I like me some Bob Marley. For his music, not his theology. Shortly after I’d become a Christian and kicked the pot habit, I heard Marley say that the Bible says that God smokes marijuana. He even provided a Scripture verse to back it up! That caught my attention. I looked up the “proof text” and found this:
Smoke rose from his nostrils; consuming fire came from his mouth, burning coals blazed out of it. — Psalm 18:8 NIV
Either this proved God was a stoner or Mr. Marley’s ganja had gone to his head. Needless to say, I was rather deflated.
That’s when I first realized that Scripture can be used for just about anything.
In the ensuing years, I’ve heard so many Bible verses wrenched out of context and made to say something other than what their author/Author probably intended, that it was hard to choose just ten. Nevertheless, I humbly submit to you… the Ten Most Misused Verses in the Bible.
“God helps those who help themselves.” — Okay, so that’s not actually in the Bible.
“Touch not Mine anointed” I Chronicles 16:22. — A favorite verse of egotistical ministers who don’t like to be challenged.
“If My people who are called by My name” II Chronicles 7:14 — A prescription for instant revival.
“Train up a child in the way he should go” Proverbs 22:6 — A biblical guarantee that your kid won’t go bad.
“Wives, submit unto your husbands as unto the Lord” Ephesians 5:22 — The final word on all marital disagreements.
“All things work together for good” Romans 8:28 — What you tell yourself in hopes it doesn’t get any worse.
“The kingdom of heaven is within you” Luke 17:21 — Validation of your godhood.
“An eye for an eye” Exodus 21:23-25 — Proof that God’s a mean SOB.
“Money is the root of all evil” I Timothy 6:10 — Unless you don’t have enough of it.
“Judge not” Matthew 7:1 — A convenient way to repel any criticism… while judging the other person for judging you.
There you have it — a drove of distorted doctrine courtesy of the biblically bamboozled and exceedingly buzzed. Any mangled verses you’d add to this list?
1 Corinthians 14:33: “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
Useful for responding to people who explain scripture in its proper context and not the Americanized/Westernized version.
“For I know the plans that I have for you….to give you a future and a hope.”–Please pass the brilliantly successful career and the fat 401K!
Katy, are you the same Katy that I’m talking to on Rachel Held Evans’ thread about her theoretical gay child?
“Submit to those in authority.” We should let the government have its way with us.
There are actually quite a number of verses that Christians are to submit to the civil authorities–even if those authorities are not acting in a way we think is proper.
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.”
–Romans 13:1-2
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:”
–1 Peter 2:13-14
“Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,”
–Titus 3:1
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ”
–1 Timothy 2:1-3
“Then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.”
–2 Peter 2:9
Are all of these witnesses “out of context”?
Contrary to what is taught today, the Lord is to deal with the authorities. We are to submit to them as we do not know all the ways of the Lord.
I find this article so full of irony considering the appalling opinions in your last one regarding being gay and being Christian. Are not you mangling verse to suit your own beliefs in the ‘sinfulness’ of homosexuality. As far as I can see for every scholar out there who can show that ‘scripture’ is clear that homosexuality is a sin you can find another one to argue the opposite , I can only come to the conclusion that your certainty about this is more to do with a deep seated inability to deal with the the very idea of homosexuality in particular the Christian churches obsession with what some men do with their Dicks in relationships with other men. If we hung on to all the belief in the bible we would still be stoning people. You are not speaking in the spirit of christainity.
Except that the church (as well as pre-church tribal Israel) have both regarded homosexuality as sinful behavior for thousands of years…going all the way back before the first scripture was committed to paper.
Do you suppose that means something or, now that a few verses can be interpreted a different way because of their vagueness, that God suddenly changed His mind about it all? Which seems more likely to you?
Yes , you saying it don’t make it so. My point was that the view that homosexuality is a sin is not by any means a clear case , many people who know much more about the bible then I do disagree on the matter. You lot just like to push this angle. Its a sideline issue if anything, people do terrible things in the world and this aint one of them, Jesus talks about the real stuff, what men do in bed ain’t really on the agenda. Show me something that Jesus says about homosexuality.
