8 Common Ways People Interpret the Word of God

Throughout my years of advanced study in ministry and theology, I’ve delved deeply into hermeneutics, the science of biblical interpretation. In my view, no subject is more crucial for anyone seeking to understand the Scriptures. Hermeneutics is the key to unlocking the true meaning of the Bible, yet many believers are unaware of the “lens” through which they interpret it.

In this article, we’ll explore eight common approaches to interpreting Scripture.

1. Through the lens of truth from the Holy Spirit 

Jesus promised His followers that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth, a promise reaffirmed by Saint John the Apostle (John 14:26; 1 John 2:27). This assurance, however, comes with a profound responsibility: the task of discerning, with the Spirit’s help, what the Word of God is truly conveying both individually and to the Church as a whole. This journey is not quick; it requires years of study and careful distinction between personal assumptions, cultural influences, and the Spirit’s divine insight.

2. Interpreting through the lens of culture

A widespread tendency is to interpret Scripture through the lens of contemporary cultural values, placing the Bible on par with the prevailing ethos of society. When this happens, people often approach Scripture primarily as a means to extract lessons that align with their cultural context. This approach, in my view, significantly diminishes the transformative power and divine intent of the Scriptures, reducing them to mere anthropological artifacts, literary works that are treated no differently than other texts esteemed by society’s intellectual elite.

3. The lens of truth for culture `

This approach to interpretation focuses on using Scripture primarily for apologetics—to speak truth to contemporary culture. While there is undeniable value in this, it can fall short of Scripture’s deeper purpose: the pursuit of knowing God intimately and understanding His ways (2 Peter 3:18). The Bible certainly provides a comprehensive worldview that offers eternal principles relevant to politics, law, education, science, music, art, and culture. However, it is far more than a handbook for shaping societal norms, ideologies, or policies.

The ultimate aim of Scripture is not merely to inform nations’ governance but to transform individuals’ hearts. This should be the ultimate aim of all biblical interpretation, guiding us beyond cultural engagement to a life centered on communion with our Creator.

4. Through the lens of culture for faith 

Many believers inadvertently read the Scriptures through the lens of their cultural values, interpreting biblical passages through frameworks like the American value system rather than through a purely biblical lens. While this is common, particularly among Christians in the USA, it’s essential to recognize that this approach is not unique to any nation. Christians worldwide often view the Bible through the lens of their own national cultures, whether African, Asian, Latin American, or otherwise.

Despite these cultural filters, God’s Word remains powerful enough to reach and transform lives, ministering to people even within the constraints of their cultural, emotional, mental, and historical contexts. However, as we grow in our faith, moving beyond these national frameworks becomes crucial. We must strive to read the Scriptures through a truly biblical lens, ensuring we do not impose our national values or worldview upon the sacred text. 

5. Through the lens of a doctrine 

Many Christians approach the Bible with a preconceived doctrinal bias, already committed to proving a particular theological framework before they even open the Scriptures. This mindset can severely limit one’s understanding of the text. For instance, a hyper-Calvinist might interpret every passage through the lens of God’s sovereignty, often downplaying or ignoring human responsibility. Conversely, an Arminian might focus so heavily on human free will that they overlook the significance of divine sovereignty.

To interpret the Bible accurately, we must resist the urge to impose our doctrinal assumptions onto the text. Instead, we should let the Scriptures speak for themselves, allowing their content to unfold naturally in the way and order they were written. Only then can we grasp the full depth and truth of God’s Word, free from the constraints of our own theological biases.

6. Through the lens of inward mystical truth 

Some Christians, particularly those with a hyper-mystical bent, tend to overlook the literal, historical, and grammatical meaning of Scripture, choosing instead to interpret it solely through the lens of allegory and mysticism. For them, the plain text is merely a surface layer, obscuring what they believe to be a more profound, hidden spiritual meaning that the Holy Spirit reveals only to a select few.

While it is true that the Holy Spirit illuminates and reveals profound insights within the Scriptures, we must be cautious not to veer into subjective interpretations that disregard the fundamental principles of biblical hermeneutics. 

 To fully grasp its meaning, we must honor the text as it is written, allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us within sound interpretive practices. Only then can we avoid the pitfalls of mysticism that distort the Word of God and remain anchored in the truth it seeks to convey.

