Archive - Sep 1, 2015

Favorite Religious Quotes?

Donald Trump’s non-answer to the question about his favorite Bible verse has generated a lot of interesting discussions online. It made me think of a verse that has been getting a lot of discussion online recently, Matthew 4:9

"All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."’

Somehow, this seems like a quote that captures Donald Trump to a T. Of course, those who have been paying attention to the discussion about Matthew 4:9 may find this all the more apt. If we read this verse in context, we have:

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, "All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me." Then Jesus said to him, "Go, Satan! For it is written, 'YOU SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND SERVE HIM ONLY.'"

So, it made me think, what if someone had asked me that on the campaign trail. Psalm 19:14 comes to my mind:

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

These are words I wish more politicians would pray. Other verses that come to my mind are John 1:1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 3:6

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Or even James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Of course, all of this is focused on the Judeo-Christian tradition. Some of my friends are Muslim and often quote the Quran. I’m not sure what they would say, or for that matter, what favorite religious quotes from other traditions would be.

What are yours?