I remember early on in my ministry I had a very odd conversation. Someone was sharing with me how they explained a controversial topic to small children and they said: sometimes hatred is the only way to spell out right and wrong.

I distinctly recall leaving that discussion feeling unsettled.

I called my mom – still alive at the time – and her response was no. Absolutely not. Remember what Rodgers & Hammerstein said: you’ve got to be carefully taught.

Living in the South for so much of my adult life and ministry, I have become quite good at backing up whatever I say and do with Scripture. It is habit at this point. Because, as one of our Confessions in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. says, “[the Bible] is a witness without parallel” (BOC, 9.27).

But something I have also come to realize is that there are so, so many things we can back up with Scripture that we really…. just… shouldn’t.

Slavery.

Misogyny.

Sexual assault.

Child abuse.

Prejudice.

Bigotry.

Genocide.

All sorts of things that are truly unspeakable evils.

They are all Biblical.

But here is the thing – they are NOT Christ-like.

In my particular tradition, the Presbyterian one, that is, the only reason the Bible is so important to us is because it witnesses to the God who came in the truly perfect, eternal & infallible Word of God: Jesus Christ. The Word who became flesh. And it is his words and actions that eclipse everything else.

Because Scripture conflicts with itself. Fights with itself. Debates outright and denies itself.

It is God’s own Self who can teach us how to interpret it and show us that thin red line of God’s Self at work in the midst of the entire human-written witness (no matter how well-inspired it may have been).

So, rather than asking ourselves, is something backed up by Scripture (which I can still do, by the way), it is far better to ask, am I loving my neighbor by doing this? Am I showing mercy to those the world wants to ignore? Am I seeking justice for the unwanted and the oppressed? Am I feeding the hungry and welcoming the stranger? Am I following in the footsteps of the One who lifted up children, called women to preach, and encouraged the last and the least to be leaders through the fray? Am I seeking after the crucified God?