That really depends upon the person. If the person is saved and Jesus is the Lord of their lives, then the question comes down to who you love more, you or Jesus? Who will you follow, your desires or God’s desires? If you’re speaking from an unsaved person’s pov, then not knowing Jesus is what will keep you from heaven. Jesus never said following Him would be easy. It’s a daily sacrifice.
what really depends upone the person? i don’t understand anything you just said really , Do you know what God desires? You know a lot.
I don’t know, there’s this big book that is, among many other things, a good outline of what God desires from mankind. And endlessly reinterpreting it to fit a social agenda doesn’t sound very bright. At all.
When the Bible is reinterpreted so that it can have “nothing” to say on homosexual conduct, or when one hides behind the absence of mentions of homosexuality in Jesus’s words while totally disregarding the unequivocal writings of Paul, it’s clear that person is abusing the Bible to fit the point they want to make. They’re not coming from a position of humility, opening it up to learn what it says. This approach is to be criticized and rejected, just like any (hypothetical) attempt to say the Bible has no condemnation against adultery or theft. It’s a far cry from singling out homosexuality as an “ultra-sin.” It’s one form among many of sexual immorality.
Saying “I can’t understand a word you just said” is just a way to write someone off, and a particularly obnoxious one. You know freaking well that she’s saying it depends on the person’s condition of salvation and their willingness to obey Him when He speaks.
How many factions are their under the heading of Christian that will have there own take on various parts of the bible ? The various churches have been reinterpreting the bible for centuries. the trouble is some people are arrogant enough to believe theirs is the right one. You only have to switch between the king james version to the new international ( american) version to get a different slant on things. I know a number of members of the clergy in the uk who do not consider Homosexuality a sin. You might not agree with them, all I am saying is that even amongst people who consider them selves christain there is not , as you might, like a consensus.
A blanket statement, and one with little to no argumentative power. Whatever other claims have been reinterpreted or contested, this particular issue (“Does the Bible list homosexual conduct as sinful?”) was either rarely or never questioned, until quite recently in a historical sense. Every time someone argues that’s not what the Bible says, the rationale offered for that claim has been incredibly suspect, such as “I personally feel that’s too intolerant,” or “it’s out of date,” or “Christians have sometimes been big meanies against the gay community.” It’s not based on a more faithful or accurate rendering of what the verses say.
If the Bible accurately conveys the moral commands of God to mankind, it doesn’t matter if someone tries to reinterpret it. The command still stands, and they’re guilty of adding to or taking away from God’s word. And since the Bible does indeed claim that such conduct is one form of sexual immorality, without leaving much wiggle room, centering your argument on differing interpretations is untenable.
“If the Bible accurately conveys the moral commands of God to mankind, it doesn’t matter if someone tries to reinterpret it. The command still stands, “
but you statement is full of assumptions, “the command that still stands” is someone’s interpretation
your talking as if you have a fixed point . Your point that you think is fixed its your reading of it,
how do you explain all the difference between the Christian groups about what the bible says?
“A fixed point” is exactly what the Bible is. The delivered words from an unchanging God to a fickle mankind. As a Christian that is the assumption I work off of. And yes, I have a way of reading it that is just one perspective, and I could be wrong about a lot of things. But it’s pretty clear that it regards homosexual conduct as a form of immorality. Trying to insist it could be interpreted another way undersells the directness of the statements, like they are vague Confucian proverbs. These verses do not fall under that category at all, and it makes the reinterpreters look desperate.
To equalize all interpretations of the Bible is not only intellectually lazy, it’s the ultimate form of equivocation. And it makes anything YOU say about the Bible immediately suspect, as well.
ok I can understand the idea of the bible being a fixed point for you, and you say its an assumption you work off, fine we all work off assumptions of various kinds otherwise we would never act.
