Where in the Bible Is That?!

“Where in the Bible does it say it is wrong to interrupt one who is speaking?”

I just searched for interrupt in the Bible.

I didn’t find it. (Well, I limited my search to the King James Version.)

Does that prove it’s OK for a Christian to be an interrupter?

Reminds me of an issue we faced on the mission field many years ago…

“Christians shouldn’t laugh because Jesus didn’t laugh.”

Not surprisingly, it was an interrupter who asked the question and an infrequent laugher who made the assertion. (From my vantage point, it seems unlikely either was presented sincerely, but now I’m putting two and two together — does the Bible forbid that anywhere?)

Well, let me try some variations of the question:

1. Where in the Bible does it say I shouldn’t text during a church service?
2. Where in the Bible does it say it’s wrong to use Twitter?
3. Where does the Bible forbid owning a house?
4. Where in the New Testament is the production or consumption of tobacco banned?
5. Where in the Bible does it say it’s wrong to go to the movies?
6. Where in the Bible does it say drinking wine is wrong?

That list could go on and on, with the content depending on what I’m trying to justify.

Using the silence of the Scriptures to defend myself is a treacherous exercise!

And what happens if we take the opposite approach with our questions?

1. Where in the Bible does it say I may text during a church service?
2. Where in the Bible does it say it’s permissible to use Twitter?
3. Where does the Bible endorse owning a house?
4. Where in the New Testament is the production or consumption of tobacco blessed?
5. Where in the Bible does it say it’s OK to go to the movies?
6. Where in the Bible does it say drinking wine is wise?

Perhaps we need to change the focus of our thinking from “What’s wrong with it?” to “What’s right with it?”

Perhaps.

And perhaps I should be considering how this shoe fits me instead of So-n-So! 😯