The Bible as an excuse

I don’t think I have seen a poll just like this before, but here are some examples of how people might be using the Bible to suit their personal, or even selfish, desires, rather than focusing upon their responsibilities to God and His Kingdom. In each simple case, what is your opinion of the person’s motive or the reality of the situation? Check each statement you agree with.

The scriptures referenced in the questions:

Ephesians 5:22-- Wives,be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord

Proverbs 31:6-7 -- Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to him whose life is bitter. Let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his trouble no more.

I Timothy 5:17-- The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

Hebrews 13:17--Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you.

I Corinthians 5:5-- I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

 

It's true that people do sometimes "twist" scripture to suit their wishes, but in the poll examples, it's more a matter of selecting what scripture suits them. They don't need to twist it, because it actually does say what they want. But they may, of course, ignore other relevant scriptures, and likely they don't apply the same type of 'reasoning' to other topics where it would not suit them.

I think the point is that anyone who smugly cites scripture for personal advantage can be reasonably suspected of usurping certain honor which is due to God. The question should be: "What can I do to glorify God further?"... not "What did God say for my benefit?"