You say quite fairly that you have a way of reading it which is just one perspective, fine but then jump to “it’s pretty clear that it regards homosexual conduct as a form of immorality” well its pretty clear to you but believe it or not its not pretty clear to a lot of other people and some of those other people are christians. So where does this put everyone ? I would say it puts us all in a situation where we need to be a little more modest in what we claim about god and who is a sinner and who is not. I would have more understanding if your jump was to, we should not steal, or kill . But no
you would rather get all worked up about someones sex life.
You ten say
“To equalize all interpretations of the Bible is not only intellectually lazy, it’s the ultimate form of equivocation”
I am not saying we equalize them , i am just arguaing against the position that just says it has the absolute right interpretation.
How is it getting “worked up” about someone else’s sex life when I argue a position on whether a certain activity is sinful? There’s a difference between minding one’s business and stating whether Scripture takes a negative position towards a certain action.
I care about correct interpretation about the Bible too, but in your case it seems no one can settle on anything. If I think someone has interpreted it wrongly, I shall say so, and have far less patience than I should with a back-and-forth discussion.
Regarding the correctness and solidity of my assumptions, I should probably leave it to others on this thread, who share them and can explain them far better than I.
“I would say it puts us all in a situation where we need to be a little more modest in what we claim about god and who is a sinner and who is not.”
Please forgive my “Ha.” comment below, I’m a bit grumpy (Monday morning). I do wonder why you are only referring to man parts in all yoru comments, but then again, it’s really not that important.
On to something more important.
The “fixed point” is that we are all sinners. It’s not about being more modest in the claim, it’s about helping people come to realize that they are sinners and that Jesus is the solution. Not just the homosexuals, but the liars, cheaters, murderers, gossips. (Add sarcastic half-wits to that. *Points finger back at self*.)
So you are saying that there is no way to objectively know the Word of God? This contradicts God’s Word itself. Any number of verses say we can know God by knowing His Word.
If there is confusion about what the Word of God clearly states about homosexuality (it’s a sin), the confusion is on the part of the reader, not the Bible.
Many people who wear the Christian label desire to sin. Not only that, they desire to sin and have their consciences soothed that their sin is not sin.
This is a recipe for perdition.
Who says it’s only about what men do with men anyway? Where’s the mention of what women do with women? I find this comment sexist. Ha.
Jessica you say
“it’s about helping people come to realize that they are sinners and that Jesus is the solution. Not just the homosexuals, but the liars, cheaters, murderers”
but don’t you think someone who is homosexual is going to feel a wee bit upset at being classed with liers cheats and murderers? i have a number of gay friends both men and women who feel that there sexuality is how they are , its them it is for them normal even if not for you. you may not agree with them but how are they supossed to feel about a christian classing themwith mrderers . You don’t think they might be Hurt by this?
They also beleive they cannot be other then they are as homosexuals, if they were a cheat they could stop cheating, but they cannot stop being homosexual.
“don’t you think someone who is homosexual is going to feel a wee bit upset at being classed with liers cheats and murderers”
Yes, I think it is going to be hurtful. But I’m not of the belief that the Bible exists to make me feel good. It’s a mirror that points out my faults. However, it simultaneously teaches me that the blood of Jesus can cover my faults, if I willingly accept His covering.
Under the protective covering, Jesus may begin to address a person’s homosexual desires. He may take them away. Or He may decide there is a more pressing issue in the person’s life that needs to be addressed first. How He goes about delivering a person from a bondage that feels innate is a mystery to me. I am incapable of explaining it or providing any sort of road map of the process. I just know He manages to do it. He’s God. He can do anything.
I am sorry but what you just said is bonkers , do yo know many people or have any friends who are gay? Your not talking about a ‘fault’ your talking about a whole part of ther very being , how would you like someone thinking your sexuality was afault which could just be removed. i had not realized this blogg was the hangout of fundamentalist christians, but it seems so.
