Nearly everyone has heard of “situational ethics”—the idea that there really is no standard of ethics that can be universally or uniformly applied, so each situation allows for and calls for its own standard of judgment, based upon the context of the events and not on any absolutes or universal principles. For example, they might justify lying or cheating in one situation but not in another, allowing the situation to determine the course of action. I’d like to introduce a new concept to you (although it’s similar to the one above) —“situational hermeneutics.”
Biblical hermeneutics is the science of applying logical principles of interpretation to the Bible. Sound hermeneutics will bring one to an understanding of the original meaning that God intended for the message which He delivered. Applying these principles should be done universally and uniformly, as God’s Word directs, and should not be shaped by the situation in which one finds himself. Here are a couple examples.
God’s Word teaches that marriage is for one man to one woman for one lifetime (Matt. 19:4-6), and the only exception permitting divorce is the sexual infidelity of a spouse (Matt. 19:9). How often has someone held to these sound principles until they found themselves or their own children or someone they loved in a “tough situation” that “required special consideration”? This is “situational hermeneutics.”
God’s Word teaches that baptism is absolutely essential in order to obtain the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). How often has someone learned this truth but then tried to justify that “Grandma Ethel was a wonderful, God-fearing woman who surely went to heaven although she wasn’t baptized for the remission of her sins”? This is “situational hermeneutics.”
The Sadducees tried to pull a “situational hermeneutics” on Jesus, trying to make a situation call for its own standard of judgment. They made up the most bizarre of situations, thinking they had found a “loophole.” Look at Jesus’ response—“You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God…have you not read what was spoken to you by God” (Matt. 22:29, 31). Mark includes this statement as Jesus’ closing comment, “Ye do greatly err” (12:27).
When a sentiment, such as, “I know that’s what the Bible says, but I…,” is expressed, that is “situational hermeneutics.” May God help us to know the Scriptures by honestly (free of prejudices) reading what God has spoken to us, and allowing divine principles to determine our course of action!