What do you think about this?

[Martinius]

I found this quote yesterday, and I thought it so powerful I had to share:

"All men are ready to say that Holy Scripture is the word of God that teaches us true happiness or the way of salvation, but their actions betray a quite different opinion…The last thing that they appear to want is to live by the teaching of Scripture…If people truly believed in their heart what they say with their lips about Scripture, they would follow a completely different way of life."

A question and a challenge.

Question: Do you think what this person said is true? Do we mostly give the teaching of Scripture lip service?

The Challenge: Who wrote this? It is a fairly well known person, and someone here might know right off who it is. But if not, I will provide some hints.

 

[SkyWriting]

I found this quote yesterday, and I thought it so powerful I had to share:

"All men are ready to say that Holy Scripture is the word of God that teaches us true happiness or the way of salvation, but their actions betray a quite different opinion…The last thing that they appear to want is to live by the teaching of Scripture…If people truly believed in their heart what they say with their lips about Scripture, they would follow a completely different way of life."

A question and a challenge.

Question: Do you think what this person said is true? Do we mostly give the teaching of Scripture lip service?

The Challenge: Who wrote this? It is a fairly well known person, and someone here might know right off who it is. But if not, I will provide some hints.

I think it was Paul, and on this issue I think he was correct.

 

[Martinius]

I think it was Paul, and on this issue I think he was correct.

Great guess. I agree that Paul could have said this, and may have said something similar in an epistle. But, this statement was not from Paul. Hint: it was someone after Paul, so it is not from the Bible.

If this statement is true, are we all deluding ourselves that we can be faithful to God without really living according to God's commands?

 

[SkyWriting]

Great guess. I agree that Paul could have said this, and may have said something similar in an epistle. But, this statement was not from Paul. Hint: it was someone after Paul, so it is not from the Bible.

If this statement is true, are we all deluding ourselves that we can be faithful to God without really living according to God's commands?

It's a rephrasing of what Paul said.
And yes, living by law leads to death.
I can't find the quote.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

I think it was Paul, and on this issue I think he was correct.

Thanks.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

but their actions betray a quite different opinion…

who truly wants to:
turn the other cheek?
love their enemy?
forgive fully?
Most of us are half-hearted about this but there is the occasional person who comes close to the ideal.
I think the gospel tell us what the "ideal" is. As sinners, we can only try, but we are limited by our weaknesses.

 

[Martinius]

who truly wants to:
turn the other cheek?
love their enemy?
forgive fully?
Most of us are half-hearted about this but there is the occasional person who comes close to the ideal.
I think the gospel tell us what the "ideal" is. As sinners, we can only try, but we are limited by our weaknesses.

Sure we are weak, but is that an excuse? Do we even try? I think you are right, we see some that do, and they are like beacons on a foggy night. But most of us ignore, if not purposely break, God's Commandments. Many people say they are Christian, go to church most Sundays and claim to be saved, but despise Muslims, gays, blacks, Latinos, etc.

And you right about loving your enemy (even neighbors, often times) and turning the other cheek (a sign of weakness to most) and forgiving. Yet those who fail in those areas but refuse to change their lives, still insist they are Christian.

 

[Godlovesmetwo]

but refuse to change their lives

repentance and humility. How many of us can say we do this every day?

 

[Fish and Bread]

It could be argued that Jesus is the Word of God, and scripture is just what the People of God had to say about him...

 

[SkyWriting]

Thanks.

Always glad to help.

 

[Paidiske]

I have come across the quote before. The name is eluding me, but I'm somehow quite sure the author wasn't Christian.

I think it's true. I think that, on the whole, we choose certain things to be markers of our piety - whether that's our sexual ethics or our giving or our morning prayers or whatever - and focus on those, allowing much of the habits into which our society has formed us go unexamined.

 

[Martinius]

I have come across the quote before. The name is eluding me, but I'm somehow quite sure the author wasn't Christian.

I think it's true. I think that, on the whole, we choose certain things to be markers of our piety - whether that's our sexual ethics or our giving or our morning prayers or whatever - and focus on those, allowing much of the habits into which our society has formed us go unexamined.

Yes, it does seem that many people choose or create a set of "markers" which define their faith. For some it is sacraments, for some devotion to Mary or other saints, for some it is prayer, for some it is obedience to authority, for some it is certain parts of scripture. Lots of possibilities, but often times missing the big picture. But the pull of societal norms allow us to think we are following the commands of God, while actually avoiding or ignoring them, as long as we follow the rules externally, and meet the requirements.

Your guess is correct. The author of the quote in my OP was not a Christian. But he was discussing how people view Jewish and Christian scripture in this writing, with which he is very familiar. And as I said earlier, he lived after biblical times; actually in the second millennium. So Paidiske earns a B+ and is a candidate for the big prize.