the importance of marriage, saying, "Haven't you read...that at the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh'?" Cherry-picking scripture can lead to justifying divorce, rather than working towards reconciliation and forgiveness. 2: Ignoring the Poor Some individuals might quote 2 Thessalonians 3:10, which says, "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat." However, they might overlook the numerous scriptures that emphasize our responsibility to care for the poor, such as Proverbs 19:17, "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done." Cherry-picking scripture can lead to ignoring the needs of the poor, rather than showing compassion and generosity. 3: Justifying Anger and Bitterness Some people might quote Ephesians 4:26, which says, "In your anger do not sin." However, they might ignore the following verse, Ephesians 4:27, which warns, "Do not give the devil a foothold." They might also overlook the numerous scriptures that encourage forgiveness and reconciliation, such as Matthew 6:14-15, "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." Cherry-picking scripture can lead to justifying anger and bitterness, rather than pursuing forgiveness and reconciliation. 4: Disregarding God's Design for Sexuality Some individuals might quote Leviticus 18:22, which says, "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable." However, they might ignore the numerous scriptures that emphasize God's design for human sexuality, such as Genesis 2:24, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." Cherry-picking scripture can lead to disregarding God's design for human sexuality, rather than embracing His plan for marriage and relationships. 5: Justifying Greed and Materialism Some people might quote 1 Timothy 6:1, which says, "All who are under the yoke as slaves are to regard their own masters as worthy of all honor." However, they might ignore the preceding verse, 1 Timothy 6:10, which warns, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and have pierced themselves with many griefs." Cherry-picking scripture can lead to justifying greed and materialism, rather than embracing a life of contentment and generosity. In conclusion, cherry-picking scripture is a dangerous practice that can lead us away from God's truth and into sin. As Christians, we must commit to reading and interpreting scripture in its entirety, rather than selecting only the verses that support our own desires and agendas. By doing so, we can ensure that our understanding of God's Word is comprehensive, balanced, and honoring to Him.