Is it wrong for me to pick & choose passages from the bible?

Question

I'm a new follower of christianity, and I want to ask a few questions:

I like to pick out the stuff from the bible which makes me feel superior to others, and believe that god really meant those things. You know, gays are immoral, non-christians burn in hell, women should stay silent in church, etc.

But I completely disregard the parts I find inconvenient. You know, like the parts where Jesus says that slavery is A-okay, that divorce is immoral, doing any work on the sabbath is a sin, and that I shouldn't shamelessly use my religion to just make me look good.


I know that I'm just picking & choosing whatever is convenient for me.

Is this wrong?
Or am I doing what christians are supposed to be doing?

(I'm following the example of all of the christians I know, but something doesn't seem right about this.)

please advise.

Answer 1

No it sounds great. I like to do the same thing.

Answer 2

The WORST thing you can do is to follow what other Christians are doing. What is right for them is not right for you and vice versa. Faith is an INDIVIDUAL manifestation of your personal beliefs.

You can't pick & choose from the Bible, because you are missing the whole point of it. There are hundreds of passages that if taken by themselves, have a vastly different meaning than what they were meant to convey if the entire chapter were to have been read.

The Holy Bible is as far as I am concerned a GUIDE for living the most holiest life you can humanly live. That being said, Jesus walked amongst the "sinners". He even turned down an invitation for dinner with some high ranking citizens so he could have the opportunity to save souls when He dined with the "sinners". Don't mind me, I don't quote Scripture, I just remember Bible stories.

The only example that you should follow is the Lord Jesus Himself - watch Him, seek Him, pray to Him for guidance and to help you become a better Christian - I do constantly.

Being a Christian is not a matter of convenience - in fact it is darned inconvenient being one, but I would not trade my faith in the Trinity for all of the riches, fame, success and glory in the world.

The "something doesn't seem right" is the Lord speaking with you He knows the stuggle you are going through, speak with him directly - He will get you through this and will guide you!

Answer 3

Its good to be a follower in Christ, anytime that you would like u can pick up verses from the Bible, this is something that your own spirit saw and acknowlege as straight, or...whatever u need at that moment, thats why u remembered it, and it seemed different. re-write it, keep on reading it, and God shall b with you all of the time, anytime, 4ever.
Gays are not to be judged, we are not the one to judge; non-Christians are not to be judged, you are getting judged by ur soul, if its good, loving, holly or bad, angry, evil.
Women are not to be judged of silents, the church is a place that everyone can express their opinion, everyone that go to church are there because of Christ, they are praying, to God, Women are no different than men, and a message can be passed through a woman, no one should be silent, or be judged of silence.
Divorces are not to be judged, (example: if a man is beating to his wife, almost close to death, and the wife decides to get a divorce, she is in her whole right to do so, there is nothing wrong in the eyes of God, because someone was mistreeted that doesn't mean they should suffer). Yes its written in the Bible that on the Sabbath no one should work, and that, that is a sin, well this is the Old Testament, if you are a new beliver, start reading the New Testament, this is the time that Jesus came, its a totally new beginning, follow what is written in the New Testament you will go very far spiritually. Think about it, if that is counted as a sin, that does mean that no grosory shop should be open, no store should be open, no hospital should be open....etc. aren't all of these things, things that we need especially in the weekend, for shopping, for food, God forbid but if someone needs to go to the hospital....etc.
Don't judge, if you are not ready for judgment.

Just know that if u have chosen to talk with Jesus, there are no religions, NONE, religion is a man made word that is separating different ppl with the same Faith and Belives, for..........whatever reasons (from money to Glory to.....God knows what) and all of these things should be given to God, no to the benefit of a human beening.

Yes its not preferable to pick & choose what is convenient for you, you have choosen to walk to path of God, (God is awarding you for that one), what is written in the Bible it what it is. it shouldn't be added or removed from it. The Bible is your Spiritual Guide in life.
Do as much as you can 2 follow, what Christians are suppose to be doing, not what ppl with Christian religion are.

