BIBLE THUMPERS - NYOBS 78.02

BIBLE THUMPERS

Holy Roller - Bible Basher – God Botherer - Creeping Jesus – Shaker – Fundie

First Word

·         Repent or Burn was a two sided sign I saw as a child in Atlanta, worn by a man holding up a Bible and shouting scripture to those passing by on a corner of Peachtree Street. – Mom said there were many ways to tell people about God; and that was just one of them.  

·         70 years later, “GOD LOVES YOU” is a sign I see held silently by a lady every Saturday from 11am to 12pm on a small hill on Harbison Boulevard in Columbia. – In support of her effort, we would always blow the horn and wave to her and she would wave back with a smile.

·         Being raised in a strict Baptist Church and surrounded with like-minded childhood friends, it was normal to talk about the Bible and what was right and wrong. We didn’t play cards, gamble, drink alcohol, smoke, or dance; and ON SUNDAY we didn’t go to movies or go swimming or cut the. Grass. – Our beliefs were very similar to the Methodist, who taught METHODS not only of worship, but the way you should live your everyday life.

·         When I relocated with my Job, my new church used the paraphrased LIVING BIBLE and it changed my life. - (This has now been updated with the NLT New Living Translation which is actually a translation and not just paraphrased.  It is so easy to read and understand). - GET IT – and some highlighters.

·         This set me up for the rest of my life, to always talk about Bible concepts; I was a Bible Thumper and didn’t even know it; I believed it to be normal.

·         I can remember co-workers in the office referring to me negatively as “Praise the Lord Paul” and because of my zeal, someone once said; “You are a NEW Christian aren’t you”? – I took the copy repair man to lunch along with my staff and he said, “I have never had a meal where everybody had so much fun talking about God the whole time”. - What many of us find as normal, others find is just FAR OUT messed up Bible Thumpers.

·         Sanford and Son was a TV comedy series about Fred and Lamont Sanford who were junk dealers frequently scheming something. - Fred’s wife Elizabeth was dead and her sister Ester was always coming over thumping her Bible, quoting verses to Fred, calling him a walleyed fish. – Ester was the hit of the whole series which pretty much painted a negative comedic picture of anyone who strove to aggressively model their life with Bible guidelines.

·         There were two men that I met at the Flea Market that were always passing out tracts and talking about God.  Their camper truck with Turn or Burn signs all over it, frequently made trips to Washington to protest something or the other and they slept in the bed of their truck.  Locally they were “Thumping the Bible” protesting the concerts of Sandi Patti because she should not charge people to come to concerts because the Gospel was free to everyone. – They would often find me at my work and come in to discuss life, God and the hereafter and enjoyably I would debate scripture with them giving them my world view.

·         Standing on the Corner with signs; protesting concerts, giving out tracts and preaching at the flea market is NOT MY WAY, but IT IS A WAY to get people to think about God even if it’s just in passing; we need it all. – The Book says we are to share the story wherever we are.

·         CONCLUSION; A Bible Thumper is NOT a member of the Secret Service.

Matthew 28:19-20 - COMMAND; make disciples everywhere
¹⁹ Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (NLT)

Derogatory terms

·         A Bible thumper is someone who is perceived as AGGRESSIVELY IMPOSING their Christian beliefs and values upon others. - The term is derived from PREACHERS thumping their hands down on the Bible, or thumping the Bible itself, to emphasize a point during a sermon. – The term Bible Thumper has been used as a derogatory term for ages.

·         A Bible Basher is someone who is perceived to go out of their way to force their faith on others; and a Fundie is a derogatory term for a Christian fundamentalist.

·         Holy Roller is especially applied to Evangelistically Protestants and especially Pentecostals who are very vocal about their religious views or CRITICAL of others religious views.  The name comes from their gift of the Holy Spirit of being able to speak in tongues and being prone to roll in the floor.

·         God Botherer; a tag placed on those who openly declares their faith even when unwelcomed.

·         Creeping Jesus was a term used to describe someone making a public display of religiosity in a hypocritical way simply for show.

·         Shaker originated as Shaking Quakers who in their charismatic worship services, danced, shouted and spoke in their gift of tongues; although the term was deemed derogatory, it was embraced and used by the Quakers themselves.

·         A Kike is a Yiddish word meaning “circle” as associated with illiterate Jews not able to read nor write, who entered the US at Ellis Island and signed or marked their names with an “O”, a circle instead of an “X” because they associated the “X” or “cross” with Christianity.

Birds of a feather

·         I had JUST had my job offer changed; the offer now would NOT be in management, but stocking shelves with bottom of the bucket compensation. – I had already quit my job for this one, so in dismay I slumped down unseen in an out of place chair that I found between two merchandise stack outs.   

