An Exceptional Case

I’ve always liked being an exception. And yet, I think always is too strong a word. It was nice when mom or dad or a teacher would single me out and give me special attention. I would feel like an exception compared to everyone else. Yet, sometimes that special attention was embarrassing, because I was in trouble!

You surely understand how I am using the word exception. It is not just being singled out, but being different from the usual. It is the reason why the words always and never should be used sparingly. They leave no room for exceptions.

Jesus said that Judas was an exception. He had lost none of his twelve apostles, except Judas, the son of perdition. (Check it out in John 17:12.)

I have discovered that there are some people who read the Bible with an exception attitude, not an exceptional attitude. What I mean by an exception attitude is that they read with the attitude that there are many exceptions to the instruction and revelation of God. Do you think that is a wise approach?

Here are a couple of examples:

Solomon wrote: “A gentle answer turns away wrath.” (Proverbs 15:1) But someone responds saying, “I remember one instance when the angry person became angrier even though he was answered with a gentle response.” (Exception.)

The Apostle Paul wrote: “Honor your father and mother...so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3) But someone observes, “That was written to the Israelites and it was about them living long in the land of Israel, not about us living a long life today.” (Exception.)

By God’s power Moses parted the Red Sea so that the Israelites crossed on dry land to escape from Pharaoh and his army. (Exodus 14) But someone explained that “occasionally strong northwest winds drive the water at the northern extremity of the Gulf back so far that it is possible to wade across.” (Werner Keller, "The Bible as History," 2nd Revised Ed., p. 126.) (Exception.)

Whenever someone voices an exception to the things written in the Bible, what are they really saying? Think about the three examples:

• If there is a legitimate exception to Solomon’s proverb, then maybe it is not true that a gentle answer turns away wrath.
• If it is true that Paul quoted from the Old Testament, maybe the promise did only apply to the Israelites and not to us today.
• If the author was right about the winds of Egypt blowing the waters back, maybe there wasn’t a miraculous event at all.

The exception attitude has the effect of discrediting the word of God. It views truths expressed in the Proverbs and suggests that they may not necessarily be true. It challenges the validity of promises made by God. And it casts doubt on miraculous events recorded in Scripture.

If you have developed an exception attitude you will place your reasoning over God’s revelation. You will define the standard by which God and the truth of His word are assessed. You will elevate yourself to the position of ‘god,’ or bring the God of heaven down to earth as your equal.

One of the most profound examples of an exception attitude was that of the Pharisees. They were so sure they were correct in their assessment of God’s word that they ended up rejecting the Son of God!

Jesus spoke about God’s revelation: “Your word is truth.” (John 17:17) He had an exceptional attitude toward God’s word. What about you!?

Mark Stinnett

October 17, 2021