Scripture often misused

Do not be fooled by people who hijack the Bible to back up their opinions.

Nowhere in the Bible does it say marriage is limited to one man and one woman. At least seven different models of marriage are found in the Bible, the most prevalent one being polygamy. The wife being “subject to her husband” is the only one that is cursed. (One passage does say church leaders should have only one wife, but even if two women marry, each of them has only one wife.)

Nowhere in the Bible does it say abortion is wrong. The Law of Moses decrees that a husband who is jealous can take his wife to the priest for an abortion. (Numbers, chapter 5, starting with the second “Thus says the Lord …”)

One can cherry-pick Bible verses out of context to back up almost anything – slavery, child labor, prostitution, arranged marriages, gambling, drinking, divorce. It’s a collection of writings that were written over several thousand years ago for the people who lived then. God is still speaking through the ancient words, but it requires some diligence to hear and understand. The Royal Law of scripture is, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Christy Bristow

Spokane