“Your not talking about a ‘fault’ your talking about a whole part of ther very being.”
Prove it.
Yes, I have friends who are gay, and I love them dearly, and I will continue to do so. Unfortunately, due to the culture in which we live, it seems if I so much as question the “homosexuality is genetic” angle, I’m pinned as a hater or a “fundamentalist Christian” (as if that’s the worst slap in the face). Call me what you want. I refuse to be a lemming. I will speak the truth based on my observations. And the truth is, there *are* testimonials out there from people who once thought they were gay, but now realize they are not. If we’re all about embracing people’s personal truths, it has to go BOTH ways. (No, I’m not referring to bisexuality, I’m referring to accepting and being open minded to everyone’s experience, not just the experiences of those who further our own agendas.)
Honestly, I’ve pretty much removed myself from the homosexuality discussion because of the close-mindedness. I don’t know why I’m making an exception here. Believe what you want. Don’t try to force me to believe what you believe. Isn’t that what relativism is all about? Ooo. rah. Or is free speech not really free? (No, increasingly, it is not, at least not within the relativist ‘morality’ squad.)
(Apologies. I notice my Monday grumpies are showing through again. As well as my generalized social media fatigue. Hopefully you can look past that and focus on content. It’s nothing personal.)
But if they are your friends jessica , they will know your views on this , they will know that you beleive that if they carry on as practising homosexuals that they will go to Hell. I find it difficult to imagine a friendship on this basis.
“they will know your views on this , they will know that you beleive that if they carry on as practising homosexuals that they will go to Hell”
I never said this was my belief, Christopher.
I should have clarified this. I was just taken aback for a moment by the words you put into my mouth.
Those who have accepted Christ and are born again still sin *every single day*. The difference is, we are instructed to confess our sin and ask for forgiveness *every single day*. We recognize that every single day is a struggle against “the flesh” (as Paul calls it), and we are instructed to embrace that struggle rather than white-washing over our wrong-doings, no matter how small those wrong-doings are in the grand scheme. The Christian position is not that “homosexuals go to hell”. It is that people are all sinful, and those who have accepted Christ as their savior and mediator go to heaven.
Do I confess my sins every single day? No. I fall short. Does that mean Jesus is going to kick me out of heaven? No. Likewise, there is no clause in the Bible that says, “all born again Christians go to heaven except for homosexuals”. Any preacher who teaches that is WRONG and will be held accountable to God for their wrong teachings.
All that being said, I do believe there are legitimate cases of homosexuality with scientific roots and I believe there are legitimate gender identity issues that are medically based. I don’t think those cases are as common as 1 in 10 (or whatever the statistic is). However, I do think, as our food supply is increasingly tainted with pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, GMO’s, and the like, it wreaks havoc on the human body/endocrine system, which can mess with a person’s sexual identity. Not to mention the high prevalence of teenage depression, but I’ll stop there. Point being, I’m responsible for my own relationship with God and Christ. It’s not my responsibility to judge other people’s spiritual status and I have no interest in doing so.
so how are you being open minded to the experience of someone who says they are gay , belives thats the way god made them,? Your gay friends you mentions that you love so dearly, do you tell them that they should be , could be ,changed from being gay , and that this will save them from sin. Do you tell them this?
“Do you tell them this?”
No, I do not. It’s their life, not mine and it’s not my job to change them. Jesus said “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7).
If my friends have questions, the can ask with a willing heart and God will provide answers in His timing. If God wants to use to me to help them find the answers, I am willing to be used by Him and I will state my beliefs on the subject when asked. After careful soul searching, they feel their monogamous homosexual relationship is within God’s will, that’s their business not mine. (In a forum such as this, I state my opinion without being asked, because that’s sort of what it’s all about…throwing out opposing viewpoints, disagreeing, clarifying one’s own thoughts/arguments and such.)