·         I was feeling pretty depressed when a Bible Thumper that I had never met, came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders and quietly said he hoped I would take the position, that the store needed a lot of PRAYER and then he walked away. – I was stunned, but pondering it all. I took it as a Word from God and accepted the position. - Eventually that decision led me to 15 years of management with awesome retirement benefits.  I never saw THUMPER again. – Why was that?

·         What is amazing to me is that everywhere I have worked, I’ve notice that Bible Thumpers somehow seem to find each other in the office or on the floor or in the break room and friendships are formed. – Why is that? – Why do Birds of a feather, flock together?

Thumpers

·         My friend Doug worked three jobs in order to open a plant shop.  When it all came together he gave God the glory and used one side of his sign to advertise his plants and on the other side he had Bible verses or something to praise God about.  With a slur, laughingly the business became known as the “Praise the Lord Plant Shop”.  – Today, Doug is a very successful businessman and a testimony to the community.

·         A Bible Thumping Pastor, would often go to lunch with me and my staff and we would usually ask him controversial questions.  He would start off by asking us WHICH SIDE do we want him to take. - It was so much fun seeing how scripture could be BENT depending on your religious domination, upbringing and world view. – Being OPEN MINDED to this THUMPER allowed us to stand on his shoulders and see further than we ever otherwise could have. - Iron sharpens Iron; and he sure knocked off a bunch of my rough edges.

Acts 17:11 – Be open minded and validate with the Scriptures
¹¹ And the people of Berea were more OPEN-MINDED than those in Thessalonica, and THEY LISTENED EAGERLY to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. (NLT)

Urgency

·         When I am deep into a Word study, I often think, “I hope I get this published on the internet before the Lord comes back”.  I feel an URGENCY to get it finished because it is the only thing that I am leaving behind that is worth anything.

·         The Holy Spirit’s job is to plant the seed, our job is to water it, and God’s job is to bring in the harvest.  A Bible Thumper with a water pitcher is getting in on what God is doing.

·         My Friend Adelle almost lost her life in an auto accident and understands the URGENCY of life, how fleeting it is and not wanting anyone to perish, her conversations usually gets around to spiritual things; she has become known as a Bible Thumper.

• In the sermon on the Mountain, known as the Beatitudes, the second one is especially meaningful to the BIBLE THUMPER. – It’s about those that mourn and weep over perishing souls. – Their mourning is acknowledging their own sins with a broken heart before God; their mourning is just too deep to conceal.  – NYOBS 04.02 – BE ATTITUDES
• Growing together in the garden are Non- Believers, Believers and Make-Believers; it is not our job to separate them; OUR JOB IS TO WATER.
• Bible Thumping is not about judging someone; but comes with an urgency that this might be the last time someone has an opportunity to make THE decision of their lifetime; a decision that will affect their destiny for eternity; it’s that URGENT.

Matthew 5:4- Blessed are those who morn for the perishing

4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. NIV

Psalms 119:136 – Mourning for sin

136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes, for your law is not obeyed.

Isaiah 6:5 – Recognizing who I am before God

5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts KJV

Matthew 12:37 – UGRENCY – Judged by their confession
³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." (NKJV)

Thumper Paul

·         The Damascus Road Experience. - Saul whose name was later changed to Paul, believed in God, but persecuted the followers of the sect known as ‘THE WAY’, throwing them in jail until one day he was smacked down on the ground with a blinding light and heard a voice from heaven asking him; Saul, why do you persecute me? – He was struck blind on the Damascus Road and was taken to the house of Ananias where he received his sight back.

·         Paul who wrote most of the NT became a Bible Thumper after God got his attention and he “Saw the Light” – A Bible Thumper is someone who wants to share with you THE WAY of the Damascus Road Experience so you can have the opportunity to See the Light while you still can.

Acts 9:2-22 – Paul saw the light and became a BIBLE THUMPER
²  He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of followers of THE WAY he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
³ As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him.
⁴ He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?”
⁵ Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!
⁶  Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
⁷ The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!
⁸ Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus.
⁹ He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink.
¹⁰ Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied.
¹¹ The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now.
¹² I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.”
¹³ But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!
¹⁴ And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
¹⁵ But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.
¹⁶ And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”
¹⁷ So Ananias went and found Saul. He laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road, has sent me so that you might regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”
¹⁸ Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.
¹⁹ Afterward he ate some food and regained his strength. Saul stayed with the believers in Damascus for a few days.
²⁰ And immediately he began preaching about Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is indeed the Son of God!”
²¹ All who heard him were amazed. “Isn’t this the same man who caused such devastation among Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem?” they asked. “And didn’t he come here to arrest them and take them in chains to the leading priests?”
²² Saul’s preaching became more and more powerful, and the Jews in Damascus couldn’t refute his proofs that Jesus was indeed the Messiah.

