The Bible is often the most misquoted book in the world. More people have misquoted it than properly quoted it. I myself have been guilty of this but I don’t have my own religion, so I suppose God has forgiven me for it.
But here’s a few quotes that are often taken out of context as a means to further a pointless agenda:
- “Judge Not Lest Ye Be Judged Yourself” – This quote comes directly from Jesus and is often used to browbeat believers who protest sins such as sexual degeneracy. What Jesus was talking about was encouraging his followers to be righteous and upright themselves in order to judge others. But to this day, many people use that quote to justify their sins when faced with condemnation from others.
- “God is Love” – This quote always bothered me because if you read the section in 1 John where it is written, the context is much deeper. At its surface, this quote seems to indicate that God is an emotion and that His antithesis is hate. What this section is really saying is that God is the progenitor of love and not the sexual kind. I think newer translations should clarify this point. To this day, this line is used to justify sodomy. Also, God clearly hates the wicked so how can a being composed solely of love hate anything?
- “God helps those who help themselves” – This isn’t a Bible quote. It isn’t in any iteration of the Bible and is an evil quote. No, God does not make our lives easier nor is he a Pez dispenser handing out material goods, but that doesn’t mean He won’t help you in a way He sees fit.
- “Submit to the Governing Authorities” – When this quote is taken out of context, it is usually used by conservatives to tell others that rebelling against your country is a rebellion against God. But Paul wrote that line when he was in prison for preaching the salvation of man through Jesus. What Paul was really telling Christians was to submit to governing authorities within reason but to follow God’s Law and Will above man’s laws. Essentially, don’t rebel but don’t worship either.
- “When I was hungry, you fed me” – Spoken by Jesus and used to justify the ever expanding welfare state. What the Democrats fail to understand is that this quote was charging the individual with helping the poor whenever he can. In truth, the entire Welfare System is nothing more than a scam used to launder the tax dollars of the productive back into the corporate elites’ pockets.
That’s about all I can think of right now. I’m sure there are more quotes taken out of context but those are the ones that I hear about most frequently.