Latest / Clear Path Christianity / How to Use the Bible like a CULT LEADER || CPC Podcast Ep. 9
Transcript
- Cole Crone: Do want to know the secret to starting a cult? I'm going to reveal to you the most weapon The most powerful weapon for obtaining complete control and total devotion from your Are you ready? I have right here. Here it is, this bad boy right here, the good old holy Bible. This right here is the most dangerous weapon in the hands of a wannabe cult leader. Not because there's anything wrong with this, but because there's a lot of things wrong with us. the words within it have so much power that a wannabe leader can use this to gain complete and total devotion from a follower base. And in this episode, I'm going to show you some examples from my personal life of how this book was weaponized against me and how this book is misused and misquoted and it's misrepresented by many, people in our culture today. So, here's a very interesting example. You might think on first glance this is innocent enough, but I come from a group that takes these particular verses very seriously. You may or may not know that there are five commands, five imperatives in the New Testament that say that Christians are supposed to quote, greet one another with a holy kiss. Romans 16, 16, 1 Corinthians 16, 20, 2 Corinthians 13, 12, 1 Thessalonians 5, 26, and 1 Peter 5, 14. Now you might, you might say to yourself, if you're a wannabe cult leader, you might say to your followers, why would such I don't you, but I don't know a single church out there wherein they're greeting one another with a holy kiss. Now, I happen to know one cult that does that, but I don't know any real Christian churches who are taking those five imperatives literally. But if you're a wannabe cult and you're wanting to tell people that, ⁓ this is clearly what the Bible that we're supposed to be greeting one another with a holy kiss, you might leverage the fact that ⁓ no Christian churches out there are doing this to make a point. That point would be that, well, obviously modern Christianity has gotten woefully off track. this would cause in the minds of your potential followers a ⁓ distrust of mainstream Christianity. I mean, it's so clear in the Bible, It's so clear, this command. now if you look at ⁓ any on any one of those passages from a reputable New Testament scholar, they are going to tell you that in the Mediterranean world, A kiss was just a general greeting. Let's call it the cultural equivalent of a handshake for those of us in America. Think of European people doing, you know, the one kiss on one cheek, the one kiss on the other cheek. That's basically the cultural equivalent of that. But if you focus on the kissing aspect of the imperative, you miss the point. The point isn't about the greeting itself, but about the holiness of the greeting. It's about the fact that you're supposed to have a special sort of affection towards your brothers and sisters in the Lord. the principle being taught. But isn't exactly clear unless you know that historical context. But it's very easy to remove those passages from their historical context. you you start this weird practice that isn't done by basically anyone else. what you have to recognize is that the principle that's being taught is to have an affectionate familial greeting among believers. The expression is a culturally common practice, which is in the ancient Mediterranean world is kissing. So you see, the commands need to be, the imperatives need to be couched in the historical context. Now that's a quirky example from my personal background. let's look at a few examples because what I want to demonstrate in this episode is the dangers of what I'm calling proof texting. one of the very first things that seminary students are taught ⁓ is or the art and science of biblical interpretation. And one of the first rules that you learn in hermeneutics class is that a text without its context is the pretext to a proof text. proof texting is like a swear word in hermeneutics if you didn't know. So let's go and define what proof texting is. Proof texting is the practice of pulling a verse out of its context in order to support a conclusion that that text was never meant to support. let's look at some examples ranging sort of nefarious to potentially very dangerous. If you look at 2 Thessalonians 3.6, the apostle Paul says this, we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. That's how you know Paul is gonna give you a very serious commandment. He goes, we command you specifically in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly. and not according to the tradition which he received from us. Let me put my cult leader hat on and I'm going to interpret that for you. This was how it was interpreted to me. Clearly this biblical imperative ⁓ is given by the Paul to teach us that we must break fellowship with everyone who stops being a part of my particular church. Everyone who forfeits their membership in my church is someone that I have to withdraw myself from because they're now walking disorderly and not according to the tradition which we have received. I'm use this to now not have to do with people who aren't a of my group or people who leave my group. They have stopped walking according to the tradition that we've been given. But is that what this passage is actually teaching? If you read the passage in context, you will see that that's definitely not what is being communicated here. That interpretation doesn't fit this context by any stretch of the imagination. And let's see how. is warning the Thessalonians about idleness. He is telling them to not be an unnecessary burden on the church. out of a refusal to work. You can prove this by simply looking down just a few verses where Paul says this, If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. Paul explicitly says in the context of that passage that the tradition that you receive from us is earning our keep. We came into town, we didn't ask for anything from anybody even though we have the right. receive support from the church. your sake, we provided for ourselves. Likewise, you Thessalonians are meant to do the same thing. That is what this passage is teaching. It doesn't have anything to do with withdrawing from people who leave your community. let's use ⁓ another again, from my history. the Apostle Paul says that a little leaven the whole lump. we see this ⁓ in two places, this leavening of the lump warning We it in 1 Corinthians 5.6, and we see it in Galatians 5.9. Okay, again, let me put my wannabe cult leader hat on. and interpret this