“*If* after careful soul searching”
I mainly mention that its about men because thats mainly who religious groups have a problem with, male homosexuality. society has generaly been more willing to turn a blind eye to female homosexuality. To be crude its b the buggery that upsets people and thats mainly what its all about.
You can be gay it the church as long as you don’t ‘practice’ ie bugger anyone.
You would think they would have better things to think about.
Jesus did speak out against Homosexuality. He refereed to the Old Testament when he was condemning sexual immorality. In order to seriously claim their is doubt on homosexuality, you would also have to claim there is doubt on issues like adultury, beastiality, incest etc, just because Jesus did not specifically reference them when he talked about sexual immorality.
You start the sentance with “Jesus did speak out against Homosexuality” but do not say where? (No Where)
“He refereed to the Old Testament when he was condemning sexual immorality” sounds more plausable , but you just put this bit in because you had nothing to follow up with your first statement. You could still point to where he said that it would help you.
You then make an amazing jump in logic, that doubting one aspect of what a particular sector of christaians say, ie that homosexuality is a sin, means you are doubting a whole host of other stuff as well.
then you finish with “just because Jesus did not specifically reference them when he talked about sexual immorality.” a contradiction of your first satement. Hmmm
Christopher, do you honestly know that Jesus never defined normative husband/wife relationships as such, and defended the Old Covenant view of marriage? I suggest that you honestly read what Jesus said, and understand that homosexuality is by far not the only issue out there. There is more at stake than licentiousness. Read all that Jesus said, honestly, then come back and we can discuss it.
Yes Matthew have read the new testament but not everything , and I read the gospels frequently. I have never found statements by Jesus regarding this matter, maybe I am missing it. But look I don’t tell you what to go away and read, it rude and condescending. Enlighten me . You throw this out to deflect from what I say to you that’s all, why not just discuss the matter?
I know there is more at stake then licentiousness but I am not including homosexuality as licentiousness, I consider it to be one aspect of human sexuality. There are a re lareg number of homosexuals on this planet and it seems to me that if one group of people want to consider homosexuality a sin and class it with theft and murder they should have to justify that in some way other then telling people to go away and read the bible. But maybe your not actually up to it and are confused about it yourself?
Christopher, I’m sorry, I thought you were trolling ignorantly.
This may seem off topic, but what’s your favorite passage in the gospels?
The woman taken in adultery, my local gallery has a painting of this scene, which is my reminder of the passage , the passage sums up for me a lot of what I think christainity is about, but
at the moment I am paying more attention to the old testement and the song of soloman, have been trying to find ways to use it in an art piece that I was working on with someone.
“By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not.”
In fact I probably like it because it is art, and not instruction, it opens you up rather then closes you down to life.
I like the idea of being open to life, but where we would probably differ on is where we find this life. Is our life found in our circumstances—the life we experience when we are not asleep—or do we find our life in Jesus—life eternal?
As an artist myself, I understand the beauty and freedom that God has worked into his creation. We have so many good options in how we live and what we do. This created, material world is just as important as the immaterial world. I look forward to it’s renewal when all the hate and lust are taken away.
So until then, what do you do about the evil in the world? You know… not the evil that others do, but the evil that we do, the lusts and hates that live in our own hearts?
Matthew 15:19, Mark 7:21.
The audience at the time were Jewish. They would have known that the passages he was referencing were parts of the OT laws that dealt with sexual immorality which included references to homosexuality.
Thanks, Chris, for reminding me of another oft misused Bible verse:
“If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman… They are to be put to death” Leviticus 20:13 — Proof that Christianity is a back assward religion and that the accuser has not read all of it.
well i looked it up
“‘If a man has sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They are to be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads. ” is the new international version
“‘If a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surly be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.” king james version
if you can explain how reading all of it makes it look any better? would like to know
Read the whole Bible, that is.
thats a good point , and exactly that should be said when various quotes are dug up about homosexuality,
From what I understand of Mike and several other commenters on his blog, they not only have read the entire Bible, but read it regularly.
