Red Letter Christians

[Lamb]

If we are to believe that all of scripture is God-breathed and God-inspired, then Jesus' words are not holier than the rest of "Holy Scripture". So why do Red Letter Christians only take at value what Jesus wrote (what is written in red in some bibles)?

 

[tango]

I'd imagine because if Jesus specifically tells us how we should live that has immediate value to our lives whereas books that are arguably more about historical record, especially in the OT, may have less relevance to our daily lives. It's easy to question the relevance of, say, the first few chapters of 1 Chronicles to our everyday lives.

Sometimes historical records can appear to have limited application to our lives, although it's probably safe to say that sometimes people are just not inclined to look for how something might be relevant today.

I'm often intrigued by the people who claim that if only they could see a miracle for themselves they wouldn't doubt. That's a time that Elijah becomes relevant - he witnessed many miracles that exceed even the wildest dreams of the people today who want to "witness a miracle" and yet ended up hiding in a cave afraid of Queen Jezebel wanting to die. I've said a few times that even if people witness miracles they will still have doubts.

 

[vince284]

If we are to believe that all of scripture is God-breathed and God-inspired, then Jesus' words are not holier than the rest of "Holy Scripture". So why do Red Letter Christians only take at value what Jesus wrote (what is written in red in some bibles)?

Interesting, I had never heard of this so I looked it up. It doesn't sound like it was intended, right or wrong, to be better than the "Holy Scripture" thing. "They believe that these are the issues that Jesus spoke of directly, and therefore these issues should be social and political priorities. "

Red-Letter Christians - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I'm sure there are people that will take it that they are more than the rest.

 

[tango]

Making them political priorities misses the point entirely. Jesus told us to do things, he never told us to vote so the government would legislate so that someone else would be forced to do those things. We can do the things Jesus told us to do whatever political party is in power and whatever priorities the government might have.

 

[vince284]

Making them political priorities misses the point entirely. Jesus told us to do things, he never told us to vote so the government would legislate so that someone else would be forced to do those things. We can do the things Jesus told us to do whatever political party is in power and whatever priorities the government might have.

You're argument is with Jim Wallis and Tony Campolo. According to you, they were the ones that missed the point. However, that was their movement, agree with it or not.

 

[tango]

You're argument is with Jim Wallis and Tony Campolo. According to you, they were the ones that missed the point. However, that was their movement, agree with it or not.

I don't really care whose argument it is, I think it misses the point. If it's presented on a forum it's fair game to discuss it on the forum, no?

 

[vince284]

I don't really care whose argument it is, I think it misses the point. If it's presented on a forum it's fair game to discuss it on the forum, no?

Sure, you can do what ever you want. But you are arguing with information. It's like getting mad at a book, or trying to reason with a dictionary or an encyclopedia. Arguing for the sake of arguing and not caring whose argument it is, is kind of boring.

Personally, I didn't dig deeper into their point. I'm sure they had one, I just had never heard of Red Letter Christians before.

Edit:
PS. I apologize, I read your post again and it wasn't directed at me. It sounded like it, but I can see that is was a statement that was thrown out there.

 

[Albion]

I'm thinking that it's about Jim Wallis and Tony Campolo. In other words, there are all sorts of unorthodox beliefs coming from someone or other. But how many churches are disavowing the authority of Scripture in favor of what these or similar self-appointed leaders have conjured up? Hardly any, would be my guess.

 

[hedrick]

There are a couple of answers. One is that it's valuing what Jesus actually said over various conclusions people have drawn that may or may not be what he intended.

Another is that the Bible isn't inspired directly, but rather is human testimony to God's acts. In that case there's a difference between what Jesus himself said and Paul's advice to his churches. Paul was doing his best to interpret Jesus, and of course had talked to people that knew him, but I think there are also influences of his Jewish training.

It's simply not that case that all Christians, or even most Christians, consider the Bible as directly from God. Inerrancy is currently a conservative Protestant thing, not even held by all Evangelicals. From my point of view there enough issues in Genesis, OT history, and contradictory accounts in the Gospels to make it obvious that the Bible isn't free from human influence. I can't quite imagine why people continue trying to deny the obvious. That doesn't mean that it's all made up. The NT was written by Christians who had experienced Christ. I think the Gospels, particularly the first 3, give us a reasonably accurate picture of Jesus' teachings and actions.

 

[Albion]

It's simply not that case that all Christians, or even most Christians, consider the Bible as directly from God. Inerrancy is currently a conservative Protestant thing, not even held by all Evangelicals.

Whoa! Scripture being from God...and it being inerrant are two different things.

While it's true that belief in the inerrancy of Scripture is primarily associated with Evangelical Christians, almost all Christian churches consider the Bible to be divine revelation.

 

[Andrew]

I have a gustav illustrated bible that doesn't use red lettering and it made me realize that I actually prefer the red lettering especially since it's in the classic King James archaic english, sometimes it's difficult to understand who is talking

 

[hedrick]

Whoa! Scripture being from God...and it being inerrant are two different things.

While it's true that belief in the inerrancy of Scripture is primarily associated with Evangelical Christians, almost all Christian churches consider the Bible to be divine revelation.

I agree. But it's inerrancy that is typically associated with the idea that all parts of the Bible are in some sense equal. One can believe that it's inspired in a more indirect sense and (1) think that there are differing viewpoints represented by different authors, and (2) prioritize Jesus' teachings.

Of course Christianity is revealed. One can't know God unless he reveals himself. But different authors may understand what they saw or experienced differently.

 

[hedrick]

I object to red letters. First, for practical reasons: The red used is typically too light, violating the contrast requirements for accessibility. Second, it emphasizes a distinction that's not present in the original. There are no quotation marks. Indeed in parts of John it's not clear where Jesus' stops speaking and the author's theological reflections start.

 

[Albion]

I agree. But it's inerrancy that is typically associated with the idea that all parts of the Bible are in some sense equal. One can believe that it's inspired in a more indirect sense and (1) think that there are differing viewpoints represented by different authors, and (2) prioritize Jesus' teachings.

That's true. However, it's so precise that I doubt many individuals look at the matter that way.

 

[FredVB]

Jesus is the Word of God, so, Jesus is the Authority of God. All the Bible scriptures are inspired by God, they were written by the chosen men who were inspired to communicate what was truly from God, those as written are not then in error, though minor error has been found in copies made, and translations have shortcomings. But Jesus spoke of those scriptures as being without error as originally written. Jesus spoke in simple direct ways, so that what is written can be understood from what Jesus who is the Authority of God says of it, he is authority over it all.