Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
What is Eisegesis? The web definition is: it is a form of “reading into” a text, often to justify a pre-existing belief or to make it conform to the reader’s perspective. The opposite of eisegesis is exegesis, which involves drawing out the meaning intended by the original author.
This description of the word eisegesis might explain why there are so many cults, or how cult-like beliefs have infiltrated the church and attracted many recalcitrant believers who refuse to adhere to the rules of hermeneutics. I sometimes describe this problem as those who say, “I know the bible says that, but I believe.” or “I know the Word of God states that, but I think!” Thus, we end up bringing our personal fires to the altar of God, or, as the sons of Aaron carelessly did, they brought strange and profane fire to God’s holy altar. Lev. 10:1 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.
To carelessly throw around the oracles of God and misinterpret the scriptures to sell one’s particular product can bring irreparable devastation to one’s life. Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu found out the extent of their sinful choice, and they died as a result. Lev. 10:2 So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. Nadab and Abihu said in their hearts, “I know the law of God says to use holy fire, but we believe this fire is good enough.” Their personal fires caused their death. Thank God there is grace on this side of the cross and room for us to repent and submit to the honest context of the scriptures. Syncretism is a belief that is showing up in the church, which is the amalgamation of different beliefs to create a personal religion. I believe this is happening because this generation is starved of authentic spiritual food, and therefore, they are eating anything that comes along. Prov. 27:7b But to a hungry soul, any bitter thing is sweet.
I have noticed that Arianism is making a comeback. The view that Jesus was the Son of God but not coequal with God the Father. This was popularized in 318 AD. Satan has no new tricks, only rehashed buffoonery. If Satan can get anyone to mistrust the divinity of the Godhead, then the devil can tempt that person to become someone who spouts off humanism. 1John 2:22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies and repudiates the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses and acknowledges the Son has the Father also. God the Father is the lover. God the Son is the beloved. God, the Holy Spirit is the spirit of love between them. The Godhead cannot be separate from Himself. God the Son is Lord!
Our eisegesis becomes flawed when we allow the desires of the world to contradict what we know in our hearts to be honest and true. Once we are wrestling with worldly passions, it can become easy to misinterpret the context of a scripture to permit ourselves to take what we want. James 4:1 What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? No wonder the Apostle John admonishes us to test the spirit we are hearing in the moments of uncertainty. 1John 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Many false prophets are teaching the bible out of context. How many is many? Lots, because we do not need to go farther than our church assembly to hear someone prattling some nonsense they picked up on a meme or a biased, unanointed AI-generated thesis of belief.
We need to be wise in these days of multicultural communities and the cultic promotion of Christian nationalism. We need to be aware and not drawn into the promotion of Christ-Culture, which is the merchandising and selling of Christ and Christianity. These are not for sale! Jesus gave His life and paid in full with His blood for anyone who would accept His salvation. We cannot give away what we do not have, and we definitely cannot sell it. If I do not have a vibrant relationship with my Lord, then I cannot lead anyone into a vibrant relationship or an authentic awareness of the love of God. The context in which we obey the scriptures is paramount to the freedom in Christ that is available to our eternal lives. Jesus has instructed us to go and heal the sick and drive out devils. Matt. 10:8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. How are we going to do this without an authentic relationship with God the Son? This will not work with half-hearted beliefs and being susceptible to every wind of doctrine that floats by?
We all need a mindful infusion of an Issachar moment. 1Chron. 12:32a From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do. We need to understand the times we are in. Our eisegesis is flawed, and we need to get our thoughts and beliefs in accordance with the proper exegesis working in our hearts as we study the Word God has given us. Let us not be children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine that comes our way, but let us be students of righteousness as we truly listen to the voice of our Saviour. John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
0 Comments