RE: the "superficial" gospel
DeepSix > 09-04-2018, 07:47 PM
Unfortunately, far too many quips and clever sayings in regards to faith and religion, are made by extremely shallow people in attempts to convince others, as well as themselves, that there is actually some depth to their lives. And a greater meaning to their existence.
The majority of such statements are more about boosting the originators own self esteem than they are about revealing, or supporting, some profound truth.
A classic from the early 1970s, once shouted from multiple IFB pulpits, and which I have heard repeated as recently as just two years ago, went - "God said it.. I believe it.. That settles it"
Even at that time many non IFB theologians pointed out the superficial nature of that statement, and corrected it by saying "If God said it.. Then that settled it whether we ever get around to believing it or not"
But that didn't roll off the tongue as well as the original flawed statement did. Nor did it go as well with the kind of smug facial expression that usually accompanied a recital of the original.
And, it also didn't look as well when printed on a bumper sticker or t-shirt... hundreds of thousands of which were made.
Sadly, when you begin asking questions about a persons beliefs, you will find that idea, born of pride and arrogance, remains deeply ingrained in the mind set of many IFBs.. even though the bumpers stickers might have been long removed from their cars.. and the t-shirts rotted away in the laundry decades ago.
Just like all these other quips and clever sayings it revealed a shallow and superficial religion which is more about self, and very little about God.
A religious ideology that continues, though today being expressed with newer and different quips and sayings, which may or may not be more cleverly worded.