The 21st century predisposition towards eisegesis.

University Degree Historical and Philosophical studies

Eisegesis.

I never cease to be amazed at the 21st century predisposition towards eisegesis, that quirk some erstwhile scholars have of reading their own ideas into God’s Word as if they could help Jesus, and His Word, be more “user-friendly” for a quasi-literate (Biblically speaking, that is) audience. Ouch!

If I was ‘a bit disturbed’ by “Maximizing Your Effectiveness”, I believe I’m thoroughly exasperated with “Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership” by McIntosh and Rima. I probably miscounted, or I may have overlooked - as my sight was clouded in apoplexy - several examples, but I don’t think the term SIN was used once in this book! I find it rather amazing that in a tome dealing with our ‘Dark Sides’ sin would be so obvious by its absence. Perhaps I’ve become too stodgy, too prosaic in my more mature years (I do qualify for A.A.R.P. after all) but when it comes to the Holy Spirit, when it comes to sin, when it comes to us working change in ourselves, or us ignoring God’s Word for man’s, well, my causticity runneth over. Oh, the four topics just mentioned in the previous sentence, they are the topics I’d like to deal with as I reflect on my own dark side.

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I was baptized in the ‘Holy Ghost’, as He used to be called, in the spring of 1960. Since that time He has been the filter through which all my learning, all my living, have come. As a believer reared in a committed Pentecostal family, I still see anyone’s effort at theologizing without giving the Spirit His place as presenting a truncated reality at best and flagrant error at worst. No matter how hard McIntosh and Rima may try, when they exclude or dilute the Holy Spirit’s role in counsel or guidance they have ignored The Wonderful Counselor Himself to ...

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Syndromes, errors, mistakes, nature, nurture, the dark side, anything---

except Sin. It is so much more effective, not to mention simpler, to confess the sin, repent and allow the Spirit to fill you with His power and authority to live than to seek ‘self-knowledge’ or the proper ‘strategy of personal management’ instead. When confronted by the prophet Nathan, David didn’t blame his ‘dark side’ rather he took responsibility for his sin! 2 Sam.12:13 (NIV) says, “Then David said to Nathan, ’I have sinned against the LORD.’ Nathan replied, ‘The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.’” If we deal with the sin, Jesus will aid us as we ‘walk in the light’.

Paul in Romans chapter seven eloquently presents the frustration and futility of us trying to change us. Our human desire to be self-actuating and self-determining harken back to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden rather than Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. We are to be like Him.

The paucity of reference to Scripture, when God’s Word is our final authority in what we believe and how we live, is inexcusable. In Mark 7:7-8, Jesus said, “They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men. You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men.” To me it seems “Overcoming the Dark Side of Leadership” does just this, whether dealing with the Spirit, sin, change, or God’s Word. Ouch.

McIntosh and Rima need to deal with this dark side of their own making, for they are not furthering Christ’s Kingdom as it is.