The Danger of Filtering Scripture Through Your Ministry Lens

There is a troubling tendency among some preachers and teachers to filter all of Scripture through the narrow lens of their personal ministry emphasis. Whether it be evangelism, prophecy, revival, social justice, or another cause, every passage they encounter somehow relates to their particular focus. Instead of allowing the Bible to speak in its fullness, they force it to conform to their chosen narrative. This is a dangerous hermeneutical fallacy that distorts the Word of God and ultimately weakens sound doctrine.

The Problem: A "Canon Within the Canon"

This issue is sometimes called the "Canon within the Canon" fallacy. It occurs when a person elevates a particular theme or doctrine to such an extent that it effectively becomes their personal mini-canon within the Bible. Rather than letting the whole of Scripture shape their views, they selectively interpret everything through their preferred subject.

For example:

• The prophecy enthusiast sees eschatology in every verse—even where none exists.

• The evangelist turns every passage into a soul-winning message, regardless of context.

• The revivalist finds revival in every Old Testament narrative, even when the text does not support it.

  
  

While these topics are important, they should not override the original meaning of the biblical text. The Bible must shape our ministry, not the other way around.

Theological Filtering and Preunderstanding Bias

Another way to describe this problem is Theological Filtering or Preunderstanding Bias—reading Scripture through the lens of our own experience, assumptions, or ministry focus rather than allowing it to speak for itself. This often happens unconsciously. A pastor who has spent decades preaching on a single issue may sincerely believe they are being faithful to Scripture, but in reality, they are imposing their agenda onto the text.

This approach leads to eisegesis—reading something into the text that is not there—rather than exegesis, which seeks to draw out the author’s intended meaning. It also causes imbalanced teaching, where certain doctrines are overemphasized while others are ignored.

Biblical Examples and Warnings

The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were guilty of this very error. They had so thoroughly filtered Scripture through their legalistic traditions that they missed the heart of God’s message. Jesus rebuked them in Matthew 23:23:

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."

They focused on certain aspects of the Law while neglecting others, creating a distorted view of God's will.

The Right Approach: Let Scripture Speak

If we are to be faithful stewards of God's Word, we must approach it with humility and a commitment to its full counsel. Here are a few ways to guard against filtering Scripture through a personal ministry lens:

1. Read the Bible Holistically – Study all of Scripture, not just the parts that reinforce your focus.

2. Practice Sound Exegesis – Interpret each passage in its proper context rather than forcing a predetermined meaning onto it.

3. Be Willing to Be Challenged – Allow the Bible to shape your theology, even if it contradicts your current views.

4. Teach the Whole Counsel of God – As Paul stated in Acts 20:27, we should not "shun to declare unto you all the counsel of God."

5. Invite Accountability – Have trusted friends or mentors who can challenge you if you begin emphasizing one issue at the expense of others.

   
   

   
   

A ministry emphasis is not wrong in itself—God calls different individuals to focus on different areas of His work. However, when that focus distorts our handling of Scripture, it becomes a problem. We must let the Word of God shape our ministries, not let our ministries shape how we interpret the Word of God.

Faithfulness to Scripture requires balance, humility, and a willingness to let God speak for Himself. Let us be careful not to turn the Bible into an echo chamber of our own passions, but rather seek to preach "the word… rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).