User Agreements

It has been joked that one of the biggest lies that PC users have ever told is, “I have read and agree with the Terms of Service.” For the uninitiated, if one tries to install a program onto his computer that one is present with the Terms of Service. The Terms of Service provides the user with the “can and cannots” which apply to the program. For instance, one program this author personally uses stipulates that it may be used for free as long as the user does not travel by plane more than twice a year. If the user exceeds this number, he must pay for the program. Others stipulate that the user cannot edit the program in any way. Some companies keep a sense of humor about it. One program, its makers knowing that individuals do not read the agreements has stipulated the user agrees to send his firstborn to the company. Keeping that in mind, it might be best that those who have not been reading them to start. One never knows to what he is agreeing and could suffer the ramifications for it.

In the same manner, it has been said that “Christians treat the Bible like a User Agreement. They simply agree without taking the time to read It.” Jesus, by implication, spoke of the importance of reading the scriptures when He said, “Have ye not read…?” (Matt 12:3, 5; 19:4; 22:31; Mark 12:10, 26; Luke 6:3). In those instances, Christ was posed with a question about numerous topics such as: the resurrection, marriage, and others. These were questions were posed to try and find Christ in a fault. Christ implied a few things by asking this question:

1.      Man should be reading the scriptures. Paul exhorted Timothy, “Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” (1 Tim. 4:13).

2.      By reading the Bible, one can understand what is written therein. Paul backs up this sentiment in his letter to the Ephesians. Speaking of the church he said, “How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:3-4).

3.      Many of man’s misinterpretations of the scriptures could be rectified simply by reading the Bible. Keep in mind, Christ asked this simple question when His enemies tried to find Him in a fault. These were groups like the Sadducess who denied the existence of angels, the resurrection, and the eternal spirits (Acts 23:8) and the Pharisees who followed after the Rabbinal writings as opposed to what the Old Testament scriptures actually stated (cf. Matt. 5:21-48). The same holds true today as many have been lured into believing that which is not commanded in the scriptures. Either this person has never taken the time to do as the Bereans (Acts 17:11) or tries to take one verse to prove an idea without taking into account the whole.

What if one chooses to treat the Bible like a User Agreement by “agreeing to the Terms of Service” without ever reading and understand what has declared? Some companies have sued consumers who breached the agreement and won the court case. What was the reason for such the breach? The user never read the agreement. Please note God will not sue us but the punishment is far worse than any settlement. The Israelites, as a nation, were destroyed for “lack of knowledge.” (Hos. 4:6). Think back to Peter’s sermon to many Jews who saw the healing of a certain lame man. Peter noted that the act was committed by many due to ignorance but God still required them to obey the gospel of Christ (Acts 3:17, 20). Stop treating the Bible like something one can “agree” to without knowing what is in it and be fine. God left man His Word so man can understand God, His Will, and the love He has for mankind. He has left man His “Terms of Service” in the form of the Bible. It tell man of the his responsibilities, the “can and cannots” to everyday life, and no one can respond in an appropriate manner without knowing what is in it.