We were never called to make Scripture fit our lives. We were called to make our lives conform to Scripture.
Somewhere along the way, something began to change.
Instead of asking, “What does God’s Word say?” society increasingly asks, “How can we make God’s Word agree with what we already believe?”
And that should concern every Christian.
We live in a world where opinions change almost daily. What was considered unacceptable yesterday may be celebrated tomorrow. What was once understood as truth is now often treated as a matter of personal preference.
But here’s the question we need to ask ourselves:
When did society become the authority over Scripture?
When did we decide that God’s Word needed to change because our culture changed?
The Bible Was Never Meant to Be Comfortable
Let’s establish something right from the beginning.
The Bible isn’t always going to tell us what we want to hear.
Sometimes Scripture challenges our behavior. Sometimes it confronts our attitudes. Sometimes it exposes things in our lives that we would rather leave alone.
And sometimes, if we’re willing to be honest, it tells us that we’re wrong.
That isn’t a flaw in Scripture.
That’s part of its purpose.
2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Notice that word: correction.
God’s Word wasn’t given simply to affirm everything we already think or believe.
It was given to teach us, guide us, and correct us.
But correction requires something that our society increasingly struggles with.
Humility.
The willingness to admit that perhaps our understanding is wrong, our behavior needs to change, or our desires aren’t aligned with what God has commanded.
When Culture Becomes the Interpreter
There’s a dangerous temptation to approach Scripture with our conclusions already decided.
We know what we want to believe. We know how we want to live. Then we search for a verse, a phrase, or an interpretation that seems to support our position.
But that’s not allowing Scripture to guide us.
That’s using Scripture to justify ourselves.
And Christians aren’t immune to this temptation.
We can all find ourselves emphasizing passages that comfort us while avoiding passages that challenge us.
We can quote God’s promises while ignoring His commands.
We can celebrate His love while becoming uncomfortable with His holiness.
We can speak about grace while refusing to acknowledge the need for repentance.
But we don’t have the authority to select only the parts of God’s Word that suit us.
The Bible isn’t a menu where we choose what we like and send the rest back to the kitchen.
God’s truth doesn’t become less important simply because it becomes unpopular.
Transformation, Not Accommodation
Romans 12:2 gives us a very different picture of how believers should approach the world.
Romans 12:2 (KJV)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Think about that for a moment.
We are instructed not to conform to the world, but to be transformed.
Yet how often do we see the opposite taking place?
Rather than allowing Scripture to transform our thinking, we try to reshape Scripture to accommodate the thinking of the world.
And here’s something we must understand:
God’s Word isn’t the thing that needs to be transformed. We are.
That includes me.
That includes pastors, teachers, ministry leaders, and everyone who claims to follow Jesus Christ.
None of us stands above Scripture.
Truth Without Compromise, Love Without Exception
Now, I want to make something equally clear.
Standing firmly on Scripture does not give us permission to mistreat people.
We are called to speak the truth in love.
We are called to show compassion, patience, mercy, and humility.
But love does not require us to abandon truth.
And truth does not require us to abandon love.
Jesus demonstrated both.
He showed compassion toward sinners, yet He never portrayed sin as something that no longer mattered.
The message of the Gospel includes forgiveness, redemption, repentance, and transformation.
We cannot faithfully communicate that message if we’re continually removing everything that makes people uncomfortable.
At the same time, we must examine our own hearts before rushing to condemn someone else.
The Word of God must first confront the person holding the Bible.
Scripturestead’s Commitment
As Scripturestead continues to grow, I believe this principle must remain at the heart of everything we build.
Whether we’re researching biblical history, developing Bible study resources, creating devotionals, or exploring difficult questions of faith, our responsibility is not to manufacture an answer that makes everyone happy.
Our responsibility is to examine Scripture carefully, respect its context, distinguish what is written from what we assume, and pursue the truth faithfully.
We won’t always have every answer.
We may discover that something we previously understood needs to be reconsidered.
And when that happens, we must have the humility to follow the evidence of Scripture rather than defend our personal preferences.
Because being faithful to God’s Word also means being willing to correct our own mistakes.
That is not compromise.
That is integrity.
The Question We Must Answer
So perhaps it’s time for each of us to ask ourselves something.
When we open our Bibles, are we genuinely seeking to hear what God has said?
Or are we searching for permission to continue living exactly as we please?
Are we willing to let Scripture challenge us?
Are we willing to change?
Are we willing to stand upon God’s Word even when doing so is unpopular?
Society will continue changing. Cultural opinions will come and go. Generations will disagree about what is acceptable and what is not.
But our responsibility as followers of Christ remains.
We must stop trying to make the Bible fit our lives and start allowing the Bible to shape the way we live.
Because ultimately, the question isn’t whether God’s Word agrees with us.
The question is whether we are willing to agree with God’s Word.
-Brad
Founder Scripturestead
Rooted in Scripture. Committed to Truth.
