Pastor Swain's letter about capital punishment made me sad, and not only because I disagree with his extreme views on the subject.
What saddened me so was his approach to the Bible - one known as "eisegesis."
In that approach, one starts with a formed opinion on a subject and then searches out biblical passages (cherry-picking) to support that preconceived opinion, taking the passages out of their literary and historical context. Then one claims that his preconceived notion is "God's Word," when it is actually just his own opinion or even prejudice.
The really sad thing is that a pastor using that approach, while seeking to be an angel of light to his flock, may be leading them seriously astray.
Leonard Bowman
Ph.D., Theology
Millsboro
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