7. Through the lens of political activism 

Over the past several decades, I’ve encountered books by so-called public theologians on the far left and popular preachers on the far right. Despite their opposing views, they share a troubling commonality: both engage in “proof-texting,” cherry-picking Scripture to support their political agendas while disregarding fundamental principles of biblical interpretation. 

When the gospel is manipulated to serve political ends, it becomes entangled with the flawed and often corrupt systems of human governance that overshadow the message of Christ’s Kingdom, which transcends any earthly political framework.

8. Through the lens of moral principles 

Many believers approach the Bible primarily as a devotional tool, seeking principles for business, leadership, purpose, and moral living. While the Scriptures indeed offer profound wisdom for these areas, reducing them to a mere guidebook for personal success is to miss their true essence.

The Bible is far more than a collection of practical tips; It is the living Word of God, revealing the all-consuming presence of a God who desires to engage with us. Through its pages, we are invited into a transformative encounter with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.

To read the Scriptures for anything less than this is to view them through a human-centered lens, risking losing the Christ-centered focus at the heart of the sacred text. The ultimate purpose of the Bible is not just to enhance our lives but to draw us into a deeper relationship with the living God, where His grace and truth continually transform us.

Before reading, please refer to part 1 of this article.

We are now witnessing something many believe is worse than slavery. We are seeing legal genocide! Thus, when people of color vote for a pro-choice candidate or platform, they are (unconsciously) voting for their systemic extermination!

Regarding “after birth” issues like racism, we have to be fair and cite the terrible racist history of the Democratic Party. It was part of Jim Crow, the KKK, and slavery.  It was far behind the Republican Party (the party of Lincoln and Dr. Martin Luther King) regarding civil rights until the past three decades. Hence, we should not blindly vote based on party affiliation but according to how the party platform and candidate accords with biblical moral law.

(Click here to read about the civil rights history of both major political parties by African-American, Frantz Kebreau.)

The seventh commandment, “You shall not commit adultery” (Exodus 20:14), basically teaches that all sexual acts outside of the marriage of one man and one woman are considered adultery. The marriage bed, as defined by God’s word, is undefiled (Hebrews 13:4). Leviticus 18 gets into more detail regarding how the seventh commandment is unpacked and illustrates how heterosexual sex with someone that is not one’s spouse, with another person’s spouse, with in-laws, same-sex relations, as well as sex with animals, are forbidden by God. Paul the Apostle restates some of these sexual acts as sin in Romans 1:26-27 and 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Hence, same-sex marriage clearly violates two of the first three commandments related to human relations!

The eighth commandment, “You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15), is related to economics.

This is where it gets sticky. Progressives claim that one of the major political parties favors the rich because, they say, they pay less of a percentage of taxes than the middle class. (The income tax percentage for the rich is higher than the middle class, but most rich people earn much of their income through capital gains, which are taxed much lower than salary income. However, all people have a right to buy and sell property and trade on the stock market. Thus, it is not a right reserved only for the rich. However, most poor people need to be financially knowledgeable or have enough money to make a living through capital gains categories like real estate and trading stocks.

On the other hand, I have heard some conservative people of color say that the Democrats are still attempting to keep their people on the plantation through entitlements and welfare programs that merely help in the short term but don’t do enough to break the generational cycles of poverty. Other black leaders have noted how people of color have more poverty today as related to marriage, intact families, and finances than before the Great Society programs of Lyndon Johnson started in the mid-1960s. This proves handouts and welfare have hurt more than helped people of color!

I believe a halfway approach is best: that government economic aid to the poor should continue, but that it should be redefined and restructured so there are far fewer blind handouts. I believe money should be funneled through partnerships with churches, non-profits, and charities that have boots on the ground and know how to do micro-financing, job training, entrepreneurial endeavors, and educate at-risk children. They would more likely do a better job than government bureaucrats. 

With the current level of family fragmentation, non-profits, and church-based programs need to step up to the plate now more than ever because big government entitlement programs with no practical accountability have proven they cannot “parachute in” and rescue our communities! 

For books on this subject, read Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help (And How to Reverse It) by Robert Lupton and When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor… and Yourself by Brian Fikkert and Steve Corbett.

