what is a Bible-Thumper — And Is It a pretty good component?

have you ever ever heard someone refer to a further believer as a Bible-thumper?

Worse yet, have you been referred to as one should you were readily trying to share God's certainty about a condition?

Context is everything and whereas we should all comprehend the Bible and share it with people who need to be aware of the certainty, thumping them over the head with Scripture might now not be the most desirable method.

what is a Bible-Thumper?

image a person trying to get a fact throughout to you with the aid of taking an immense King James version of the Bible and hitting you over the pinnacle with it. Now, that could be a literal interpretation of a Bible-thumper. however metaphorically, it is a person who bombards you with the word of God.

Now, Scripture does describe God's word, the Bible, as a weapon. Hebrews four:12 tells us "For the observe of God is living and lively and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing so far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and capable of decide the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (NASB).

That tells us Scripture is an impressive weapon that can cut into the very core of us. however the times in my existence that the Bible has pierced my coronary heart and adjusted my mind were instances when 1) a pal gently used God's observe to aid book me in a specific situation; or 2) i was having a personal interplay with God's word and His Spirit caused it to convict my heart of sin and expose to me the error of my methods; or 3) a instructor of God's observe wielded that sword correct into my coronary heart as they expounded on an issue that i used to be fighting or being challenged via. In all three of these eventualities, God's spirit labored via His observe to convict my coronary heart.

2 Timothy three:16-17 says, "All Scripture is inspired through God and profitable for educating, for reproof, for correction, for practising in righteousness; in order that the person of God may be adequate, fitted for each decent work." The Bible does include elements that may function heart surgical procedure on us. however that surgical procedure rarely happens with the aid of getting hit over the top with Scripture. it's generally when Scripture, via the power of the Holy Spirit, hits one's coronary heart.

Is Being a Bible-Thumper a fine element?

I've heard ladies who have sat below my teaching say things like "Cindi thumped me over the pinnacle in type when she spoke of…." If what they meant become "Her use of Scripture knocked me appropriate within the head," i will't take the credit score (or blame) for that one. That may be the potent effect of God's notice to enlighten, convict, or suitable. and because Scripture tells us to deal with the word of God precisely, that might be a pretty good element if our teaching or exhortation of Scripture modified one's existence for the more desirable.

besides the fact that children, if i am thumping unbelievers over the head with the Bible, no longer good. Unbelievers, Scripture says, are "darkened in their figuring out, excluded from the lifetime of God as a result of the lack of understanding that's in them, on account of the hardness of their heart." The Spirit of God is the One who takes these blinders off and opens the eyes and hearts and minds of americans to bear in mind God's be aware. So, the only people who need a thumping with the be aware could be believers who aren't obeying it. Yet is it our job to be sure they do? only if we can't be discovered disobeying the be aware ourselves by using refusing to take the log off of our personal eye before trying to eradicate the speck out of a different's (Matthew 7:three-6).

in preference to thumping another with Scripture, mild exhortation goes a whole lot additional. Sharing the actuality in love wins, as opposed to offends, a brother. stating one's weakness or failure in love and humility, with the hopes of restoring them to fellowship with the Lord is useful. but thumping others over the head with Scripture may also most effective serve to make them believe judged and make us seem like Pharisees.

Jesus thumped the Pharisees (the spiritual elite of his day) with Scripture as a result of they knew the Scriptures and weren't obeying them. Jesus showed them the blackness of their hearts via Scripture. Jesus in reality wielded the sword of the spirit (God's notice) as a result of He became the observe of God made flesh (John 1:14). He spoke with authority and conviction to the non secular elite as a result of He become the Son of probably the most high God. Yet, Jesus was compassionate, mild, figuring out, forgiving, and merciful to unbelievers who didn't know greater and many of them, as a result, became in reality repentant.

Nicodemus, one of the most Pharisees and rulers of the Jews, came to Jesus secretly at nighttime to better have in mind Jesus' teachings. Jesus became mild as He opened Nicodemus' eyes to the reality (John three:1-21). Later, as a result of we study that Nick at night (as my husband refers to him) got here with Joseph of Arimathea to collect the physique of Jesus and dress His wounds and lay Him in a tomb, we will infer that Nicodemus grew to become a follower of Jesus (John 19:39).

When it came to sinners and those in quest of fact, Jesus used Scripture to open their blinded eyes to the reality. however is it good to be a Bible-thumper? It actually might depend on the context.

image credit: ©Getty photographs/Javier paintings images 

When Is Being a Bible-Thumper a nasty thing?

Being a Bible-thumper isn't a superb aspect in case you're whacking unbelievers over the head with Scripture. It's also ineffective, and disobedient, if you're the usage of God's note to decide different Christians or aspect out their faults earlier than you've asked God to exhibit you your personal. it's additionally no longer good to slam a person with Scripture who could most beneficial be grew to become from their error if you confirmed grace and compassion, while sharing God's reality in love.

