And Where’s That in the Bible?
Posted in Once I Was a Kansas Girl and tagged with Bible, Church, Education, God, School on September 8, 2008The other day I was watching Jeopardy and was shocked when one of the college girls couldn’t answer her daily Jeopardy question that went something like this, “This occupation is referred to in the first verse of the 23rd Psalm.” She had no idea! It’s only the most famous chapter of the Bible, but she wasn’t able to answer the question. Then I was watching another Jeopardy episode where there was a Biblical category, and one guy answered every single on of the questions. The other two contestants looked like they had no clue to those answers.
Simply, kids today aren’t getting educated in the Bible. We no longer teach it at school, so they aren’t getting it there. By and large, we’re not teaching it at home, so they aren’t getting it there. And many don’t go to church, so they aren’t getting it there, and even if they do go to church, sadly they might not be getting educated in the Bible either.
It’s not that knowing the Bible saves you; it doesn’t. But the Bible is God’s Word and is therefore important.
Thinking about all this made me think about sayings that are often attributed to the Bible even though they can’t be found there. I thought of a few:
1. “God helps those who help themselves.”
This is probably the most egregious quote on the list, because not only is it not in the Bible, is is a concept contrary to the Bible. As Christians, we’re called to help the poor regardless though those who are lazy are called to work. Even if they don’t that doesn’t relieve us of the responsibility to care for them.
2. “There but for the grace of God go I.”
This is a good phrase to use, but it’s not in the Bible. There is something to say about considering that we all have sinned against God and therefore shouldn’t look down on someone because they are a sinner.
3. “Money is the root of all evil.”
This is from 1 Timothy 6, but the original is that the “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Not quite the same thing.
4. “Cleanliness is next to godliness.”
This is actually an English proverb, not a biblical one. I’m glad that my lack of housekeeping isn’t keeping me from godliness.
5. “Spare the rod; spoil the child.”
Once again, this concept is basically found in the Bible, but not in this form. Both Proverbs 13:24 (“He who withholds his rod hates his son,But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.”) and Proverbs 23:13-14 (“Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die. You shall strike him with the rod And rescue his soul from Sheol.”) address this concept.
6. “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
This phrase goes back to the middle ages, not the Bible. Though it’s a good point: there are many who say they want to do the right thing but prove they don’t really want to trust and follow God by their actions.
Can you think of any others?
September 8th, 2008 at 6:54 am
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September 8th, 2008 at 10:05 am
It always rankles me when I hear quotes like that that are not from the Bible. The first that you listed (“God helps those who help themselves”) ranks HIGH on my annoyance list.
=) Good post.
September 8th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
The money is the root of all evil one drives me stark raving mad.
September 8th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Oh this is too good (and funny!). I’m going to have to think hard about this one because there are some that require I keep myself under control when I hear it. lol
September 8th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
What a wonderful post!
I can’t think of any that people quote…the two big ones (about the Lord helping those who help themselves and the root of all evil) are the two most misquoted ones that I hear.
September 8th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I’m a bit ashamed to say I had to look it up! Duh!
But that’s because Catholics haven’t been encouraged to study the bible and recite verses. The Vatican would rather interpret it for us! Even after 12 years of Catholic school, I don’t have a great understanding of the gospel writers and books of the bible. I’m learning now though.
But your post reminded me – I taught CCD at my church several years ago. I had the high school kids and in an effort to reach them and touch on something that already mattered to them, I asked them to submit their favorite bible stories to me and we would discuss them.
Imagine my surprise when they came back the following week and told me they didn’t know any bible stories!!
Really? The story of Lazerus? The Wedding at Cana? Noah’s Ark? Nothing?!!
Shocking. At least I know the stories!
September 8th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
I went to Catholic School for 12 years and I know most every book in the bible and can recognize lots of stories as soon as they are told. I work in a place where not a lot of people are Catholic and you should see how little information they actually have about the bible. It is quite a shame!
September 8th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I too was raised in a Catholic home. Knew Bible Stories, but not from the Bible. They were in an approved book of Bible Stories. Do not remember which one it was, has been many decades ago. When I began reading the Bible, my father was furious with me. I could not read and understand what it was saying on my own.
What a blessed freedom I have in being able now to read and understand the Bible without help from anyone.
I did call my aunt just last week on the money is the root of all evil one. She could not argue with me because she does not have ANY Bible knowledge. It is so sad to see especially in my family.
Good post Ronnica
September 8th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
A question, Ronnica, Number 1. Should I have given the begger who approached me in the Costco parking lot this afternoon some money? What gets me is that so many of these people are capable of work. This is not a tongue in cheek question. It is sincere.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
@Gramma 2 Many:
I personal believe (and a belief I do act on) is yes. I do try to give beggars money/food when I have it available (which can be hard since I primarily carry plastic…often I have to choose to have something available when needed). He/she may go and use it to buy booze/drugs, but that’s their responsibility before God, not mine. Unless they tell me that they are going to use the money in such a manner, I have no qualms with giving them money.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
Also, I should add that I don’t believe that this is the role of the government (i.e. welfare) but of the church and church members.
September 8th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
Hi, I can’t remember any to add this time but those are the most common.
Where I now live, there are many of us who relocated from different parts of the US. Some kids who come for Sunday school (perhaps parents looking for a home church or kids being invited by church members) really manifest the lack of knowledge and upbringing based on biblical principles.
The good news is that we are tasked by the Lord to GO OUT and live our lives in the world that He may use us so that everyone would hear the word.
September 9th, 2008 at 12:00 am
gramma 2 many…
if I may just put in my 2 cents…
I usually bring food (crackers, banana, etc) or drinks with me in the car. So when I see someone in the street while driving, I give some to them.
One time, the only stuff with me are the stuff I got from the groceries. I ended up giving the man a box of organic, lactose-free milk. :)
Anyway, by this way of giving food or drink, I think I am avoiding giving money which for some will be used for things that are not good for them.
September 9th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Ronnica, what a wonderful post. I wanted to respond to one of your responses though! Being on government assistance ourselves, I wholeheartedly agree that it should not be governmental at all. I certainly feel that this responsibility should be of the church….whether the person is a church member or not.
September 9th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
How about ‘When God closes a door he opens a window.’ Pretty sure sometimes he doesn’t. Or at least it doesn’t happen simultanously. Sometimes he lets you sit in the dark without a window or a door. I believe He does this out of His great love for us. Somewhere along the way – probably down the path of ‘good intentions’ we started believing that following Jesus was supposed to be easy. Sometimes it is REALLY hard and God lets it be hard. Not because he wants to hurt us, but because he knows what we need and sometimes it just might take a dark room with no way out to bring out brokenness and transformation in our hearts and lives. He will NEVER fail us – but that doesn’t mean he always opens a window. What the bible actually says is, “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13.
September 10th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
I can’t think of one. But I did think about the scripture (is it in Isaiah…oh I am bad at memorizing…) that says that there will be a famine in the land, not of food but of hearing the word of God. I think we’re pretty much in that spiritual famine now!
September 11th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Just can’t resist the thought that this sister is simply Mischievous!!!!
Nice post though…challenging…thought provoking..
lol.