Furthermore, by forbidding stealing in the eighth commandment, God espouses the right of individuals to own private property. Thus, this commandment is against any ideology (whether liberation theology or communism) that espouses economic egalitarianism, which is when an overreaching central government tries to force equality and the redistribution of wealth by an extremely progressive tax structure or, in communism, by the abolition of private property altogether!

On the other hand, most conservatives in this nation are against redistribution and believe in empowering individual rights and the free market. I believe this is more in line with scripture than those espousing communism and economic egalitarianism.

(I espouse a kingdom economic approach that not only includes a flat tax for everyone (i.e., like the biblical tithe) and a free market view of capitalism but which obligates Christian business owners to disciple, finance, and reproduce other business owners from among their employees. This would do more than merely create jobs in poor urban areas; it would develop entrepreneurs who can break their generational cycles of poverty!)

(Read Doing Business God’s Way by Dennis Peacocke for more.)

Furthermore, the tenth commandment, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods” (Exodus 20:17), also seems to advance the theory of private property and is against the motive of egalitarianism, which many believe is driven by the politics of class warfare and envy.

Debating economic theory and what works would take a large position paper.

(I highly recommend black economist Thomas Sowell’s book Basic Economics as a starter for this important subject.)

However, even if (hypothetically) progressives are correct in their position, the commandment dealing with economics is number eight on God’s top-ten list, thus not as important as commandments 1-7. Furthermore, God tells believers that if they put His kingdom and righteousness first, He will provide everything we need anyway (Matthew 6:33). 

Elections and voting are always a test for all believers: Are we going to vote on our biblical values as stated in God’s top-ten list, or will we vote on our race, ethnicity, and party affiliation? Suppose there is a situation in which candidates from either party fall short of these moral and ethical standards. In that case, I believe the best person to vote for in a local or national election is the one that most favors biblical faith and a platform closest to upholding the essence of the Law of God.

Part 1 

As a non-partisan Christian, I have been encouraging Christians to vote for their values instead of voting based on groupthink and party affiliation. To do this, we have to go to the source of our ethics and values: the Bible.

God could not have made His standard for societal law any clearer than when He wrote His law in the Ten Commandments and gave it to Moses on Mount Sinai, as noted in Exodus 20. He laid them out in the order of importance as His top-ten list. These moral laws were given as a corporate blueprint to frame a policy for Israel and all nations so they may experience national blessings.

These commandments are also the standard in both the New and Old Testaments for personal holiness and ethics. They are repeated almost verbatim in the New Testament (e.g., Ephesians 6:1-3). Although we are not saved by obeying the works of the law (Ephesians 2:8-9), they serve as the ethical behavior the Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in (Romans 8:4) when we yield to His grace (Titus 2:11-12). Although the ceremonial aspect of the law has been done away with in Christ (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:1-10:14), the moral law is still the good, holy, and righteous standard for us to live by (Romans 3:31; 7:12, 14, 25).

As we look at the Ten Commandments, we find two primary components related to our obligation to obey the law: the first four commandments relate to our vertical obligation to God, and the last six commandments relate to our horizontal obligations toward our neighbors.

To save space, I will not quote all the commandments but will focus on several relevant to the upcoming election.

The first commandment is to have no other gods before Him (Exodus 20:3).

This is the most important of all the commandments because if we follow it, all the other commandments will naturally fall into place. Hence, I will only use this verse as related to our four stated commandments towards God.

Having no other gods before Him means that God has to be first and foremost in our lives, even as Matthew 6:33 instructs us to put His kingdom and righteousness first. In Matthew 22:37-38, we are called to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. 

Regarding the upcoming election: This means we are to put God’s standards and Word above our ethnicity and gender (e.g., it shouldn’t matter whether a candidate is black, white, yellow, brown, or male or female), and we should put biblical values above our party affiliation.

As Dr. Martin Luther King alluded to in his “I Have a Dream” speech, we should judge candidates based on the “content of their character rather than the color of their skin.”

The last six commandments are about how we are to live in relation to fellow human beings. This was summarized in Matthew 22:39-40 when Jesus instructed us to love our neighbors even as we love ourselves. Thus, the first four commandments connect to Matthew 22:37-38, and the last six commandments connect to Matthew 22:39-40.

In reference to the last six commandments, we need to see how they directly relate to the public policy positions of each of the political parties as well as each individual candidate.

