I can quote the Bible so I am right

     There is an older Internet meme, copied on The West Wing, involving an alleged letter to           Dr. Laura about quoting the Bible. It is clever and funny and asks Dr. Laura such questions as "How much can I sell my daughter for?" and 'if I can only have slaves from neighboring countries, does that apply to Canada as well as Mexico'? Clever indeed, all the while quoting the scripture passage which sanctions such behaviour and poking fun at Bible quoting religious zealots who apparently have little knowledge about true faith and true love. 

      Anyone can quote the Bible, cherry pick verses for their own agenda and never actually be a true Christian or a good person. Case in point here is Satan who seems to have a handy knowledge of scripture to test Jesus with while trying to have our Lord betray all he stands for and kneel down before the subservient Satan.  

      I wonder how many of us use scripture to bend God's will to ours?  Be that as it may the truth here is not found in quoting scripture passages. As I said anyone can do that, it proves nothing at all without action. It's those great commandments that will get you every time.  Who cares how learned you are about anything in this entire world unless you love God with your whole heart and love your neighbor as yourself?  Everything is based on that. To go off quoting scripture for your own end is a falsity from the get go.

       Scripture passages, like ancient customs and pious traditions are fine to enrich your faith but they are not unto themselves, faith. We need always to put things into perspective and always have love at the heart of every action.

      Now,  let's go stone some hunky football players for touching pigskin on the sabbath. Sunday football indeed!

       

Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written,

“One does not live by bread alone,

   but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’

Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written,

“He will command his angels concerning you”,

   and “On their hands they will bear you up,

so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’ 

Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour; and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

“Worship the Lord your God,

   and serve only him.” ’ 

Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.