(NLT)

Last Thoughts

• Once you have eaten creamy Butter Pecan Ice Cream heaped over hot Apple Pie with whip cream, and a cherry on top, it’s hard not to tell others about how good it is.

·         My most touching moment was when someone said to me, “I WANT WHAT YOU GOT."

• The Book gives us SIGNS to follow, that direct us to the “Tree of Life”, but as Christians we can become short sighted if we continue to just look at the SIGNS and not focus on the beauty that the signs point to. – The Book not only tells us about how we will live in the sweet bye and bye, but how we should live a godly life in the nasty now and now.

·         Politics and Religion invokes such DEEP PASSIONS and have started wars; that’s why we are told it is better to not discuss such things so we can keep the peace. – In Ireland the Catholics and Protestants are a split population from two different cultural and religious backgrounds, so they are not only separated by religion, but also divided by politics.

• The Zealot Resistance was an underground religious and political party; a fanatical Jewish sect that militantly opposed the Roman domination of Palestine. – These Torah Thumpers took the position that no one should be honored as Lord or King but God Jehovah. – So they rejected the foreign rule of the Romans. - To pay taxes to an Emperor was considered Idolatry and blasphemous to God. They had hope for a Messiah that would overthrow the Roman Government and restore the kingdom to Israel. -  NYOBS 32.13 - ZEALOTS
• The Sicarii were devoted supporters of God and His laws and secretly engaged in acts of intrigue, violence, force, deceptions plus ASSASSINATIONS of Roman soldiers and anyone else that opposed “The Torah Thumping Resistance” in order to keep it from achieving its liberating ends.  They were known as the dagger people indicative of their tactics, circulated in crowds during festivals and killing Roman sympathizers with daggers they concealed in their clothing.
• Bible Thumpers are Zealots, except they don’t kill people, they just have a zeal to get the Gospel message out that man was separated from God in the Garden of Eden when sin was introduced by eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Their good news is THERE IS ANOTHER TREE in the Garden.  They want everyone to find their way back to the Tree of Life.
• A Bible Thumper is just one beggar trying to show another beggar where to find bread while it still can be found. – It’s in the Book -

Acts 1:13 - Simon was a Zealot

13 Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. NIV

Isaiah 55:6 - Seek the LORD while He may still be found
⁶ Seek the LORD while He may be found; call to Him while He is near. (HCSB)

John 6:35 - I am the bread of life
³⁵ Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (ESV)

Revelation 22:14 – Given the right to come to the Tree of Life
¹⁴ Blessed are they that wash their robes, that they may have the right to come to THE TREE OF LIFE, and may enter in by the gates into the city. (ASV)

In the multitude of counselors,

there is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14

I am grateful to those that went before me providing concepts, ideas, historical

information, and scripture verses.  Because of them I can stand on their shoulders

                         and see further that I otherwise ever could have.              

                                                                                                                                     

A Commentary; Critical, Experimental and Practical - Eerdmans

All the Women of the Bible – Edith Deen

Antiquity of the Jews – Flavius Josephus Matthias

Apocrypha – Goodspeed

Baker Commentary on the Bible – Elwell

Bible Almanac; The – Packer-Tenney-White

Bible Commentary – F.B. Meyer

Bible Dictionary – Harper and Row

Bible Dictionary – Nelson’s

Dake’s Annotated Bible – Dake

English Standard Version Bible – ESV

Expositor’s Bible Commentary – Frank E. Gaebelein

Forgotten Books of Eden; The – World

Illustrated Bible Dictionary; The – Tyndale

Interlinear Greek-English New Testament - Baker

King James Version Bible – KJV

Lost Books of the Bible; The - World

Lost Books of the Bible; The - Bell

Matthew Henry’s Commentary - Zondervan

Missing Books of the Bible; The – Halo Press

Mysteries of the Bible – Readers Digest

Nag Hammadi Library; The – James M. Robinson

Nave’s Topical Bible - Zondervan

New International Dictionary of the Bible; The – Douglas - Tenney

New International Version Bible (2011) – NIV

NOTE: The “new” NIV has been corrupted & made gender neutral.  AVOID IT.

New Living Translation Bible - NLT

Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls – Hugh J. Schonfield

Thru the Bible – J. Vernon McGee

Vincent’s Word Studies of the New Testament – Mac Donald

Who’s Who in the Bible – Paul D. Gardner

Wycliffe Bible Commentary; The – Pfeiffer & Harrison

Wikipedia –

Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible; The – Tenney