love how the bible literally says public displays of faith and prayer is wrong yet people who’ve never read the bible will claim otherwise.
Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
🤔 I understand this more like “Don’t practice the religion as a way to show off. Don’t make a YouTube/TikTok/whatever video giving a homeless man $100. Just give the guy $100 and STFU about it. Also, stop posting prayers in comment sections on social media; it seems fake, and you make the rest of us look silly too.”
For what it’s worth, that’s not an especially relevant passage here, as it’s less to do with being open about your faith and moreso about intent. For example, those who would go to the synagogue to pray or who would give alms to make themselves feel better and appear righteous. The Bible is crystal clear that you should be openly expressing your faith to others should the intent be to spread the religion. Mark 16:15–16, for example, reads (NIV):
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
Probably more relevant for your case are the passages along the lines of: “Look, give it the old college try, but if they aren’t willing to listen, don’t be a bitch about it; just move on.” For example:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
My brother was studying to become a Jesuit and there was this running joke amongst the Jesuits about praying where they would go “Why? God doesn’t exist.” This may sound hypocritical and it kind of is, but they consider the religion more a moral framework rather than something to rigorously believe in. That’s also why Pope Francis resonated with many non-believers because, at least the modern Jesuits, apply the moral lessons of the New Testament with a healthy dose of rationality (they are considered the intellectual branch of the church for a reason).
Very few, if any, Jesuit these days believe in the existence of a god, but they find value in the moral framework and how they can apply that to make this world a better place. It’s the only religious order I can stomach to have conversations with.
This right here I think is the ultimate way to practice religion. It’s an excellent framework for helping understand your connection to the universe and how your morality intertwines.
I’ve been reading up on Taoism and one of the things I resonated with is that it accepts the idea that you can worship anything. Even a rock. It’s not about actually believing that the thing holds power, but rather allowing yourself to give in a bit to the universe in an understanding that you are ultimately powerless. You have to give up some of your agency to the idea that there is power beyond your control and understanding and you have to accept that.
If you believe you’re an individual being separate from the world around you, the world will catch up to that idea. Aggressively. But if you accept that the world does not cater to you, and if you surrender some of that responsibility to a higher power, you’re not nearly as blindsided when the world finds you.
It’s the intent that matters here, not all public displays of faith go against the teachings of Jesus. But yeah, someone doing it just to draw attention is wrong.
love how the bible literally says public displays of faith and prayer is wrong yet people who’ve never read the bible will claim otherwise.
🤔 I understand this more like “Don’t practice the religion as a way to show off. Don’t make a YouTube/TikTok/whatever video giving a homeless man $100. Just give the guy $100 and STFU about it. Also, stop posting prayers in comment sections on social media; it seems fake, and you make the rest of us look silly too.”
I’m not a bible guy though, so idk
For what it’s worth, that’s not an especially relevant passage here, as it’s less to do with being open about your faith and moreso about intent. For example, those who would go to the synagogue to pray or who would give alms to make themselves feel better and appear righteous. The Bible is crystal clear that you should be openly expressing your faith to others should the intent be to spread the religion. Mark 16:15–16, for example, reads (NIV):
Probably more relevant for your case are the passages along the lines of: “Look, give it the old college try, but if they aren’t willing to listen, don’t be a bitch about it; just move on.” For example:
Matthew 5:43–44:
Matthew 7:1–3:
Matthew 10:13–15
The Parable of the Weeds.
Etc.
My brother was studying to become a Jesuit and there was this running joke amongst the Jesuits about praying where they would go “Why? God doesn’t exist.” This may sound hypocritical and it kind of is, but they consider the religion more a moral framework rather than something to rigorously believe in. That’s also why Pope Francis resonated with many non-believers because, at least the modern Jesuits, apply the moral lessons of the New Testament with a healthy dose of rationality (they are considered the intellectual branch of the church for a reason).
Very few, if any, Jesuit these days believe in the existence of a god, but they find value in the moral framework and how they can apply that to make this world a better place. It’s the only religious order I can stomach to have conversations with.
This right here I think is the ultimate way to practice religion. It’s an excellent framework for helping understand your connection to the universe and how your morality intertwines.
I’ve been reading up on Taoism and one of the things I resonated with is that it accepts the idea that you can worship anything. Even a rock. It’s not about actually believing that the thing holds power, but rather allowing yourself to give in a bit to the universe in an understanding that you are ultimately powerless. You have to give up some of your agency to the idea that there is power beyond your control and understanding and you have to accept that.
If you believe you’re an individual being separate from the world around you, the world will catch up to that idea. Aggressively. But if you accept that the world does not cater to you, and if you surrender some of that responsibility to a higher power, you’re not nearly as blindsided when the world finds you.
Uhuh, more from your Bibble.
“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew chapter five verse sixteen
“your good works”
Doesn’t say a thing about seeing you preach or pray.
Just giving glory to the heaven and the father. Whatever that means.
But if your a Bible fan, then shut up…per God.
1 Timothy 5:1–2 (ESV) Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father.
It’s the Bible, so even that passage is contradicted in another book.
This is the answer I was looking for
It’s the intent that matters here, not all public displays of faith go against the teachings of Jesus. But yeah, someone doing it just to draw attention is wrong.
lol, jesus said “do as I mean, not as I say!” “What do you mean, Jesus?” “Listen closely:”
It’s that kind of double think that dulls the critical mind over time