for you. It seems to me the Apostle Paul couldn't be any more clear here with these two imperatives. He wants you to distance yourself from outsiders because of the contagious nature of sin. We mustn't allow ourselves to be around the sinful world or people who choose not to be a part of our little community, Because Oh man, you know how a little leaven works its way through a whole lump of dough. Before you know it, whole thing's leavened. So we've got to be insular. can't have to do with people who are outside of the group. We have to cut those people off. You can't be friends with your coworkers or your classmates or the kids down the street. if we look at these two ⁓ imperatives context, you will see that that is absolutely not what the Apostle Paul is teaching in either case, either in 1 Corinthians or in Galatians. And you can prove it by reading those passages in context. if we look at the context of 1 Corinthians 5, Paul is referring to the power of gross sexual sin. Paul even says, this is the kind of thing that Gentiles are even like, ooh, gross, And yet the Corinthians are like, they're wearing the inclusion of this particular man, like a badge of honor. They're like, ⁓ yeah, he's doing that, It's, ⁓ we're being ⁓ We're being, aren't we so that we're having this man that even the Gentiles are like, yikes, man. You know, the kind of thing that was going on in the Gentile world? And that this man's behavior was, look at 1 Corinthians 5, But that is what, that's specifically what Paul is talking about, is allowing this gross sexual sin in the church. He's saying, you've got to get that dude out. And if you look again, in the context of Galatians, Paul is specifically condemning false teaching. a very specific false teaching, false teaching of salvation by works of the law. In fact, that's the whole purpose of the first, well, maybe even the whole book of Galatians, is Paul teaching against this idea that works of the law are meritorious for salvation. the fact that Paul is using that same metaphor to communicate two different things is enough that you shouldn't be flattening that verse and using it as some kind of universal imperative against associating with people outside of your community. we're going to look at Jeremiah 11. This is a very, very, very ⁓ common example that is used by abusive churches. It isn't always in abusive fashion, but it is commonly used by abusive churches. And Jeremiah 29, 11, very famous passage says this, for I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future. again, if I put my, my cult leader hat on, I'm going to teach you that this This verse clearly teaches that the Lord wants you to be monetarily wealthy. He wants you to have health. He wants you to have wealth. He wants you to have happiness. he has plans to prosper you, not to harm you, to give you hope and a future. ⁓ How more clear does Jeremiah need to get here? If you're poor, well, there's something wrong. If you're sick, well, There's something wrong because this passage clearly says you shouldn't be either of those things. But again, not so fast. We have to read this verse in the context of the broader story that is being told in the biblical narrative. This was written, this verse and the verses surrounding it were written to Israelite captives in Babylon. Israelite captives in Babylon who had every right to question God's promises. In fact, there is nothing in this particular context that points to an easy path forward of any kind. nor does it point to a vision of personal success. And all you need to do is back it up a verse and read verses 10 and 11 as a unit and you will see that that's the case. So it is written for people who just been told that this captivity is actually going to last 70 years. It isn't by any means going to be a quick and easy struggle. This is actually going to be a generation, ⁓ long sort of thing. rather than being a promise for immediate success and prosperity, It is a call to endure suffering in the hope of ultimate success and prosperity. we this commonly ⁓ ⁓ as, again, one of the most misquoted misapplied verses in the Bible. But when you look at it in context, it isn't teaching what a certain type of preacher wants you to think that it is. now this particular misuse teaches us ⁓ Principle that you can use and apply to other passages. This is something called audience confusion and this is where you take promises made to a particular audience a specific people at a specific time and place and Situation and you universalize it Without qualification, that's a major interpretive no-no take the proof texting and let's take it from manipulative and let's move it into the category of absolute authority ⁓ and devotion from a follower base. That's what I promised you at the beginning of the episode and this is where I'm going to deliver just that. Here's how you can use proof texting to establish unquestionable authority. Here are just a few verses that might give you the ability to do just that. What if a leader feels that they are dealing with someone who, let's say, ⁓ overly rebellious parishioner? Someone who just asks a few too many questions, Man, what is a verse that I can go to to make that one person, you know everybody has that person, They're just, oh, that pesky person who just won't stop asking questions. Man, they question everything I teach, they question everything I say. What do I gotta do to get this person to shut up? Well, lucky for you, Hebrews 13, 17 says this, obey those who rule over you and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls as those who must give an account. there you go, just sit down and shut up and do what you're told. Stop asking so many questions. I mean, how much more clear does the writer to the Hebrews have to be? You have to obey me. You to submit to me. I'm your leader. Man, I got to give an account for you. don't question me. I'm playing a role here, But ⁓ you know that I'm like being facetious, but this is something that actually happens. This happens ⁓ groups that claim to be legitimate churches. we have to ask, is that what is being taught here in the context of Hebrews 13? Now, you may have noticed ⁓ I'm proof so I left off about half of that verse. But if you just read that whole verse in context, you will see the bit that I left out. And the writer said the Hebrews continues and says this, let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. So in other words, obedience the submission is not to be done out of anything but joy on the part of the leader. and it is for the mutual benefit of both parties. Furthermore, a