Who's a Bible-thumper?

[DeanM]

This came up on another thread, so I spun it off to here.

First, what's a Bible-thumper?

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
–noun Informal. an evangelist or other person who quotes the Bible frequently, esp. as a means of exhortation or rebuke.
[Origin: 1920–25

]

Okay, that's the simple dictionary definition, but what is it really?

I actually take this term quite literally. One who slaps their hand onto a bible while making a point.

To me, the act of hitting a Bible is a bit of an insult to God's word. But, some people do it.

The term Bible-thumper can also be taken to mean the dictionary definition listed above.

The term is somewhat derogatory. I rarely hear this term used by Christians.

So, my questions are: Are you a Bible-thumper?

Also, does your church leader ever thump the Bible?

Is it wrong to thump the Bible?

How do you feel about people who thump the Bible?

I personally do not thump.

 

[elsbeth]

The phrase I hear most is "Bible Pounder", and what the people mean is someone who, if you don't agree with them, pounds you over the head with the Bible verses trying to make you agree. Its NOT a compliment.

 

[ALiberalTeen]

No.

No.

The way most Bible thumpers do, yes.

Their annoying

 

[james415]

The phrase I hear most is "Bible Pounder", and what the people mean is someone who, if you don't agree with them, pounds you over the head with the Bible verses trying to make you agree. Its NOT a compliment.

This would be my definition as well. Except they also tell you you will go to Hell if you don't agree with them.

 

[jive4005]

It can mean a couple of things:

it can be a person who simply "spouts" bible verses and rules especially when he or she sees what they interpret as "sin". This is a derogatory reference.

it can be a person who simply knows chapter and verse and who, with good and pure motive, frequently recites same to many people. This can be viewed as Godly or annoying... depending upon the recipiant's attitude.

it is also a nickname for a preacher, especially the traveling kind.

This is what a bible thumper means here.
Hope that helps.

His,
Rev J

 

[james415]

Here is the Wikipedia definition:

Bible thumper (also Bible Beater) is a derisive term used to describe Christian fundamentalists, or anyone perceived as aggressively pushing their religious beliefs upon those who do not share them. As an insult, its target domain is broad and can often extend to anyone engaged in a public show of religiosity, fundamentalist or not.
The term alludes to a preacher thumping his hand hard down on the lectern and the Bible on it to emphasize a point during a sermon.
Sid Meier used the term in his PC game "Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri" to refer to the religious fundamentalist faction, with remarks made by the other factions in the game along the lines of "they're too busy bible-thumping and it's cutting into their bible-reading" to suggest that they had lost sight of the bible's true teachings.
It is also the name of a Bible-study program for Palm OS which contains the full text of the King James Bible. This is a good, albeit possibly somewhat tongue in cheek, example of an insult being reclaimed as a positive description.

 

[PeacaHeaven]

People call people Bible thumpers usually
when they don't want to hear God's truth.

 

[Cris413]

People call people Bible thumpers usually
when they don't want to hear God's truth.

Yep...

 

[NorrinRadd]

I don't do much Bible thumping now that I'm so dependent on Bible-on-PC programs. Not profitable to "thump" electronic equipment.

But I'm definitely a Bible-thumper in spirit.

 

[PeterAV]

This is a Bible Thumper,
Namely,The Ultimate Bible Thumper.
[URL]http://www.chumfm.com/MorningShow/bits/march24.swf
[/URL]

 

[DeanM]

This is a Bible Thumper,
Namely,The Ultimate Bible Thumper.
[URL]http://www.chumfm.com/MorningShow/bits/march24.swf
[/URL]

That is Soooooooo Funny!

I laughed straight through it!

Great stuff!

 

[JDIBe]

This came up on another thread, so I spun it off to here.

First, what's a Bible-thumper?

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
–noun Informal. an evangelist or other person who quotes the Bible frequently, esp. as a means of exhortation or rebuke.
[Origin: 1920–25

]

Okay, that's the simple dictionary definition, but what is it really?

I actually take this term quite literally. One who slaps their hand onto a bible while making a point.

To me, the act of hitting a Bible is a bit of an insult to God's word. But, some people do it.

The term Bible-thumper can also be taken to mean the dictionary definition listed above.

The term is somewhat derogatory. I rarely hear this term used by Christians.

So, my questions are: Are you a Bible-thumper?

Also, does your church leader ever thump the Bible?

Is it wrong to thump the Bible?

How do you feel about people who thump the Bible?

I personally do not thump.

On the other hand, quite often the term is used by people who never open theirs to describe people who do...

Personally I am more saddened by those who damage God's Word by ignoring it, marginalizing it, or twisting it to suit their own purposes. I think they do more true damage and show more disrespect than someone who simply pounds a book made of ink and paper.

 

[New_Wineskin]

This came up on another thread, so I spun it off to here.

First, what's a Bible-thumper?

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source
–noun Informal. an evangelist or other person who quotes the Bible frequently, esp. as a means of exhortation or rebuke.
[Origin: 1920–25

]

Okay, that's the simple dictionary definition, but what is it really?

That sound good to me . I would say , legalist or book-worshipper .

I actually take this term quite literally. One who slaps their hand onto a bible while making a point.

I am pretty sure that that the term came from people slapping them with their hands as emphasis .

To me, the act of hitting a Bible is a bit of an insult to God's word. But, some people do it.

