Christianity - cafeteria style
Ever been in a cafeteria line? You pick up a salad here, a veggie there, a meat somewhere else, then dessert and drinks near the end of the line. What if we were to judge what the fish tastes like by eating the Swiss Steak, the Caesar Salad by the Waldorf Salad, the corn by the Brussels Sprouts, the carrot cake by the chocolate pudding? What if we were to try to imagine the taste of the coffee by sampling the pink lemonade?
This is how many read the bible. Pick a verse. Build a theology on it without looking at the whole of the scripture. This is the formula that has built the most devilish theologies the church has known.
The celibacy of clergy is supported by nothing more than Paul's statement suggesting one be single as he is. But it ignores the next phrases that say it would be better to marry than burn with passion. Oh how are we seeing the misuse of this played out today in the Catholic Church sex scandal. The statement by Jesus that whomever sins you remit are remitted is used to justify penance, indulgences and praying someone out of purgatory after death. Other individual statements are stretched by the mid-, post-, and pre- tribulation groups alike to prove their point. The "baptize in the name of Jesus only group" builds their argument on one scripture. Those who practice infant baptism build their argument on Jesus blessing the children.
All of these ignore the remainder of the bible in building their theology.
A second cafeteria line method is picking portions of a scripture in such a way that you change their meaning. What would happen if you tried to take a tossed salad and dump the tomatoes on the counter? What about taking a beef tips and noodles and picking the mushrooms off it and putting them into another dish on the counter?
But this is exactly what is done. We take the portion of the scripture we want and throw back the rest. Have you ever heard a Saturday Sabbath proponent mention that Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath? Let me throw out a challenge to you. The next pet theory you hear, ask this. “Are there scriptures that contradict this?” If there are, quickly trample the rhinestones into the mud.
The Word of God brings life. If a teaching does not bring life it is not of God. If I has to be built off of one verse, from one version of the bible, it is not of God.
