If people were really about Jesus they would never live under a government OR the industrialized religions. Neither align with God.

Bible: thou shalt not kill

also Bible: ...except kill anyone you disagree with

Unfortunately, I feel like it's kind of inevitable that when you have texts that are supposed to guide you how to live, and people who are supposed to guide you in how to interpret those texts, that there will be those who will abuse it for their own purposes. This isn't even a particularly religious issue. I've definitely found people twisting technical documents to use as cudgels in both education and my career.

People will misuse appeals and appearance of authority. In a religious situation where there is an ultimate authority above all else? Of course they're going to misuse it to push their personal beliefs, good or bad.

I personally believe that the Bible has overwhelming amounts of explicit text and context clues that show that God's love extends to all. Especially when you consider the people Jesus traveled and spent time with in the context of the era.

But ultimately I can only control my own actions and what I pass to others. I try not to worry about the assholes misusing it. One of the many practical comforts of Christianity is that we can believe they will eventually answer for it to that highest authority.

Hate this genre of post pretending the bible is good on this stuff when it has so many contradicting messages you can use it to justify wealth exchange or the poor accepting their place and so on not a winning strategy to pretend it has a coherent ideology that supports you.

Almost as if the Bible is fake news conservative media.

good cut lol

I really respect that this is honest criticism, posted on c/OpenChristian, and it's not taken down by a mod who deems it "disparaging" or something. Pretty cool if you ask me, to be able to have honest discussion outside of religiosity