Why do (some) Christians say "it's in the Bible" when it is not?

Question

I've noticed a number of claims of things that are in the bible that ARE NOT. Usually these claims are being made by Christians....

What is the reason for this?

Have they not read the bible (...then where do they get their claims?)
Do they think non-Christians haven't read the bible (...then why do they tell us to?)
Is there another secret Bible only Christians have with things like the definition of marriage being ONE man and ONE woman (unlike the characters in the Bible) or life begining at conception not at the first breath, or other biblical claims that aren't biblical?

Why are they allowed to cherry pick to support their political agendae?

And I'm not even talking about things that require a high degree of Biblical literacy, like knowing sin from the cleanliness code or understanding guestright.

An example:
The concept that marriage is between ONE man and ONE woman is not in the Bible....polygamy is all over the Bible.

Another example:
That Adam and Eve are the only people the Abrahamic god made.

That god's name is God.

That you can baptize children (indeed, that you can baptize others without their consent.)

Laptopclone-
The sin of Sodom is violation of Guestright. I specifically said that I was NOT discussing topics that required a HIGH DEGREE of Biblical literacy.

Barry-
Do you want a gay marriage or something? I didn't say anything about Gay marriage. The Bible can say all Christians should brush their teeth with bat urine for all I care as long as Christians weren't saying it wasn't there!

Moreth-
I've specifically left out several that are pet claims of some regulars.

Answer 1

I think they haven't read the bible and they think that if they haven't - non-believers haven't read it either

Answer 2

I fully understand your question. I have often wondered the same. The one that gets me even more though is how anyone can continue to follow the biblical god after they have read the bible.

The first commandment was enough for me. When you ask people what the first commandment is, they immediately roll off, "thou shall have no other gods before me". But when you ask them what the rest of the commandment is, 99.99999% will tell you, that is the whole commandment, when in actuality, that commandment is a curse on little children from things their great great grandfather did.

I can almost understand how something as powerful as a god would need to have its ego stroked by demanding everyone worship it. But I can not follow a god that damns little new born babies for something their great great grandfathers did.

All this talk of various things being taken out of context, or "that was in the old testament" don't hold water if you really read the whole thing.

It is about as far from showing a loving god as you can get.

Answer 3

I'm laughing because I've had this debate with my mother's new husband. While we are both Christian, I am very conservative and he is very charismatic.

There have been may times he has said...the Bible says, when I ask chapter and verse, he can never answer.

Once again..it goes to prove, please do not judge christianity based on us. Look to Jesus. We are imperfect sinners and we will dissapoint you everytime.

As far as polygamy....you know, I have really enjoyed the HBO series Big Love (specially cause my room-mate was raised morman and I can tease her), and I have asked the same question you just brought up. The best answer I have gotten was that sometimes God allowed the Jews some behavior that he did not find pleasing. That was the best answer.....most met the question with hostily when I meant it with none.

Maybe one of us should post it as a question.

Answer 4

Most of the time it is due to all authority figures telling them it is in the Bible. They never look for themselves as they assume what they have been told is true. Assume as in ***/u/me.

There are others who even when they are shown from an open Bible, the page and verse, refuse to accept what they have been told is a lie.

Still another reason is attitude. People with a haughty attitude will never get the proper sense of accurate knowledge of the Bible. Philippians 1:9-10 shows a proper attitude is necessary for getting accurate knowledge and discernment so we may make sure of the important things. Haughty people believe they know more and other people can't have anything worth their time. They will never know the truth.

Answer 5

I feel it's because a lot of people whether they be Christians, Muslims, etc, will go to worship service and hear a quote or hear something said from the pulpit and think it's from the Bible or Quran, when in reality it was a personal quote. Some don't read or study themselves in order to back up what they say. Read more people.

Answer 6

Encyclopaedic, your knowledge is. Does the Bible give an example of same-sex marriage? Where? It doesn't. It may give examples of a man with multiple wives, but not men with men, or women with women that are authorized by God. It is always portrayed as sin.

It is a Biblical fact that in Psalm 139, David says to God, "You covered me in my mother's womb... Your eyes saw my substance, yet being incomplete..." Tell me, how is that not a reference to God regarding an embryo as a substantive person? Would to God with our human eyes, we could see the substance of an unborn baby.

Answer 7

I think your examples are pretty poor, but that doesn't mean better ones don't exist.

A lot of people misquote, take things out of context, or just make things up, whether because they don't understand, are getting their information from others, or are trying to force their beliefs to work. Ignorance and hearsay are very dangerous, but I think the last one might be the worst, and it is a kind of ignorance. Forcing what you believe to work no matter what instead of determining what you believe given the evidence is deception of self and others. They need to reflect.

Answer 8

Because alot of them have never fully read the bible and are relying on other people who they consider "wiser" to tell them what it says, or the only read parts of the bible and take things out of context. Also, there is a lot of different interpretations of what the bible is actually saying.

Answer 9

It's maddening when they can't live up to the beliefs they want to impose on the rest of us!

I think simply being unfamiliar with the Bible itself is as good an explanation as any.

Answer 10

Murder is in the Bible but it's hardly a Biblical principle.

Answer 11

Ignorance takes very little effort and knows no shame.

edit: to barry.chase...Job 10:19 “I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave.”