What About Proof Texting?

Many denominational believers, and even some Christians, have a problem with what is commonly called "proof texting." That is the practice of proving a particular doctrine with a Bible text.This practice is not without a multitude of precedence in the Bible. Jesus constantly "proof texted." You probably remember Jesus using three separate proof texts to reply to the devil’s three temptations of Him in Matt 4:1-11.Also consider the example of when the Sadducees argued "that there is no resurrection" (after life) in Matt 22:23ff. Jesus responded to them in verses 31-32 by saying “... as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” Jesus used one verse of old testament scripture to conclusively prove their false theory incorrect. I for one am glad Jesus did this, because I might not have noticed that this verse was so good against the no resurrection theory. Evidently the Sadducees had not regarded the passage in that light either.I Thess 5:21a reads “Prove all things.” We should never be ashamed to do just that. One scripture that is conclusive on a subject is enough. More verses is even better, but God only has to say something one time for it to be true.