Some lives are tragic, some ridiculous. Most are both at once.
Edward AbbeyRead
Those of us raised in the Christian tradition need to choose to either see God in Jesus or to continue to let the Bible define God. Our tradition says that Jesus is God. Maybe we should act as if we think he is instead of worshipping a book. Maybe we should be brave enough to admit that we are compelled to either become blinded ideologues or we need to forthrightly pick and choose what we follow in the Bible. Most Christians do that anyway, many just don’t admit it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of personal belief in Jesus over strict adherence to biblical texts.
In this quote, Frank Schaeffer argues that individuals raised in the Christian faith should choose to perceive Jesus as the embodiment of God rather than solely relying on the written scriptures. He suggests that many Christians selectively interpret the Bible according to their beliefs, and encourages a more authentic relationship with God through Jesus, rather than just worshipping the text itself.
Themes
JesusBibleBeliefFaithReligionChristianityInterpretation
In practice
Example use cases
During a church discussion about faith, this quote can be used to encourage open dialogue on personal beliefs.
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