proof-texting

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> > They then accused me of something called
> >"proof" texting.  
> 
> Proff texting is the using of one verse of Scripture to prove a point,
> without showing that this usage is consistant with other verses. A

And often times it's taking a pile of verses all together to "prove"
something is Biblical.  Like Frank says, it's removing the verse
completely from its context.

This ties in with the one brother's query about "rightly dividing the
Word." Using proof-texting, just about *anything* can be "proven."  A
classic example is the infamous "88 Reasons" tract, which convinced
many people, using Scripture, that the Lord would return in 1988.

It's generally done by getting some sort of notion or preconceived
idea, then grabbing the concordance and looking for every instance in
the Bible where this idea exists.  You write down the ones that seem to
support your position, and omit the ones that do not.

Richard Masoner