Let the Word Speak

The main task of the pastor is to preach. To proclaim the word of God and expound on its truths and meaning to the congregation each Lord's day. It is a lofty and serious task to open the word of God for with doing so comes great responsibility  . One has the eternal nurture of the flocks souls. The pastor is called to feed the sheep . Just as any shepherd needs to care for his sheep , the pastor must fulfill this role with due diligence.

As a pastor he is called to do primarily three things with the text. To use hermeneutics , exegesis and exposition of the text. Hermeneutics is the science of interpretation , exegesis the examination of the text and its meaning in context and exposition is the applying what one has learned and preaching out the meaning for application to congregation. However first and foremost , one is preaching for God's glory and to Him , therefore how one handles the word should be done with the utmost reverence and seriousness to get it right.

The pastor is to hold to sound doctrine ( Titus 1:9) and be able to handle the word of God rightly ( 2 Tim 2:15). A pastor should not be carried away with trends and novelty nor apply his own thoughts or thinking over the clear teaching of scripture just to try and make a point . If he twist the scripture and wrestles it out of context to say something it really doesn't  , he is misrepresenting the word and by doing so , God . When a pastor does this it is called , eisegesis. Unlike exegesis , which seeks to draw out the meaning of the text , eisegesis is the reading into the text ones own interpretation  , doing violence to the word of God.

I have heard over the years many abuses like this and wonder why or how it could happen . I realize certain teachings we will encounter slight differences of opinion but if the pastor at least tries to handle the text honestly , no problem. But recently I heard what was one of the worse I have eve heard .

The text handled was the story form 2 Kings concerning the Prophet Elisha . It was just after Elijah had anointed Elisha as his successor as Prophet of the Lord . Elijah then is taken up into heaven by the Lord's chariot and Elisha shortly after performs two miracles .Using Elijah's cloak , he parts the river Jordan and crosses over . Then he heals the water near Jericho that was bad and not safe . So he shows himself confirmed to be the Lord's prophet.

The main part of the text that was so misused was the next part of the story . As Elisha is approaching Bethel , a mob of youth or young boys begins to taunt him and call out to him , "Go up , Baldhead , Go Up , Baldhead ". Now first we must understand Bethal was in a apostate way as one can read about in 1  Kings 12 . So to have this mob of youth show disrespect to the Lord's prophet is nothing more than an extension of Bethel's apostasy.  Plus to show contempt or disrespect to God's prophet is to disrespect God Himself , since the prophet is the representative of God.

So this mob of youth , numbering probably over 50 and we can conclude with some certainly , Elisah might have been in real danger knowing the the situation of Bethel , Elisha curses them and 2 female bears come out and 42 are mauled to death. God honored Elisha's cry and sent judgement upon them justly. The basic premise is , do not mock God's anointed or prophet . It is a theme that runs through Kings.

But what was said had something to do with cursing the next generation of youth who will be the leaders of the Church . Elisha it seems should have blessed these apostate , menacing youth and even though he was given a double portion of blessing , he failed to use it to pass the torch to these youth . May we not curse our youth but pray they do more then us . WHAT????

Do you see the problem . The text does not in any way go there . It was a just judgement towards a mob of hostile youth against God and His prophet.  But when one wants to make a point and allows there own agenda take over , the word of God becomes puddy in a one mouth to say what one wants it to say.

Is that rightly handling the word ? No it is not. We must be careful and understand that we have no right to inject a meaning into any text just to suit our own schemes or plans . Just like many who cheery pick scripture , which does violence to the context and meaning. I ask that we be like the Bereans who it is said of ,  "Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
(Acts 17:11 ESV)

May we follow their example and listen , read and examine to see if what is being preached and written truly honors God's word and is sound in its interpretation and application.Nuff said.