When you make comments about digging up quotes, you make yourself sound uninformed and petty at the same time. Just a heads up. 😉
If you really want to get honest respect from these guys instead of a sigh and an quick answer, read the Bible as regularly as Dawkins does. Then treat it with respect when you critique these guys. Take it for what it is. As Mike has been alluding to, while it does have certain verses that people like to quote, it covers a whole lot more.
This is a fact in any kind of discussion or debate. Matt is dead on with this advice. People critique without properly framing their questions, researching their arguments and resort to insult and disrespect to make up for their insufficient knowledge on a topic. It’s okay to disagree, but understand the facts, the myths, the homework and ettiquette that is required before getting into a lengthy discussion.
“Love the sinner; hate the sin.” — I can’t find this formulation anywhere in Scripture.
And since it seems to function as the modern-day mantra of licentiousness in the Church, which is used to effectively dismiss any and all behavior, perhaps there is a reason why it does not make an appearance.
Love this point, Jed.
It isn’t a verse. It is a condensing of many verses to reach a particular point.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Psalm 122:6
This phrase occurs in a psalm penned by King David, and yet it is often ripped out of context and even printed on bumper stickers, and put forth by Christian Zionist political groups to advance the political agenda of a secular nation-state and a government.
Christians should desire and pray for peace for all peoples and places, including for Palestine and Palestinians, for there is neither Jew nor Greek in Christ.
There is nothing I hate more than hijacking the Word of God for political purposes.
There is neither Gay nor straight in Christ
What’s with twisting the scripture to meet the agenda? Jed’s point is clear about what he’s discussing which is ‘Foriegn Politics’. Twisting the scripture cited does not suddenly bring any relevance to the topic of ‘Homosexuality’. It’s been discussed and now other topics should become a point of discussion without bending everything to revolve around a ‘pet’ issue. Learn something about debate ettiquette and proper response to a point before responding, please.
“All things work together for good” Romans 8:28
This is pretty much what keeps me going from day to day.
I don’t know. There are so many passages that people misuse. It’s hard to choose. The story Christ tells of Abraham’s Bosom is often used as a proof text for the Eternal Torment doctrine.
I don’t think Romans 8:28 belongs on this list.
How is Romans 8:28 misused?
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NASB)
There are people who take the “all things work together for good” to mean that in this life things will get better because that’s what God intends. It’s delusional, but it happens. God’s good purpose for our lives doesn’t mean that our lives will be good, or pleasant, or enjoyable this side of heaven. Our lives can be miserable, painful, full of sickness and sorrow this side of heaven, but to those who have accepted the salvation of God offered by grace through faith in Jesus Christ and who live their lives conformed to HIS purpose, God will make things work together for our spiritual good, but not necessarily our physical/emotional good on this side of eternity.
The people I run into who believe that this verse means that THIS LIFE will be good usually come out of some Protestant Pentecostal/Charismatic group, quite often from the so-called “Word of Faith” movement.
You’re actually adding words, a whole lot of them, in order to prove that this verse is misused. You’re stretching. Furthermore, your condescension is obnoxious. I would rather believe in God’s blessings than others’ cynicism.
I apologize that you feel I was being condescending. I meant no condescension at all. However, I have run into quite a few people, in and out of my own family, who have a misdirected belief that THIS LIFE must be good because God wants it to be good. One of the verses cited in support of that belief is Romans 8:28. Within this same group of people are some who believe that when my wife is not miraculously healed of her brain injury and consequent symptoms when they lay hands on her and pray for her, the problem must be HER lack of faith. They refuse to consider the idea that perhaps God has something greater in store for her in the life to come that is more important than restoring her ability to walk or to consider that maybe the healing they are praying for will happen in eternity, not in this life.
If it’s used by others as sort of a “there, there” when your suffering through something, it can be misused badly.