It has nothing to do with God's word . It is paper and ink bound into a book . It isn't even the Scriptures as they are copied interpretations of different variations of the Scriptures .

The term is somewhat derogatory. I rarely hear this term used by Christians.

I say it once in a while , myself . For *me* it is derogatory .

So, my questions are: Are you a Bible-thumper?

Not me .

Also, does your church leader ever thump the Bible?

One did , very occassionally - not a habit .

Is it wrong to thump the Bible?

It is paper and ink . One can use it for toilet paper in a pinch .

How do you feel about people who thump the Bible?

If they are thumping it as demanding that their way is the only way , I stay away from the paper and ink worshipper .

I personally do not thump.

That's fine .

 

[PeacaHeaven]

That sound good to me . I would say , legalist or book-worshipper .

I actually take this term quite literally. One who slaps their hand onto a bible while making a point.

I am pretty sure that that the term came from people slapping them with their hands as emphasis .




It has nothing to do with God's word . It is paper and ink bound into a book . It isn't even the Scriptures as they are copied interpretations of different variations of the Scriptures .




I say it once in a while , myself . For *me* it is derogatory .




Not me .




One did , very occassionally - not a habit .




It is paper and ink . One can use it for toilet paper in a pinch .

If they are thumping it as demanding that their way is the only way , I stay away from the paper and ink worshipper .

That's fine .

It's my opinion that God would much rather have a Bible slapper with some zeal than an apathetic follower who thinks they can follow God any way they want.

Revelation 3:15-16 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

 

[New_Wineskin]

I actually take this term quite literally. One who slaps their hand onto a bible while making a point.

It's my opinion that God would much rather have a Bible slapper with some zeal than an apathetic follower who thinks they can follow God any way they want.

Revelation 3:15-16 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.
So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.

The Lord finds both to be cold . The one wants only to subjugate others under themselves and follow them into idoltry . The Lord said ...

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.

The other only follows only themself .

 

[PeacaHeaven]

The Lord finds both to be cold . The one wants only to subjugate others under themselves and follow them into idoltry . The Lord said ...

The other only follows only themself .

You seem to consider a bible thumper a pharisee. Since you don't know the persons heart when they use God's word, I think you should be careful in your judging. And you do not know if God considers a bible thumper cold for the same reason. He judges motives and heart.

I don't like the types of rude radical people who go up to non Christians and start with spiritual attacks about their sins like the types of people at that Westborough church who crash funerals. If those are the types of people you mean here then I agree with you that God finds them cold. If they're just Christians that use the Bible to teach what God says when people support sin then theyre doing what they're supposed to.
We just have to be careful who we judge.

 

[New_Wineskin]

You seem to consider a bible thumper a pharisee. Since you don't know the persons heart when they use God's word, I think you should be careful in your judging. And you do not know if God considers a bible thumper cold for the same reason. He judges motives and heart.

Wow ! You have no problem judging . Well , that is typical of christians like you . You are allowed to do things that you tell others not to do . You judge me here and you judged others in post 14 . I don't consider them a pharasee as much as "teachers of the Law" . "Pharasee" is simpler , though .

I don't like the types of rude radical people who go up to non Christians and start with spiritual attacks about their sins like the types of people at that Westborough church who crash funerals. If those are the types of people you mean here then I agree with you that God finds them cold. If they're just Christians that use the Bible to teach what God says when people support sin then theyre doing what they're supposed to.
We just have to be careful who we judge.

Their use of the Scriptures instead of dealing with a relationship with the Lord *is* the problem . That is what the Pharasees and teachers of the Law did . They used ( as you say ) "the bible to teach what God says when people support sin" . The Lord judged them in the quote that I gave . I agree with Him . These people judge me . They can deal with my repsonse . Tell them to stop and all will be well between us all .

 

[Cris413]

Wow ! You have no problem judging . Well , that is typical of christians like you . You are allowed to do things that you tell others not to do . You judge me here and you judged others in post 14 . I don't consider them a pharasee as much as "teachers of the Law" . "Pharasee" is simpler , though .

I don't think peacaheaven was judging you...and I don't think her comments in #14 were judging anyone either...She is simply commenting...statements like "it's my opinion" and "you seem to consider" are merely thoughts and observations...."types of people" is having an opinion about a certain mind-set or a certain condition of the heart in general...absolutely not directed at one particular individual...

Where as statements like "Well, that's typical of christians like you"

Well...that's pretty personal and intended to be an attack on not only her character...but her walk with God....that, my friend, is a huge no no. Judging someone's walk with Christ.

And exactly what Jesus was talking about when He said judge not least ye be judged.

Judging someone else's servant....

Ooops...now I'm judging you judging peacaheaven where does this viscious circle end.

Their use of the Scriptures instead of dealing with a relationship with the Lord *is* the problem .<snip>

I'm not sure why so many seem to have a problem with the use of Scripture. Unless of course...they simply do not like what the Scripture says...

Personally, I would not give much weight to someone's witness or testimony unless it's supported by Scripture.

Granted...there are those who abuse Scripture with the wrong heart and for their own agenda.

It's all about the truth in love...

But I think I would be careful, as peacaheaven pointed out, not to jump to conclusions regarding the heart of the person delivering the message....

I would also suggest...serious prayerful thought about where the point of contention might rest...is it with the message...or the messenger? A very important distinction IMO.

You can tell by the fruit...the truth given in love...or the Law handed down in anger with a dash of self-righteousness...

Simply takes some discernment...