On misquoting the Bible for personal political advantage

[lees1975]

https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2023/02/on-psalm-1088-10-and-using-bible-to.html

Taking it out of its context to apply it for use as a prayer against the sitting President of the United States is the kind of misuse of scripture that most Evangelicals consider to be blasphemy of the inerrant, infallible written word of God. And for a Republican member of Congress to use it as a prayer against President Biden is no less blasphemy than it would be if it pertained to anyone else. I've seen this same psalm reference printed out on a business card with the words "Pray for Clinton, Psalm 108:8." That is misuse of scripture, and shame on the Evangelical Christians who have enjoyed it as some kind of joke, or took it seriously. By their own definition, that is blasphemy.

To do something like this is anti-Christian. Yes, that's exactly what I said, and meant, it is anti-Christian.

[summer_in_TX]

1. Anti-Christian and Anti-Christ.

The heresy behind the Televangelical RW Nationalist Church is riddled with evil.

Boebert is just one exemplar of that.

[packman]

2. No matter the issue - one could ALWAYS find a Bible quote

to either support or contradict a message - that's been the driving force for all those TV evangelical con men.

[lees1975]

3. There are people who know when quotes are taken out of context, but part of the "system"

Evangelicals have built into their self-justification is a literal, verse-by-verse interpretation that most Christians think is the right way to interpret the Bible. The evangelical "con men" are everywhere and they're after the money they're given. Figure out the code words and the flaws are easy to find. Boebert is really just a follower, she's uneducated and ignorant and spouts the catch phrases for her political benefit. They claim the Bible is inerrant and infallible, but they don't want their followers to know that its not a verse by verse book of literal commandments. It's all about the money.

Among the Evangelical conservative community, there's a former megachurch pastor from Georgia who was credibly accused of sexual assault. He admitted to the conduct, claimed it was consensual which is the standard abusers line, and within a year, got four good buddies to take him through an unbiblical, unsanctioned "restoration" process. Why would he go back? He's now filling pulpits and on the conference leading circuit because he has three mortgages to pay, including a Florida beach house. He has zero credibility but they're touting him as a "great preacher" as if nothing at all happened.

[Wonder Why]

4. More so-called (read FAKE) Christians that quote the Old Testament but not

the teachings of Christ in the New Testament.

Two Commandments in the New Testament:
Love God
Love your neighbor as yourself.

They sure as hell hate their neighbors so how can they call themselves Christians.

[Igel]

6. This was used in Acts concerning Judas Iskariot.

And in context, David asks that those things before his accusers. And the pronoun flips plural and singular, so often it's not clear who's intended.

And in most English-language Bibles, it's Ps. 109. Same versification. My Tanakh agrees.

My Russian Bible says it's Ps. 108.

[twodogsbarking]

5. Biden is doing a great job. Stick with that.

[Hortensis]

7. This misinterpretation wishes great evil on even the children of political opponents.

As you say. It's become an in-thing dog whistle among those red in tooth and claw. Because spoken so that all can understand, including most Christians, this joke doesn't go over well at all.

May his days be few; may another take his office.

May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.

May his children wander about and beg, seeking food from the ruins they inhabit.

No doubt some of the hecklers at last night's SOTU imagine the day coming when they can make it happen.