bad of this particular passage puts it at odds with a number of passages. In other words, if you read it and apply it the way that I did, a few minutes ago. That application is going to put you at odds with a number of other biblical passages which call the Christian leader to seek to humbly serve. Let's look at a few examples. Matthew 20, 25 through 28 says this, but Jesus called them to himself and said, you know that the rules of the Gentiles lord it over them and those who are great exercise authority over them. There's example number one. One of the men who heard that from Jesus went on to teach that very principle. in 1 Peter 5 verses 1 through 4. So Peter is saying, okay, elders, I'm talking to you and I'm talking to you as one of you. I'm speaking of our role within the church, our role as elders, as pastors, as shepherds within the church. Peter says this, he calls them to shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly, nor as being lords over those entrusted to you but being examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd, Jesus, appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. If your pastor looks more like a dictator than a humble servant, the problem isn't your submission, no matter how much he tries to convince you that that's what the issue is. The problem is their interpretation. Let's look at this from a slightly different angle. And honestly, I imagine this might ruffle some feathers. I'm going to try to be very clear. But again, a way that a wannabe cult leader might use the Bible to get unquestioned authority is to take on the government itself. imagine you're a wannabe cult leader and that dang government just keeps getting in the way of you doing whatever it is that you want to do. Well, the Bible says in Acts 529 that we ought to obey God rather than men. let me give you again, an example from my personal past. So you can't tell me this kind of thing doesn't happen If I'm a wannabe cult leader, ⁓ I can use that that it's not even a full sentence, but I can use those words right there, take them out of their context. And then if I want to withhold medical attention from ⁓ my congregation, even in situations, because I believe that I can faith heal on demand, the Bible says that I ⁓ can do Even if I want to withhold medical attention from children or the elderly. And because the Bible says we ought to obey God rather than men, I can do that and nobody can stop me. we have to again ask ourselves, is that what this passage is actually teaching? Is that what that phrase is actually meaning to say? Does Peter mean just that here in Acts 5.29? spoiler alert, that's absolutely not what he means. So again, There's a number of issues going on here. But let's ignore the fact, let's take it out of the context that I applied it to or that it was applied to in my particular life. Because of course the Bible has no imperative against ⁓ medical attention of any kind. But let's just apply to any other situation. The context of this verse is that the apostles have been forbidden to preach the gospel by the Sanhedrin. In fact, this is the second time The problem for the apostles is that they were expressly told by the angel of the Lord to go and preach the gospel. So if they obey the Sanhedrin, they would be disobeying the angel of the Lord. Do you see how that's a problem? It's very different to say, don't like what the government says, so I'm not going to do it. And the ruling authorities are trying to get me to not do something that God has expressly commanded me to do. Do you see how those are almost diametrically opposed contexts? Those are very different situations. Furthermore, we had example in the ⁓ passage, that interpretation, ⁓ cult leader interpretation that I gave you, where this just gives me carte blanche to tell the government to pound sand, would put me in conflict with other passages from the Bible. Romans 13, 1-3. ⁓ and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore, whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same. Or, we'll look at 1 Peter 2, 13-17. Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the King is supreme or to governors as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bond servants of God. honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. I'm not saying that the government has total authority in ⁓ cases, because Acts 5 does give us a legitimate case when it's okay to say sorry authorities, but God has told me to do this. my point is not that, we must never rebel. My point is that we must not allow leaders to use proof texting to solidify unbiblical power for themselves. So much unbiblical power that even the government can't intervene. That would be a major problem. We ⁓ obey God rather than men when the human authority directly commands us to disobey God's revealed will, either by not doing what we're supposed to do, sins of omission, or doing what we're not supposed to do, sins of commission. many, many more could be given. But my point here is that you can, you should be able to see the obvious dangers of proof texting. texting is not limited to the immediate context because we started with an example of how you can remove a context from it, or you can remove a passage from its historical context and misapply it. We can take any passage of Scripture, remove it from its context, in order to establish an unbiblical assertion. the moral of the story is whenever someone quotes a Bible verse, always ask, what's the context? And ⁓ does their interpretation hold when the whole context is considered? the beginning of the episode, I told you that this was the most dangerous weapon in the world. This right here, the Bible, And as I've demonstrated to you, that is true. It is. it's not because there's anything wrong with the Bible. I believe it is God's word given to us. for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, so that the person of God may be perfectly equipped for every good work. I believe all of that. But that doesn't mean that the Bible isn't dangerous in the wrong hands. Certainly it is. All powerful tools are dangerous in the wrong hands. And the Bible is certainly a very powerful tool. it's not because there's anything wrong with it, but because when it's twisted, it can bind people. It ⁓ can people And if you can make the Bible say anything, then you can control anyone. But if it's rightly understood, it does exactly the opposite of that. the scripture is read in context, when rightly handled, it doesn't enslave people. It actually sets them free. So abandon your Bible. Learn how to read it well.