I understand that there are those who love to use the scriptures out of context. It remindes me of those people who use high-heel shoes to drive nails when they can’t find a hammer. Funny to look at, but basically sad and exasperating.

For myself, I know that the Holy Bible is truth. It does not activate alarms for me. Instead, it brings comfort, guidance, and reassurance. I suppose that puts me in the category of the truly blessed.

With me, it’s because I’ve had it used as a weapon. On me. Never mind what’s right or wrong, just bury your opponent in Bible quotes and crow in triumph over his grave. (See the first entry on this comment thread for some of the attacks that use Bible verses as ammunition.) After years of getting hammered like that, you start looking on “God’s Word” as “The Party Line, Comrade”. (See the recent IMonk post “I’m Not On This Bus” for some of the Party-Line buses in the terminal.)

Also, you get Christians who use rote memorization and “rewordgitation” as a substitute for thinking. Or out of laziness; why put energy into thinking for yourself when you can quote a proof text? You see this tendency carried to the max in Jihadi Islam; “Gagdad Bob”s blog once speculated that we were to jam on the Bible like a jazz musician instead of rewordgitating it like the Koran. (But then, Gagdad Bob’s really philosophical and really strange.)

As a result, when somebody “backs up their comments with scriptures”, a big red alarm starts going off in my head.

I must say I’m impressed that so many responses are positive and I must agree… we are to live by example and do our work as if doing it for the Lord, no matter what that work is. God, being sovereign, provides work for us to do, so get busy and do it the best you can.

Those who feel it necessary to theorize and chatter concerning God’s take on any effort that requires action are probably starving for His word and they should be fed, but they need to be feeding themselves.

One’s relationship with God is a personal thing. If you want God to speak to you, read His word… it will. Having someone else read it to you should only be necessary if you can’t read. Besides that, preaching to someone who doesn’t want to hear will do no good. Only those who want to know will listen and God will bring them to you. Those are the ones you should encourage.

Do you think anyone reads this website that’s not interested in God?

I would back up my comments with scriptures, but I noticed no one else does that. Why not?

That is my whole point. If God IS God, then what option do I have but to let God be God. God does not hack through the door of my heart with an ax. God knocks at my door, usually in a distressing disguise. What pleases God is to love us. What pleases God even more is when we return this love and when we love each other in the way Jesus taught us. Because God loves us he leaves the returning bit up to us, respecting the freedom necessary to bring about God’s ultimate purpose in our lives and in the world as a whole.

By me being me, I don’t mean doing whatever I want. Even though I am a Catholic, I am an Augustinian and know that left to my own devices I am in trouble. My main point is I am not going to waste time worrying determinism of any sort, be it scientific or theological determinism (see above).

I think it was also Augustine who wrote: “Love God and do what you want.” That is not an antinomian sentiment.

But the one poster above should know that you can’t be a barista and a Christian!! Who is discipling that poor fellow?!

I hired a carpenter to redo my bathroom. He spent most of his time talking….and talking…and talking. He runs up hours over twice what they should be (quote of 3 weeks, finished in 8). He match had to match his quote. He went broke.

Next guy does not talk and meets or exceeds his budget. He stays in business.

Who says Darwin doesn’t have his uses?

Also on a related note, my firm made a practice of not renting any equipment to any organization that began with the word “Christian” or ended in “Church.” They almost never paid their bills, or if they did, it was never on time. They always expected you to give it to them eventually as a “donation.”

So they we did not deal with them either. So your examples are really not far from reality. In fact, they are waaay too close.

ron

ron