“Honor your father and mother” (Exodus 20:12) is the most important commandment regarding human relations because it connects to the nature of marriage and procreation. Marriage (Genesis 2:23-25) is the basic human building block of society and existed before human government, (which started with God delegating capital punishment to humans in Genesis 9:5-6), before Israel, the Law of Moses, and the church.

It is also important to note that this commandment mentions both “father” and “mother,” not “mother and mother” or “father and father.” Thus, according to God’s top-ten list, biblical marriage is the most important human institution we need to protect and honor, and is even mentioned before murder, adultery and economics! 

Thus, political candidates who support same-sex marriage are in gross violation of the fifth commandment (which is also the first commandment related to human relations!) 

The sixth commandment is “You shalt not murder” (Exodus 20:13).

God so hates the shedding of innocent blood (Proverbs 6:16-17) that murder is number two on His list of the remaining six moral commandments related to human obligations.

Of course, if the platform of a political party or a candidate is pro-choice then they are in favor of a woman’s right to terminate the life of an unborn child within her womb. What’s even more troubling is that African-Americans and people of color have been targeted the most by the abortion industry as noted by planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger, who believed people of color were from an inferior race, and, because they were poor, she planned to use “colored” ministers to convince them from a religious perspective that the right thing to do was to terminate their pregnancies if they were too poor to afford them! 

“Birth control must lead ultimately to a cleaner race.”
Margaret Sanger. Woman, Morality, and Birth Control. New York: New York Publishing Company, 1922. Page 12.

“We should hire three or four colored ministers, preferably with social-service backgrounds, and with engaging personalities. The most successful educational approach to the Negro is through a religious appeal. We don’t want the word to go out that we want to exterminate the Negro population. And the minister is the man who can straighten out that idea if it ever occurs to any of their more rebellious members.“


Margaret Sanger’s December 19, 1939 letter to Dr. Clarence Gamble, 255 Adams Street, Milton, Massachusetts. Original source: Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, North Hampton, and Massachusetts. Also described in Linda Gordon’s Woman’s Body, Woman’s right: A Social History of Birth Control in America. New York: Grossman Publishers, 1976.

“Eugenic sterilization is an urgent need … We must prevent multiplication of this bad stock.“
Margaret Sanger, April 1933 Birth Control Review. 

Unfortunately, Sanger and Planned Parenthood have been largely successful in achieving their goals since data shows us that African American women are five times more likely to have an abortion than white women, and in NYC, more African American babies are aborted than are born! 

For the church to reclaim its role as a transformative force in society, it must embody the principles of salt and light as described in Matthew 5:13-16. This requires believers to embrace and live out the following biblical principles:

1. Cultivating a Biblical Worldview Across All Areas of Life

As beings created in the image of God, our thinking should reflect God’s thoughts rather than our subjective opinions (Genesis 1:27, Proverbs 1:7, 1 Cor 2:16). By internalizing biblical principles that inform our understanding of history, law, psychology, education, religion, politics, economics, family, and science, we can interpret life through a biblical lens and effectively engage with contemporary culture.

Unfortunately, most Christians don’t have a biblical worldview, but only a cursory knowledge of pet Bible verses they recite for physical and emotional health. This limited fragmented knowledge of Scripture has resulted in believers acquiescing to secular humanistic views in all practical matters dealing with the stewardship of the earth.

2. Christian Thinking in Leadership: Beyond Numbers to Influence

Having Christians in leadership positions across public schools, universities, hospitals, politics, and business is not enough. The true challenge lies in infusing these realms with Christian thinking. Despite many Christians in influential roles, we often lack a deep integration of biblical principles into our decision-making processes. The Bible is more than a collection of promises and moral teachings; it is a comprehensive guide for living harmoniously within a community and shaping society accordingly (Micah 6:8).

3. Christ Followers Should Speak the Language of Babylon

To effectively influence our culture, believers must learn to “think biblically but speak secularly.” Each field, from political science and economics to sociology, education, and nonprofit work, has its subculture and terminology. Just as American football uses terms like “touchdown,” these disciplines have specific vocabularies that we must master to engage with their leaders and decision-makers. Quoting Bible passages alone is often ineffective unless the listener is in a crisis. Instead, we must communicate biblical truths in a language that resonates within the context of their specific disciplines (1 Corinthians 9:19-23).