God says: "I'll never leave you or forsake you." he will always b next to you, no matter what. it is us that sometime choose to walk away from God out of shame, Don't, its pointless, its another way for the devil to trick you.

Have a great journey with Christ, indeed its amazing, nothing alike it. be Blessed, you, your family and everyone around you. Know that what God has to say about Himself, is not the same of what ppl has to say about Him. everyone has a different experience in Christ, and different purpose.

:)Enjoy itO:-)

Answer 4

Hello, Some thoughts: 1) Certainly since those ancient times, secular states have taken over the Christian world and they call the shots on law making. 2) These laws fitted in with the context of the survival and proliferation of the tribes of those times and there were reasons for them. Though the laws are bad and abhorrent to me here today,I don't judge them by our standards today but by the standards of their times. 3) I don't come into the world knowing the bible literally. Like most people I had to learn initially from what other knowledgable people had to say who had studied it all their lives and hence take their comments into consideration. As an analogy, thats why people only listen to expert lawyers and judges in interpreting even a simpler document like your constitution and tend not to listen to you or me. Cheers, Michael Kelly

Answer 5

It is OK, but you should be sure to also quote the overall context in which the Bible verse occurs. Else you might be presenting misleading info. Politicians do this all the time; and you don't want to emulate them.

Many times the Bible speaks in parables and in language which may have a different meaning from what it appears to present. You must be careful that you are sure what the Bible verse you are quoting really means.

There are two main commandments which Jesus refers to that are more important than any others. Theses are Love God and love you fellowman. You can't go wrong quoting these verses, and doing what theys say.

Answer 6

In general, I see nothing wrong with taking inspiration from the uplifting, instructive, and moral passages of any book and disregarding the boring, nonsensical, irrelevant, outmoded, silly, or immoral passages. But not for the purpose of simply making oneself feel superior to others. You're right that too many Christians do this, though certainly far from all. Hopefully this will inspire some to examine their lives more closely.

Answer 7

As your relationship grows you will learn to love people right where they are. even yourself!! We are to love with the love of Christ. I try to only advise or search certain scripture when asked by a non-Christian or new believer. Most Christians are stuck on rules and dos and donts. We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. We are judged by our hearts and the intent of our actions and words. Just remember, the Bible also says that he who is without sin cast the first stone. I also try not to let religion get in the way of my relationship. (it's about your personal relationship with Christ--not religion)

Answer 8

The Christians you know are not following Christ if that is what you're being taught...Time to be led by the spirit of God!

That is not the example that Christ demonstrated.
Christ was born in humility, Christ did not judge, His message was love, Christ worked on the Sabbath, as He said: He is Lord of the Sabbath....And if Christ wanted himself to look good His pride would of kept him from being crucified.

Answer 9

The Bible warns us not to feel superior (proud) compared to other people, because Pride comes before destruction.
Or that you find in the day of Judgment that you are not able to stand yourself (you are declared unworthy to enter Heaven).

We are to be of a humble spirit, for it is not we that have made our selves (name any good traits you have here), but it is God who has kept us and strengthen us to be as good as we are; it is God's righteousness, not ours!

Being a follower of God is not all about feeling good about ones self, it is doing ALL that God wants of us (and there will be times of rejoicing - in this life and the world to come).

Answer 10

A verse totally by itself, even just a part of a verse, can impart great meaning to a reader who will listen and obey it -- it can either tell you what you are doing wrong or it can provide comfort in times of distress, etc. HOWEVER, rarely will it give you a message for others!


And always on dangerous ground when you take a text out of context and use it as a pretext!!

Answer 11

Ok...let me ask this

Would it be wrong to pick and choose parts of a recipe if you were making a cake?
If you left out important parts of it, would have a cake?....probably not

If you leave out parts of the scripture, would you have a proper Christian?......probably not