Which One Are You – Text-Driven or System-Driven?

Each person functions as a product of his or her belief system. You could say, we do what we do as an outflow of what we believe and want. As such, what you believe is important. For Christians, this belief system should be based upon the Bible. In essence, the Bible should form the foundation for the Christian’s belief system.

Therefore, how you look at and interpret the Bible matters to a greater degree than how you determine what kind of ice cream you like, what brand vehicle you drive, or any of the various other decisions you make.

 

Are you a Text-Driven Christian or a System-Driven Christian?

You may be wondering what these two options even mean. Here are both defined:

• A Text-Driven Christian begins with the Bible text or passage to determine its meaning, which then informs the Christian’s beliefs. Notice in the graph below how this position functions. First, you discover the meaning of a Bible text or passage, then that meaning impacts your beliefs and/or desires. As a result, your actions and reactions or behavior reflect what it is that you believe and/or desire.

 

• A System-Driven Christian begins with what he or she believes and approaches the Bible text to determine meaning. Notice in the graph below how this position functions. First, you have a particular belief or desire, then you turn toward the Bible text or passage to try to discover the meaning, As you read the Bible, the meaning of words or paragraphs as you determine them is impacted by what you believe or want. As a result, your actions and reactions or behavior reflect what it is that you believe and/or desire as well – as does the Bible.

You may be wondering why this is important. Let me explain with a few examples.

 

Theological Examples

Let me demonstrate how this works in everyday decisions. A friend of mine was with me traveling this week. As we discussed a particular theological question he posed, he and I reflected upon this invisible choice we all make.

What is the meaning of the word ekklēsia or church in the Bible?

In a conversation, a man asked, “Does the word church in the Bible always refer to the local church?” One of the respected men there answered, “It primarily means local church in most passages; therefore, if you do not know or if it is unclear, assume it means local church.”

This is an example of a System-Driven approach. When you approach a text, what you believe about the word impacts what you see in a particular text.

Whereas, in fact, there are a number of texts where the local church is not meant or it is truly unclear. In those texts, we must let the text determine our answer. If unclear, then we admit it.

 

What is the meaning of the word world in 1 John 2:2?

In this text, the Bible reads, “And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 John 2:2).

The question often comes up as to what the word world means in this text. Does this text refer to the world, as in all humanity or does this text mean the world of the elect? Some people say it refers to the whole world and other say it refers only to the elect.

Why would someone say it is only the elect? Because their system of theology teaches the effect of the atonement is limited to the elect only. Therefore, when the verse reads that the wrath-bearing sacrifice of Jesus is for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world, it must be the world of the elect. Why? Because their theology teaches it is only for the elect. This is a System-Driven approach.

However, in the context, John is writing to believers, those who have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ (v. 1). He says that the atonement is for our sins (those who are followers of Jesus Christ), and not for ours only, but also for the whole world (those who are not followers of Jesus Christ). Therefore, we move from the passage to our theology rather than from our theology to the passage. In this sense, there must be an advantage of the atonement for both the believer and the nonbeliever. Notice how the conversation has shifted. We now begin to talk about the temporal and eternal consequences of the atonement on the believer and nonbeliever, leaving the system-driven answer of simply, it must be the world of the elect.

 

Practical Examples

Does the Bible prohibit homosexuality?

Many times those who desire to practice homosexuality or allow for the practice would say the Bible does not prohibit homosexuality. Yet, Romans 1 seems clear (I’ll limit this to just one passage). It reads, “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due” (Rom 1:26-27).

In a simple reading of the text, the reader would say that homosexuality is a sin (Text-Driven approach). Yet, those who desire to practice homosexuality often highlight the words against nature. If you have a desire to sexually be with another same-sex person, then that is natural to you. So the sin here is not same-sex attraction or a same-sex sexual relationship, the sin is to do what is not natural to who you are as a person, which is a System-Driven approach.

Should I be faithful in my marriage if I am not happy?

Here is another example of how your approach to the Bible and daily living matters. I’ve heard many people tell me, “Well God does not want me to be unhappy. He wants all of us happy.” And, with that statement, explain why since he or she is not happy in marriage, the marriage should end in divorce.

What has happened in this scenario? The person has approached God and the Bible with a particular belief (God wants us happy) and then determined God gives the green light for what he or she wants. The System-Driven approach says implicitly, this is what I want, therefore, God has to be okay with it.

Whereas, a Text-Driven approach says we must start with the key passages on divorce and happiness in the Bible to see what they mean before we can make a decision related to marriage.

 

What about you and your life today?

I stuck with some very simple examples just to give you a sense of how this works. Hopefully, you understood the difference. So what? Why does it matter?

Here is the key. When we approach the Bible – which is God’s authoritative word for what we believe and what we do (behavior), then we need to approach it with humility. We seek to let each text – in its own context – speak for itself. We discover as best we can the meaning of the text from the perspective of the initial author and original audience, not from our belief system, our desires, or our own perspective.

The Bible should impact what we think and do (our actions and reaction), not us change what we perceive the Bible to mean based upon our own beliefs or desires.

Today, then, as you go about your day, strive to let the Bible influence your way of thinking, your desires, and your actions and reactions, rather than what you want and think driving how you see the Bible and act.

 

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