Adding To or Taking Away

Revelations ends with a dire warning:

I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. – Rev 22:18-19, NIV

I think we often add to or take away from the things people say and the questions that people ask. It’s kind of like that Intent to Misunderstand, it just works slightly different. We read into what someone says because we added some of what we think to what they were really saying. Or we take away those things we disagree with so that we can more easily formulate our answer or so we can continue to discuss without addressing things that are uncomfortable to us. Ever done this to someone? I have.