Bible-thumping shouldn't be carried out on the offense.

Scripture tells us to "sanctify Christ as Lord to your hearts, always being able to make a protection to every person who asks you to provide an account for the hope this is in you, but with gentleness and appreciate" (1 Peter three:15)

Did you observe that observe defense? we are to preserve our hope and faith in God, now not force it upon others or hit them over the head with it. In Ephesians 6:10-18, we are advised we're in a religious combat and we have to hence placed on the entire armor of God to give protection to ourselves and "stand enterprise" (verse 14 – additionally a line of defense). With the shield of faith "to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (verse sixteen) and the "sword of the Spirit, which is the be aware of God (verse 17) we are to "pray continually in the Spirit, and …be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for the saints" (verse 18. That's loads of protective positioning in Christ and praying – two things that may support improve us as believers. on no account in scripture are we advised to do the piercing, red ucing, reproving, or heart surgery on another. God's Spirit does that as we share God's truth in love.

during nearly 40 years of ministry, I've certainly not considered people repent and come to Christ as a result of they obtained hit over the pinnacle with a Bible and told to clean up their methods or they're going to hell. And if they did come to the Lord that manner, it didn't seem like a honest commitment, but a temporary one made with the intention to profit "fire coverage." When one recognizes Jesus as Lord and realizes He saved them via His grace and love, it softens and opens their hearts. To settle for God's reward of salvation and everlasting life merely to stay away from everlasting punishment is one-sided. Scripture says with the coronary heart man believes, resulting in salvation, and with the mouth he confesses, leading to salvation (Romans 10:9-10). One need to repent of their hearts, a cquire Jesus out of a response to His sacrificial love proven for them on the pass, after which tell others of what they've completed, as a means of showing it become actual. That "hearth of their souls" is kindled by the Spirit of God, no longer because they'd been bumped or burned into receiving Christ.

Bible-thumping should still not be achieved out of satisfaction or malice.

every now and then we actually want to hit a believer upside the top after they're no longer residing correct. difficult love, we name it. however, I don't consider that true followers of Christ intend to sin. I don't trust they are looking to be in insurrection towards God's love and legislation. That's why I believe Scripture tells us to lovingly confront our brothers and sisters in Christ and preserve fervent in our love for one a further as a result of love covers a large number of sins (1 Peter 4:8).

Some believers invariably sin because they're being deceived. Others are in a full-out struggle with the flesh or they've resigned themselves to that battle. sure, some can be in outright rebel. however these are our brothers and sisters in Christ whom we deserve to pray for (together with praying for a chance to share God's fact with them in a loving approach so that they might be open and receptive to it).

Biblically, we are instructed to confront them one on one, and if that doesn't work to deliver one or two witnesses of their sin, which is the subsequent step in biblical disagreement, according to Matthew 18:15-20. If that doesn't work, we're to carry them before the church (their local body of believers). church buildings that have followed this biblical method to confrontation, in a prayerful and loving method, have viewed the repentance of these believers and restored fellowship. In my years of ministry, I've viewed this to be valuable when it's bathed in prayer, led through the Holy Spirit, and carried out by means of leaders who were cautious to current pure hearts earlier than the Lord, now not confront others with a egocentric or sinful agenda.

What can you Be instead of a Bible-Thumper?

if you love God and need to be obedient to Him, share His be aware with others. however share it. Don't slam or slay others with it. Share it lovingly and let the Holy Spirit do the piercing, prodding, penetrating, reproving, rebuking, and refining.

Share God's be aware lovingly and as a substitute of being a Bible-thumper, be a Bible Whisperer (whispering God's gentle truths in love). in its place of thumping people with the Bible, love them with it. in its place of a Bible-thumper, be a Bible Follower, a Bible Embracer, a Bible Studier, a Bible teacher, A Bible Encourager, a Bible Counselor, or a Bible Comforter. these valuable americans are in short provide these days. And the world with or with out God desperately wants them.

There are some ways we are able to share God's actuality with someone in a delicate and loving way without thumping them over the pinnacle with the blunt conclusion of our Sword.

Lord, make us followers of Yours who definitely care about others and try to introduce or love them returned to You with grace, love, and the energy of Your word.

To turn into extra regular with God's be aware so that you can lovingly share it with others, see Cindi's books, God's Whispers to a lady's coronary heart and When ladies long for leisure.

photo credit score: Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez

Cindi McMenamin is a national speaker, Bible instructor, and award-winning author who helps ladies and couples beef up their relationship with God and others. She is the author of 17 books, including When ladies stroll alone  (greater than 150,000 copies offered), When a girl Overcomes lifestyles's Hurts, When God Sees Your Tears , and When Couples stroll collectively , which she co-authored along with her husband of 32 years. discover greater about her speaking ministry, coaching services for writers, and books to strengthen your soul, marriage, and parenting, at www.StrengthForTheSoul.com.