An American Myth That Hinders Bible Study and Christian Growth

 "The Bible says..." God's Word," etc.

Tautology is "using different words to say the same thing even if the repetition does not provide clarity."

Tautology also means "a series of self-reinforcing statements that cannot be disproved because the statements depend on the assumption that they are already correct."

Even for those who claim to "use the Bible to interpret the Bible" tautology is involved because the "other verses" that are used are assumed to have a "self-evident" meaning, too.

Why is this important for Americans to understand?

In an excerpt well worth your time found here, Richard Hughes exposes five myths America lives by. One of the five myths is the myth of "Nature's Nation." I have included a quote from Hughes below as an illustration that I apply to how a part of our particular worldview influences our interpretation of the Bible.

I believe that the myth of Nature's Nation hinders insightful and edifying Bible study, and therefore, it hinders commanded Christian maturity (2 Pet. 3:18).

There Are 5 Major Myths

Hughes writes:

"The myth of Nature’s Nation is rooted squarely in the principles of the American Creed. The creed proclaims that among all the truths one might encounter in a lifetime, there are certain truths that are simply “self-evident,” and require no formal proof...."

"Those truths are “self-evident,” the creed contends, because they are rooted in “Nature and Nature’s God” and therefore reflect the way things are meant to be.... the notion of Nature’s Nation has often annulled America’s debt to history, tradition, and culture and led Americans to believe that the contours of American civilization—the way things actually are—simply reflect “the way things are meant to be..." 

We're The Only Ones Going to Heaven!

"In other words, the sort of government America had erected was the very kind of government God had ordained from the foundations of the world, and the kind of government God would create if He were here in person. Here one finds no debt whatsoever to history, culture, or tradition... Americans as children of nature were innocents who did not act in the world of historical conflict..."

"Their responsibility was to keep pure and undefiled this New World Garden of Eden. In this context, America’s colonizing efforts simply reflect “self-evident truth,” grounded in “natural law.” From this perspective it is completely logical to subjugate other nations under America’s “superior way of life.” Because the principles they were bound to find were the very ones with which they began, Americans fold into the myth of Nature’s Nation virtually all significant contents of their culture."

—Richard T. Hughes, edited

Amen, Brother! Preach it! Believe It!

When this American way of thinking, method of interpretation or "hermeneutic" is applied to the Bible, then what "The Bible says..." to those who see no need to provide formal proof for what they believe it says, struggle to understand why others just can’t seem to see what they believe is so "self-evident." This serves, I believe, as a convenient way for them not to take the responsibility of interpreting the Bible for themselves.

Looking up to/ being dependent upon preachers and studying the Bible to reinforce what one already believes is creed rehearsal--not "growing in knowledge and grace" (2 Pet. 3:18) and becomes the modus operandi for condemning those who dissent to what they see only as "self-evident." This seemingly morally superior and self-righteous behavior keeps one in the vicious cycle of judging others (Matt. 7:1-5) instead of "seeking to understand" (Eph. 1:18-19).

My Preacher & Elders Will Get Me To Heaven

People who see things as self-evident do not really need to learn, study, or listen to anything in addition to what they already believe. They only need tautology, or a series of self reinforcing statements built on the assumption that they are already true. What they see as "simple" needs only to be repeated--that which they've always and only heard from those they have judged as "good."

The sad part is that they do not realize that using this self-evident hermeneutic applied in a cut and paste fashion to pet passages like 2 Peter 1:3, Colossians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, Acts 14:23, 1 Corinthians 4:17, Ephesians 5:19 causes them to believe that these passages are self-evident. No clarity is occurring. All must simply "submit" or else. Increasing understanding of truth is subjected, and I believe hindered by, the "authority" the "inferior" have vested in "superior" individuals.

Just Gotta Make It Till Sunday & Wednesday

Mishandling God’s word is dangerous because each individual will have to answer to Christ (2 Cor. 5:10; cf. 4:1-6). Our concept of "watching out" for others in the sincere effort of doing what's best "for them" does just the opposite.

Paul warns us:

"We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."

And,

"...we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God" (1 Cor. 4:1-2).

Contrary to what many believe, "setting forth the truth plainly" requires responsible interpretation--not assuming the Bible is self evident and only interpreted "with itself." 

The Bible is Plain & Simple. You Must Be Evil...

So many assumptions are involved when taking the 'cut and paste' approach (a method of interpretation) which takes "other verses" from their context to sustain and support existing practices. 

This seems especially true of those who have the highest vested interest and bias. Those dependent on them will also suffer from a vested interest and be subject to constant "confirmation bias." 

Oligarchies and hierarchies are not wise expressions of authority.

May God deliver us, bless us, and increase our understanding of His word by avoiding all deceitful ways of "setting forth the truth plainly."