Misusing Scripture to "Get Out of Jail Free"

I received my new issue of the LCMS journal Issues, etc (supporting the radio program with the same name) yesterday. Although much of the content covers "in-house" Lutheran concerns, it is all interesting, and much of it very thought provoking.

In this issue, Pastor Todd Wilken had a article called "Getting Out of Jail Free: Misusing Scripture as an Excuse for Sin." Intrigued, I read on. When I came to the first example, it all became so obvious. I bet you can guess some of them. They are those verses often quoted by someone who was just caught red-handed morally or doctrinally. Here are the excuse verses which Wilken refutes in the article.

Matthew 7:1
"Judge not, lest ye be judged."

John 8:7
"He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone."

1 Corinthians 13:12
"We see though a glass, darkly."

1 Corinthians 8:1
"Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up."

Titus 3:9
"Avoid foolish controversies"