Ever wondered what the apostles or even the reformers would say if they attended a modern day church service? Okay, what if they strolled into a mega church movie sermon series or sat and watched christian television. Would they agree with our shenanigans (read eisegesis)? How about Zwingli, that feisty almost unsang hero of the reformation would he have a fit? I think [chuckling now] I know:
First you need to dispense with the notion that what you read into Scripture is what’s there. Such a view is quite pointless as I will clearly show. I know that you will insist that you have worked through Scripture and uncovered texts which support your point of view. And here we hit at the disease of the human heart and at the center of all human systems. Which is this: we want to find support for our own views in Scripture and so if we find a text that, however falsely, we can relate to it, we do and in doing so we twist Scripture in order to force it to say what we want it to say… – Huldrych Zwingli
Excerpt from Zwingli on the Impropriety of Eisegesis
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A Twisted Crown of Thorns ® 
That “disease of the human heart” he mentions is called the “nouetic effect of sin.” I only know that because Jay Adams spelled it out in one of his many biblical counseling books! 🙂 It’s the depraved nature’s propensity to misconstrue or misinterpret Scripture to suit one’s own agenda. And you make a very good point, by the way.
i’ll answer your question- given his attitude towards the pompous musicians of his day and his disdain for their interest in entertaining the herd rather than in glorifying God, he would HATE such a series and denounce quite soundly anyone doing them.
You are as feisty as Zwingli…yet tenacious as Eck. 🙂
Chuckle chuckle, love the opening here…”First you need to dispense with the notion that……” Have not read Zwingli on the Impropriety of Eisegesis, but on my way over. Now, not sure where Jim stands on this….;)
Ooops, lol. Thought Impropriety of Eisegesis was some big long writing of Zwingli’s! I see, I see. Not that familiar with this unsung hero so will be on Jim’s site for quite awhile!
Hurry, hurry over to Jim’s site. 🙂