Weekly Devotional 8-30-21 The Dangers of Making Assumptions
When we Christians read, study, or discuss a passage of Scripture should not we be careful to not make assumptions that cannot be supported by the text or other Scripture? Yes. All Scripture comes from the mind of God and is attended to by the Holy Spirit, and He does not confuse God’s message. Assumptions on the other hand, many times lead to confusion. Second Chronicles 7:14 is an example of this: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” The context of the passage makes it clear that the nation of Israel is in view, yet many, assume that the message is also applicable to the church. But the church is universal and does not have territorial boundaries as did/does Israel. The Church does not have a land to be healed. Certainly there are principles that can be drawn, i.e., God desires that we humble ourselves, He wants us to seek His face, and He wants us to acknowledge and repent of our sin. In doing so we can expect blessings, but not the healing of a Land that we do not possess.
That said, there are many dangers in assuming what God meant in a given passage. Assuming for instance that something in Scripture is applicable to all people in the same way, or for that matter differently. Where would such assumptions end? Who would be the determiner of such assumptions? We are finite and even though we have the Holy Spirit we do not have the ability to read into a passage something that may or may not be there. Isn’t assumption one of the reasons why there are so many different denominations within Protestantism and why so many of the Roman Catholic Popes have changed what a former Pope may have determined as to the direction of the church? In our determination of Scripture we should rely on the closed canon of the Bible. God said what He intended to say and meant what He said. At the end of the Book of Revelation Jesus said through the apostle John; “and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:19). Granted this is applicable to the Book of Revelation but it shows how God views His word, the message of the entire Bible.
There is another danger. When we assume that God is saying something that is not clearly stated and speak that assumption to others are we not influencing their thoughts? Yes, we are. If those to whom we speak are new Christians or persons who are seeking God, great harm could be done. I speak to myself in this matter, as well as all who expound on the Scriptures. Shouldn’t we commit ourselves to understanding clearly what God has said, rather than assuming? Yes, we should. The apostle Peter was inspired to write: “for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2nd Peter 1:21). Why not study what these Holy Spirit guided men have written rather than assume something that has no Scriptural support? The apostle Paul was inspired to write: “16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2nd Timothy 3:16-17).
God has spoken to us through the Scriptures, if we would take the time and the effort to search and understand them there is really no reason to assume.
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