“The Bible says this and the Bible says that…”

Posted on July 7, 2011 by theoldadam

Under Arrest by Greater Manchester Police

I hear so many tortured (and torturing) souls quoting the Bible as to “WHAT WE MUST DO”  that it is enough to make one lose their lunch.

Whether it’s comments on this blog, or preachers on the radio or t.v., or blog post on other Christian blog sites…or wherever.

Biblicism robs and destroys assurance and freedom.

 “Sure the Bible says that  we are saved by grace through faith, not of works lest anyone should boast, but over here in 2nd Philopians 7, it says that YOU MUST EXAMINE YOURSELF AND SEE IF YOU ARE REALLY SAVED OR NOT!!!!

Well, are you living on that thin margin of income and donating (TAX BREAK!) the rest to the poor? Visiting the prisoners in the jails and prisons? OF COURSE YOU ARE!!! JESUS told us to do as much… so if you aren’t doing it, and doing it with a pure heart with no begrudgement, then YOU HAVE FAILED the test. Maybe you really aren’t a Christian after all. Maybe you are nothing but a self-deluded backslider, who talks a good game, but really only “sacrifices” for the neighbor when it is convenient and won’t put too much of a dent into the pile that you are amassing for yourself and your own family.

Are you a Biblicist?  Do you like to throw Scripture verses around to fit into your neat and tidy view of the Christian life and your own sanctification project, and to lord it over others who are not quite as “good” as you are?

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Thanks to flickr and  Greater Manchester Police, for the photo.

 

 

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Filed under: Bible Thumpers, Sanctification | 30 Comments »

Just a quick question…

Posted on April 13, 2011 by theoldadam

Pride by Bryce Fields

 

…for all those Christians who are constantly prodding people to be better Christians by living up to God’s law (citing whatever law verses from the Bible they happen to be using that day – there’s plenty of them)…

anyway…

 

here’s the question…

‘How are ‘you’ doing, when it comes to whatever it is you are telling people that they should be doing a better job of doing?’

 

Hmmm?

 

I’m not kidding.  I really want to know.  I want you to look honestly at yourself and answer that question.  

Go ahead, if you’ve got the guts to.

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Thanks to flickr and Bryce Fields for the photo.

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Filed under: Bible Thumpers, Judging others, The Law | 30 Comments »

Overbearing Christians

Posted on June 5, 2008 by theoldadam

You know the type.

Always ready with an outward act of piety to show others just how serious thCrazy born-again Christianey are about God. Always ready to ‘talk someome into’ becoming a Christian with irrefutable evidence.  Always ready to beat someone over the head using the Bible as a bludgeon. Always ready to make you feel inferior. Always ready to scare someone into heaven with the threat of hell. Always ready with the list of do’s and dont’s. Always ready to look down on people, so that they might be looked up to.

Know anybody like this?   I do.   Me.  

 Yes, I guess there have been times when I have engaged in all of the above. And now I often wonder just how much damage I did to the would-be believer. I wonder just how far my zealous efforts went towards hardening the hearts of those I was pressuring. I wonder how much different it might have been if I had just looked for an opportunity, in a time of pain for that person, to tell them that I know how they feel, that I too experience those hurts and sadnesses in my life. But that there is one who came to heal this pain for them, and that He loves them and died for them. And just leave it at that.

No carefully crafted pitches or speeches. No pie charts or graphs to size up the credits and debits of a relationship with Christ. No coaxing them into making some decision that might only leave them with a false sense of security.  Just a simple word of promise to a person in need.

And then later, a prayer that the Lord will use my poor words to accomplish His purposes in the life of that person and by His mercy and grace He might grab a hold of that heart and make it His own.

                 – Steve Martin

Filed under: Bible Thumpers | 23 Comments »