Editing Unacceptable

“Mark the perfect man . . .” Psalm 37:37a.

This Scripture has brought many a chuckle in our family (and we mean no disrespect to God’s Word). We laugh because our son-in-law, Mark, occasionally and jokingly calls attention to it for obvious reasons. Scripturally, the verse tells of taking notice of those who serve and obey God. Their lives end well: “For the end of that man is peace”—with God, himself, and his life in eternity, differing from what awaits the wicked. But people sometimes pull verses or portions of scripture from the Bible to suit their desired interpretations and purposes. Imagine if someone held fast to the apostle’s words: “Let him who stole, steal . . .” (Ephesians 4:28a). Paul instructed believers to speak the truth and act honestly in every area of life; they should never steal under the pretense of helping the less fortunate: “But rather, let him labor, working with his hands the thing, which is good, to have to give to him that needeth.” Let us be diligent in being the upright ones that people notice. God’s Spirit-breathed Word warns us of altering or taking it out of context (Deut 4:2; Prov 30:5–6; Rev 22:19).