Monday, May 17, 2010

Scripture.

I find that I have a very visceral reaction to people who quote Scripture: I immediately dislike them.

When a person quotes from the Bible, I tend to think to myself, Oh dear, please stop being such an insufferable, sanctimonious prick. You judge people as much as anyone else, only you sound arrogant in your humility.

I suppose there is nothing intrinsically wrong with quoting Scripture. The problem is that people cannot do it without sounding horribly pretentious. More problematic is that it's nearly always done in a hypocritical manner. The judgmental adulterer tells us to let he without sin cast the first stone. Et cetera, et cetera, ad nauseum.

Another part of my problem may be that many (if not most) people who quote Scripture do not know what they're talking about. Many so-called Christians cannot name the four books of the Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John). Many so-called Christians cannot name the first five books of The Old Testament (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy). And yet they're super-awesome at telling me that I should examine the log in my own eye rather than looking upon the speck in my brother's eye.

Regardless of why I have such a visceral reaction, I do. I cannot stand to be around those who quote the Bible or those who assert that they live and breathe the teachings of Christ, thereby refusing to judge people, all the while judging those who are not nearly as pious as they.