4. Preparing Christian Children for Leadership, Not Just Followership

To shape future leaders, Christian parents must prioritize training their children to be thinkers and practitioners of their faith rather than mere followers. This multi-generational approach is the most crucial mission for parents and the church. Unfortunately, many Christian parents do not dedicate enough time to praying with and teaching their children the Scriptures. Even when they do, it often falls short of preparing them to become cultural gatekeepers.

To nurture strong, Christ-centered children, those between the ages of 3 and 10 should be immersed in Scripture memorization and biblical narratives. As they enter middle school, it’s vital for parents and churches to teach them how to apply biblical principles to ethics, politics, immigration, the sanctity of life, technology, science, history, education, government, business, etc. Encouraging well-prepared students to attend top universities and colleges ensure they are not isolated but positioned to effectively lead and influence culture and society (Deut 28:13).

5. Nurturing World-Changers in Every Realm of Society

To cultivate world-changers, we must embrace an intergenerational approach as taught in Psalm 78, equipping both our biological and spiritual children to apply biblical principles to everyday life. By doing so, we can raise exceptional leaders reminiscent of the church’s golden era, which produced some of history’s greatest artists, composers, scientists, writers, politicians, and educators who transformed Europe and North America.

Historically, the church didn’t just minister to the marginalized but also nurtured influential cultural figures who shaped society. Today, we must revive this legacy by investing deeply in our children’s spiritual and intellectual growth. This means parents and spiritual leaders must model a Christ-centered devotional life, as superficial faith or hypocrisy can severely undermine a child’s motivation to fulfill their divine purpose and calling. Let’s aim to raise a generation of leaders who will illuminate and transform every sphere of society.

6. Embracing Our Communities for Holistic Impact

Effective, holistic churches reach out to their communities, welcoming people before they accept Jesus Christ as Lord. Instead of merely trying to attract the community into the church, we must send church members out as servant leaders to engage and serve. We can create an inviting space where people feel comfortable by transforming the church into a vibrant community hub for networking, training, resources, and even “town hall” meetings. This approach builds trust and familiarity, making those outside the church more inclined to step inside the sanctuary for a Sunday service. By genuinely embracing our communities, we can demonstrate the love of Christ and foster a sense of belonging that leads to transformative relationships (Titus 3:8).

7. Cultivating Problem Solvers for Global Challenges

The time has come for pastors and workplace believers to become sought-after advisors for addressing the world’s most pressing challenges. The church must go beyond producing influential pastors, prayer warriors, and gospel singers; it should also nurture thought leaders, cultural creatives, entrepreneurs, and global strategists. With the world grappling with issues such as a debt-based economy, failing public schools, deteriorating infrastructures, rising crime, international conflicts, health care crises, and environmental problems, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions. Believers, grounded in Kingdom principles, are uniquely positioned to provide these answers and lead the way in transforming society. Let’s rise to the occasion and become the problem solvers the world desperately needs (Matthew 5:13-16).

8. Demonstrating Transformation by Improving Community Quality of Life

Actions speak louder than words. The world doesn’t need another book outlining the problems in our cities; it needs churches that demonstrate how the gospel can uplift entire communities, not just individual lives (Isaiah 61:1-4). Historically, Christ followers have led the way in innovation, founding hospitals, businesses, universities, political and legal systems, and eradicating slavery.

Many are weary of hearing Christians merely prophesy and preach about transformation. As societies continue to struggle, there is a tremendous opportunity for churches and workplace leaders to create tangible community models that others can replicate. By improving the quality of life in their communities, Christians can showcase the transformative power of the gospel, providing real solutions and hope in a world desperate for change. This hope, rooted in the gospel, can inspire and uplift those who are weary and in need of encouragement.

In conclusion, to reclaim its role as a transformative force in society, the church must embody the principles of salt and light, influencing culture through a biblical worldview, Christ-centered leadership, and community engagement. By training the next generation of Christian leaders, nurturing world-changers, and addressing global challenges with innovative solutions, believers can demonstrate the gospel’s power to uplift entire communities. As we embrace and serve our communities, modeling a Christ-focused life, we can provide real solutions and hope, showcasing the transformative impact of the gospel in a world desperate for change.