Many people have known manipulative people throughout their lives. Manipulative people are not pleasant to be around as they use and control others for their own selfish reasons. Sadly, there are manipulative people who misuse the Bible. The Bible is the inerrant Word of God, so why do manipulative people misuse the Bible?
Why Do Manipulative People Misuse God’s Word?
Ever since the Fall of Man, there has been sin in the world (Romans 5:12). Due to sin in the world, people do all sorts of horrible, wicked, evil things. One of these horrible things people do is misuse the Bible. Whether a person is manipulative or not, all sorts of different kinds of people can misuse the Bible.
However, manipulative people are notorious for misusing the Bible. Manipulators misuse the Bible because they are trying to interpret their own meaning of the text rather than what the Bible really says. By misusing the Bible, manipulative people can manipulate others into doing things and believing things that are not true.
As an example, manipulative people may say that God does not actually prohibit lying by using the argument that the Hebrew midwives lied in order to save the Hebrew babies (Exodus 1:15-19), in which manipulative people would argue that it is acceptable to lie.
Repeatedly throughout Scripture, God condemns lying (Exodus 10:16; Proverbs 12:22; Psalm 101:7). Ephesians 4:25 clearly states, “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.”
There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community (Proverbs 6:16-19).
Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator (Colossians 3:9-10).
Manipulative people use the Bible out of context in order to justify their incorrect behavior and disobedience. The Hebrew midwives lied in order to save the Hebrew male babies’ lives. Pharaoh had issued a decree for all Hebrew male babies to be killed, but the Hebrew midwives chose to obey God rather than Pharaoh.
This is why the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, lied in order to save the Hebrew male infants. Shiphrah and Puah were not lying out of evil intent as they were protecting the innocent male babies' lives. Manipulative people would advocate that since the lying of Shiphrah and Puah was correct, then any lying could be seen as acceptable.
Lying is not permissible for believers as lying is done out of deceit, pride, and selfish reasons. These manipulative people who highlight this one account of lying in the Bible are trying to justify their own lying, deceit, and trickery. Similarly, manipulative people will misuse the Bible in many other ways like this example in order to get it to say what they want it to say.
Why Do Manipulative People Use Deception and Distortion?
Manipulative people misuse the Bible out of deception in order to trick and control those who are not well-informed of the scriptures. By misusing the Bible, they can trick others into believing things about the Bible that are not true. Another reason manipulative people misuse the Bible is to push their own agenda onto the text.
Many preachers push for political agendas in their sermons and misuse the Bible to highlight a political idea they want to press onto the congregation. It is very common for believers to hear politically heated sermons rather than gospel truth sermons at their own local church.
Manipulative people will use their own selfish ambitions, such as to get the congregation to vote for a specific candidate, by misusing the Word of God. There is nothing wrong with a believer being involved in politics; however, there is something majorly wrong if the believer misuses the Bible in order to support their own political agenda.
God has entrusted mankind with His Word, and this is a major responsibility. Whether a person is a believer or an unbeliever, they should never misuse the Word of God.
The Lord warns us about adding or taking anything away from the Bible in the Book of Revelation, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll” (22:18).
The Bible has to be correctly interpreted in its original context and understood as it originally meant to be understood. There are many courses an individual can take in order to learn more about proper biblical hermeneutics. Manipulative people do not have sound hermeneutics and will misuse the Bible for their own evil reasons.
The Apostle Peter faced this same problem during his life. There were many false brothers who were distorting the writings of Paul, and Peter wanted to inform believers that what these men were saying about Paul was not true.
Peter informs the believers about the validity of Paul’s letters by writing, “He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16).
The people Peter describes as “ignorant” and “unstable” can also be understood to be manipulative. Peter offers us a glimpse into the future for manipulative people who distort the Bible for their own sinful reasons. He tells us that these individuals who distort, twist, and manipulate the Bible will lead themselves into destruction.
It is never wise to misuse the Bible as misusing the Bible will only bring trouble. As believers, we should never misuse the Bible for any reason. The Bible is meant to be studied, understood correctly, and used properly in order to learn about God, help others learn about Him, and to grow in Christlikeness.
What Does This Mean?
Manipulative people try to thwart the message of the Bible by twisting it to say what they want it to say in order to have control over other people. As Christians, we do not have to fall victim to their distortions, tricks, and lies.
By reading, studying, and meditating on the Bible, can help us truly understand the scriptures, which will prevent manipulative people from trying to trick us. Ignorance is not bliss as it is vitally important for believers to know the scriptures for themselves.
Manipulative people will continue to misuse the Bible for their own sinful desires; however, as properly trained believers who know the Word of God, we can correct them and point out the truth of the scriptures.
For further reading:
Why Do Misogynists Use the Bible Out of Context?
Why Is Reading the Bible in Context Important?
What Is Spiritual Abuse and How Can We Recognize it in the Church?
What Does the Bible Say about Abusive Relationships?
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