A fun thing to do is describe sports in the bible, like baseball (In the big inning) or tennis (David served in Saul’s courts), but here’s my real doozy misuse. Of course, I have to admit I’m the only one I’ve ever heard of misusing it this way: Ecclesiastes 11:3 “If clouds are full of water they pour rain upon the earth. Whether a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where it falls, there will it lie.” Biblical proof that no matter where you go, there you are.
Hey, Jonathan, those are pretty good. I got a chuckle out of them.
When my daughter was about 5 or 6, I used to mangle 1 Samuel 15:22 (To obey is better than sacrifice) intentionally by saying “It is better to obey than to be sacrificed.” One day in her Sunday School class, her teacher asked each student to tell their favorite Bible verse. My daughter did, and proudly told me about it afterwards. Of course, I got an exceedingly strange look from the Sunday School teacher that day. 🙂 I explained it to her, but I think she looked at me from then on as having a screw (or two) loose upstairs. 🙂
“If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” John 14:14
Proof that God is a prayer-operated slot machine.
“By his stripes [or “wounds” in other translations] you are healed” Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 2:24
More than a few idiots (and that’s about as polite as I can be) have used this to justify telling my wife that she should be healed, get up out of her wheelchair and walk (which would also require that God restore the portion of her brain that has been surgically removed), and since she can’t get up out of her wheelchair and walk, it must be her lack of faith that is the problem.
“Oh, ye of little faith” Luke 12:28
“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed” Luke 17:6
Misused in a huge number of ways to justify just about anything in the so-called “Word of Faith” movement and other similar groups/movements in Protestant Christianity.
“What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.” Romans 6:15
I like to use this verse for those who like to believe that since they are saved, they can sin and be as vile to their hearts desire. They honestly believe that by claiming Christ crucified without becoming a new creature and forsaking/casting out the “old man”, they can have the best of both worlds: continue dancing with the devil and still get into heaven, but, Romans 6:15 says different.
“God helps those who help themselves,” is a Joan of Arc quote, isn’t it? Along with, “Act and God will act,” and “Work, and God will work with us.”
Not in the bible, but there’s a lot of truth to it.
If you can help yourself, including getting yourself in heaven, then why do you need God Jesus Christ Holy Spirit? The Holy Bible is all about man needing God Jesus Christ Holy Spirit. The Old Testament proves that man can’t even keep himself sin free. We desperately need God Jesus Christ Holy Spirit to get into heaven and day to day. We can’t live without Him.
You’re taking it too far. The saying simply means that you can’t sit around and expect God to live your life for you. He might lead you to the love of your life, but you’ll have to work up the courage to ask her out first.
In context, (if I’m remembering correctly) Joan was speaking to the would-be King, who was afraid to march through enemy territory so that he COULD be crowned. God had already told Joan that the King would be crowned, but clearly this wouldn’t happen unless the King TRUSTED God and actually made an effort to help himself.
Later the saying, “Work, and God will work with us,” was said to encourage her soldiers to do what seemed to them an impossible task. She’s essentially telling them to do their best and God will do the rest.
It’s easy to find targets to hit. It’s fun when blogs like this offer something that we can universally get behind and mock. But let us remind ourselves, even as we are having our fun—we too have a limited understanding of the Bible. We need Jesus’ constant work in our hearts, opening up His word and changing us in the light of it. May we look to Him.
Ok, now back to your regularly scheduled show. 😉
Who’s mocking whom? It isn’t mockery to point out that people misuse the Bible all the time to further their agendas, whether these agendas be of personal, political, or religious natures. It’s good to be self-aware, and to be aware of the way others operate.
Perhaps “mock” is too strong a word. Perhaps I should have said… I don’t know what. It was a quick thought, probably as poorly thought through as this response. And yet, I think there’s a nugget in there. It’s easy to point out people who have a limited view of the Bible, and yet we might find it more profitable to look at our own limited views and seek to know the Bible greater, and to know God more. As much as we can in this life.
While I see yet another uncomfortable, long discussion about the sins of other people (why do we keep doing this? What is accomplished?) I don’t see much mockery.
