5 ways Christian fundamentalists completely misread the Bible. Right-wing Evangelical Fundamentalism claims to “go back to roots of Christianity.”
In fact, the “literal” (i.e. the earth was created in seven literal days) reading of the Bible was invented in the 19th century. Few fundamentalists care about the early church, the Gospels, the Catholic traditions, Augustine, Arian heresies, encyclicals and councils. Rather, they blend Southern Conservatism, bastardized Protestantism, some Pauline doctrine, gross nationalism and a heavy dose of naive anti-intellectualism for a peculiar American strain of bullshit. As Reverend Cornel West has noted, “the fundamentalist Christians want to be fundamental about everything, except ‘love thy neighbor.’” Here are some verses we liberal Christians wish they would get “fundamentalist” about: 1. The verse: When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.
Why Fundamentalists Hate This Verse: 2. 20 Jesus quotes right-wing Christians will hate. Conservatives keep nattering on and on about how much they love Jesus Christ, whom they view as their “personal” Savior.
But when you read the following 20 quotes from the New Testament, you’ll wonder what Bible they’re reading. Dictionary.Com defines the word “Christian” as people who follow Jesus Christ’s teachings (unlike American conservatives) or at least have something to do with Him: Chris·tian [kris-chuhn] adjective 1. of, pertaining to, or derived from Jesus Christ or His teachings: a Christian faith. 2. of, pertaining to, believing in, or belonging to the religion based on a the teachings of Jesus Christ: Spain is a Christian country. 3. of or pertaining to Christians: many Christian deaths in the Crusades. 4. exhibiting a spirit proper to a follower of Jesus Christ; Christlike: She displayed true Christian charity. 5. decent; respectable: They gave him a good Christian burial.
So, a Christian is a person who tries to act like Jesus Christ or at least follow His teachings? Jesus Mandate: Peace and Stewardship. (Image: Jared Rodriguez / t r u t h o u t; Adapted: Termin8er, Reto Stöckli / NASA)Modern biblical scholarship has enabled critically thinking Christians to understand what the historical Jesus actually said and what was tacked on later to serve the interests of Rome and early church leaders, but those original messages remain politically inconvenient today.
We now have the best biblical scholars ever, academics who have developed research tools that amaze me and offer a very good handle on what Jesus said and what he did not say as well as the cultural, historical, religious and social context in which he lived and taught. With what I now know, I find it impossible ever again to see Jesus with a sword in his hand or in possession of a protective shield. The Jesus that I meet in the Gospels is a man of peace, who gently nudges me toward non-violence. Love and kindness are the ways of Jesus.
Jesus taught his disciples (and us) to pray that the kingdom of God might come to earth. Modern biblical scholarship has enabled... Mother Teresa: Goodness is Between you & God. What Does the Bible Say About Charity? OpenBible.info Geocoding Topical Bible Realtime Bible Search Labs Blog What does the Bible say about ?
61 Bible Verses about Charity Acts 20:35 ESV / 234 helpful votes In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Don't be Greedy & I will not forsake you. Don't close your heart to the poor. Don't close your eyes to the poor. Don't be yoked by the dark. Don't trumpet your charity. Empty Well Wishes. Enclaves, gentrification, forts. False christians. False profits. Forgive. Give proportionatly. Give sinceerly. Help the weak. Just give & Lend. Love Never Ends. Love your neighbor. "Money is the root of all evil" Peace & Love. Reconciliation. Sharing (Charity & The Bible)
The Golden Rule. Visit the Poor & The Widows. You can'ttake it with you. You get back what you put out. You cannot serve god and money. What shall a man give in return for his Soul. Christianity. Ethics. Christians In Name Only. Perverting Relegoin. Relegion & Ethics. Relegion & Ethics. Charity.