Anti-Church quotes from the bible

[TheBookOfJoe]

Lets hear them, I am in big need of these.
Who has the one where Jesus tells people not to be hypocrites and pray at home, or something to that extent? Need the chapter and verse and so on.

Thanks a lot

 

[Mafiaaffe]

how about this one:

Matthew 19:21 (New International Version)
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

That verse truly doesnt support the build of a multi-million dollar church.

 

[TheBookOfJoe]

how about this one:

Matthew 19:21 (New International Version)
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

That verse truly doesnt support the build of a multi-million dollar church.

That's true and all, but nobody is perfect and it would be too easy for a theist to argue out of that one. The one I read a while back was much more specific and anti church/temple.

Thanks though.

 

[ebbixx]

That's true and all, but nobody is perfect and it would be too easy for a theist to argue out of that one. The one I read a while back was much more specific and anti church/temple.

Thanks though.

Try 2 Peter 2:1-3 on for size (KJV version quoted):

1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.

2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.

3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

(emphasis mine)

By the way, this passage is used by Mormons in making their case against "priestcraft" which to them is the practice of maintaining a paid clergy (which some will tell you they violate themselves, but that's not the point here). Most of the other supporting quotes (predictably) come from LDS-exclusive scriptures.

It is a tricky passage, though, since it underlies probably a good deal of Protestant rejection of Catholicism as well, and, among believers, almost anyone can use this and related passages to distance themselves from those sects or preachers they disagree with, and try to make a case that the current "crisis of faith" is largely a by product of televangelists or (fill in the blank) others who make a profit by claiming to be prophets (or teachers or ministers).

http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Priestcraft

That article also refers to Acts 8:14-24, but since that section seems to refer to someone trying to purchase a priesthood ordination, it may or may not be terribly useful. Then again, how is that different than most of the "inerrant" word of God as presented in Biblical translations?

Many of the passages dealing with the Pharisees can also be turned to use to support a thesis that Christ intended his followers to limit themselves to small "house churches" and avoid the edifice complex and the development of a tyrannical priesthood that has characterized most forms of Christianity since the First Council of Nicaea and Constantine's alleged conversion. And some Christians in fact try to practice that to this day, though market forces generally make it very difficult for them to gather followers and maintain organizational coherence unless they twist the doctrine very hard to find loopholes allowing them some method of aggressive marketing.

One other Mormon source -- which I'm citing here not because I think they're right, but because they have a vested interest in claiming that nearly all Christianity from the First Council of Nicaea onward is in error -- may be of some use in tracing this tension of organized religion against the scripture it claims to follow. http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Apostasy

Looking at the current expansion of scholarship on early Gnostic Christians and related sects might also be of use, as well as looking at the doctrinal rationalizations on all sides. But that's a very large project, hampered by a scarcity of primary sources and the huge debate that continues to go on about just what the Gnostics were, and what early Christians might actually have believed and practiced. Persecution of "heresy" by the state-supported Church under Constantine and his heirs has largely erased the other side of the story, and what we know of the early Church is heavily filtered in those sources that survive (and tend to come from the Orthodox opposition).

 

[GoodKat]

Matthew 6:5-8

5"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

 

[Hsitirb]

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

...and that leads into the whole "Why pray?" issue, too.

If The Christian Deity knows what you want, and, moreover, knows what you "need" to be part of his "plan", then why would you believe that praying is going to change that?

 

[ebbixx]

...and that leads into the whole "Why pray?" issue, too.

If The Christian Deity knows what you want, and, moreover, knows what you "need" to be part of his "plan", then why would you believe that praying is going to change that?

True. But you'll note it did say "when you pray" so apparently Ceiling Cat does want you to pray, he just doesn't want you using too many words. Gotta stay on the right side of all that smiting and stuff.

Seriously, though, the passage is followed by one version of the Lord's Prayer, implying (perhaps) that there is really only one legitimate form of prayer, and that the sort of personal begging that many modern Christians are fond of doing in public, or at least amongst themselves (and coincidentally broadcast on TV or the 'net) is in fact contrary to scripture, since "your Father knows what you need before you ask him" and the rest is pride, vanity and show.

 

[Ratman]

When I need a quick quote I go here...

http://www.evilbible.com/

 

[blinddesign]

When I need a quick quote I go here...

http://www.evilbible.com/

i love you.

 

[Jotto999]

When I need a quick quote I go here...

http://www.evilbible.com/

Wow. I was not aware of that website. I am just skimming through it, currently reading through http://www.evilbible.com/Impossible.htm

This website is glorious, thank you. /hug

 

[Soulgasm]

Damn :twisted: why do you have to have a fuckin sexy avatar... I cant focus on reading the post because of the tempting half exposed teet....

Thanks for the Evil Bible link btw. It helps for a quick qoute.