Proof texting

This might be a new word for you. Proof texting is finding a scripture or scriptures that at first appearance would support your position on a given subject. However upon close examination of the scripture within the Biblical context it has a completely different meaning. This is an old joke but worth telling to illustrate proof texting. "Once there was a man who was extremely depressed. One night alone in a hotel room he decided to pick up the Bible in the night stand and read a few verses since he had once heard that the Bible holds all the answers to the problems of this world. He opens the Bible to the verse which said, 'Judas went out and hung himself.' Thinking this couldn't be all the insight he open the Bible again to the verse which said, 'Go and do likewise.' Becoming a bit frantic the man decided to open the Bible once again and read, 'What you have to do, do so quickly.' Probably many pastors and laypeople have done proof texting innocently. It becomes a problem and a very big one when used to manipulate. Beware of the pastor who uses this repeatedly. Just remember just because a person quotes a lot of scripture in a message doesn't mean that their point is valid. You need to check out their scripture references in light of the contextual meaning. Image credits: http://toyadams.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/homiletic-manifesto-stop-proof-texting/