Yes, that’s precisely what I was thinking, Katherine. As I mentioned to Jill above, we can easily point out deficiencies in others (especially a certain breed of “Christian” who knows less of Christ and more of easily quoted slogans), and yet do we know Jesus as we ought to know him? I know I don’t! This has been a good reminder that I should dig deeper into God’s word and to seek Him with more abandon.
One process–critiquing the words of others–doesn’t negate studying God’s word and seeking after Christ. There is no binary in this discussion. And, aside from that, who is pointing out deficiencies in others? I don’t know that any one group was targeted by the blog author or the respondents (except, perhaps, the person or two up above who mentioned the Word of Faith movement, which DID tick me off). When Christianity is reduced to one-liners, it is often misused, and it’s misused in ways that harm others and suppress truth. It’s beneficial to rethink these one-liners w/o pointing fingers.
I think you are right. Slogan Christianity can be a dangerous beast. 🙂
Just trying to bring up something the conversation was missing. I could have phrased it better…..
Oh, sorry, I cross-posted with you.
No problem. 🙂
And maybe I should clarify: I thought this was a very good conversation, especially the way Mike couched it. He used generic language, not pointing his fingers at anybody, to show, for example, that husbands can misuse the “submit” verse to always win arguments with their wives. Others responded likewise. It didn’t turn annoying until it got personal, pointing the finger at specific groups and calling others’ faith delusional. But it’s just as annoying when somebody pulls out the “let’s all be nice to others and focus on our own faults” card. Sometimes it’s healthier to not shut up and, instead, have a conversation, even when people begin pointing fingers.
Yes, I think that Mike did a great job at presenting the topic. I like the way he brings these up. They’re usually very interesting and allow for some good discussion. I didn’t mean to detract from the rest of the really good discussion that was going on. Kind of a good reminder, at least that’s what I’m using it as. I get so caught up in my own life. It’s good to have these reminders. I need them!
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” (John 8:7) — Used to pretty much shut down any conversation.
Next time if this unique topic comes up, I’m going to pipe in and simply say, “Yes, many people do not really read the Bible, and operate only on cliches, which they weave together to create some kind of moralistic worldview. Which reminds me, I should examine myself and make sure I am reading my Bible thoroughly and not merely moralizing.” Speaking of which, I think I’ll go read my Bible. 😉 Have a good night guys!
Matthew, I’ve got to hand it to you. You’re practicing what you preach in returning kind comments to my less kind comments.
Jill, I must not be getting enough sleep, because that just brought tears to my eyes. Thank you. It’s only by God’s grace. He’s a kind Lord isn’t He?
On a related note, “Blessed are the peacemakers” gets misused a lot to shut down people. “Suffer not a witch to live” is the ur-example though, as it almost always gets misused by people who don’t get that we aren’t supposed to do those things under the New Covenant.
We’re not? Oh, NOW you tell me.
🙂
Incorrect: ‘Money is the root of all evil.’
Correct: ‘Money is A route to a all evil.’
Biblical misuse and cliches are man’s way of making God’s Word into a fable.
I Chronicles 4:9-10, otherwise known as “The Prayer of Jabez.” A whole book was written on these two verses. Lots of “prosperity gospel” and “vain repetitions” promoted by it.
Everybody should be ashamed of themselves I mean everybody speaks as though they was there when it was written sounds like you all are idiots to me and need to write your own bibles I don’t know what it means but I would have to have original bible and the person who actually wrote it to really believe what it means this stuff like this goes to show how many people need to get a life you guys did not write it u r stupid
Everybody should be ashamed of themselves I mean everybody speaks as though they was there when it was written sounds like you all are idiots to me and need to write your own bibles I don’t know what it means but I would have to have original bible and the person who actually wrote it to really believe what it means this stuff like this goes to show how many people need to get a life you guys did not write it u r stupid that’s funny it said a duplicate was a comment and yet I never posted a first one