--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I am deeply distressed by what I only can…" description: "\"I am deeply distressed by what I only can call in our Christian culture the idolatry of the Scriptures. For many Christians, the Bible is not a pointer..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/brennan-manning-959_bible_i-am-deeply-distressed-by-what-i-only-ca_878968.jpg" --- # I am deeply distressed by what I only can call in our… ![“I am deeply distressed by what I only can call in our Christian culture the idolatry of the Scriptures. For many Christians, the Bible is not a pointer to God but God himself... God cannot be confined within the covers of a leather-bound book. I develop a nasty rash around people who speak as if…” quote by Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/brennan-manning-959_bible_i-am-deeply-distressed-by-what-i-only-ca_878968.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/brennan-manning-959_bible_i-am-deeply-distressed-by-what-i-only-ca_878968.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e2c/brennan-manning-959_bible_i-am-deeply-distressed-by-what-i-only-ca_878968.jpg) > “I am deeply distressed by what I only can call in our Christian culture the idolatry of the Scriptures. For many Christians, the Bible is not a pointer to God but God himself... God cannot be confined within the covers of a leather-bound book. I develop a nasty rash around people who speak as if mere scrutiny of its pages will reveal precisely how God thinks and precisely what God wants.” [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Treating Scripture as a literal deity limits spiritual understanding; the Bible should guide, not replace, personal divine experience. **In simple terms:** Bible is a guide, not God itself. Key Takeaway Seek personal connection with the divine beyond text. Themes faith interpretation scripture spirituality Mood contemplative serious Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - sermon preparation - Bible study groups - personal meditation - interfaith discussions Key Concepts theology personal revelation Questions to Reflect On - What does the Bible mean to you personally? - How do you balance text and experience? A Different Perspective Some view the Bible as literal truth, challenging this view. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bounds/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Idolatry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idolatry/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Ragamuffin gospel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ragamuffin-gospel/) [Scripture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scripture/) [Scrutiny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scrutiny/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“If I am right, then enjoying music involves a kind of outward-going sympathetic movement. In music, as in sex and architecture, the relation between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-scruton/if-i-am-right-then-enjoying-music-involves-a-kind-of-outward-going/) [Roger Scruton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-scruton/) > [“Those who believe (in the Qur'an), and those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Christians and the Sabians - any who believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdullah-yusuf-ali/those-who-believe-in-the-qur-an-and-those-who-follow-the-jewish/) [Abdullah Yusuf Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdullah-yusuf-ali/) > [The scriptures of Christians, Mussalmans and Hindus are all replete with the teaching of ahimsa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/the-scriptures-of-christians-mussalmans-and-hindus-are-all-replete/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [The god who exacts the last drop of blood from his Son so that his just anger, evoked by sin, may be appeased, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-god-who-exacts-the-last-drop-of-blood-from-his-son-so-that-his/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [The first step in faith is to stop thinking about God at the time of prayer.-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-first-step-in-faith-is-to-stop-thinking-about-god-at-the-time-of/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [A saint is not someone who is good but who experiences the goodness of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/a-saint-is-not-someone-who-is-good-but-who-experiences-the-goodness/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Nevertheless, the central affirmation of the Reformation stands: through no merit of ours, but by his mercy, WE HAVE BEEN RESTORED to a right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/nevertheless-the-central-affirmation-of-the-reformation-stands/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [There is a beautiful transparency to honest disciples who never wear a false face and do not pretend to be anything but who they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/there-is-a-beautiful-transparency-to-honest-disciples-who-never-wear/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [When we wallow in guilt, remorse, and shame over real or imagined sins of the past, we are disdaining God's gift of grace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/when-we-wallow-in-guilt-remorse-and-shame-over-real-or-imagined-sins/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [The ragamuffin gospel reveals that Jesus forgives sins, including the sins of the flesh; that He is comfortable with sinners who remember how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-ragamuffin-gospel-reveals-that-jesus-forgives-sins-including-the/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [The ragamuffin gospel says we can't lose, because we have nothing to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-ragamuffin-gospel-says-we-can-t-lose-because-we-have-nothing-to/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“Suffering, failure, loneliness, sorrow, discouragement, and death will be part of your journey, but the Kingdom of God will conquer all these horrors. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/suffering-failure-loneliness-sorrow-discouragement-and-death-will-be-2/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [The beauty of the ragamuffin gospel lies in the insight it offers into Jesus: the essential tenderness of His heart, His way of looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/the-beauty-of-the-ragamuffin-gospel-lies-in-the-insight-it-offers/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [All that is good is ours not by right but by the sheer bounty of a gracious God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/all-that-is-good-is-ours-not-by-right-but-by-the-sheer-bounty-of-a/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [God not only loves me as I am, but also knows me as I am. Because of this I don't need to apply spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/god-not-only-loves-me-as-i-am-but-also-knows-me-as-i-am-because-of/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) ## More by Brennan Manning > [Accepting the reality of our sinfulness means accepting our authentic self. Judas could not face his shadow; Peter could. 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IT IS AN ACT OF FAITH in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/genuine-self-acceptance-is-not-derived-from-the-power-of-positive/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [That which is denied cannot be healed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/that-which-is-denied-cannot-be-healed/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“It is not objective proof of God’s existence that we want but the experience of God’s presence. That is the miracle we are really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/it-is-not-objective-proof-of-god-s-existence-that-we-want-but-the/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“He who is alone with his sins is utterly alone. 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If God is not in the whirlwind, He may be in a Woody Allen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/grace-abounds-in-contemporary-movies-books-novels-films-and-music-if/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [My trust in God flows out of the experience of his loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/my-trust-in-god-flows-out-of-the-experience-of-his-loving-me-day-in/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [I you think you've done it, then you're wrong. Because you're not finished until you have achieved everything that you never thought you could.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/i-you-think-you-ve-done-it-then-you-re-wrong-because-you-re-not/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [May all your expectations be frustrated, may all your plans be thwarted, may all your desires be withered into nothingness, that you may experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/may-all-your-expectations-be-frustrated-may-all-your-plans-be/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Our identity rests in God's relentless tenderness for us revealed in Jesus Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/our-identity-rests-in-god-s-relentless-tenderness-for-us-revealed-in/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“When I get honest I admit that I am a bundle of paradoxes. I believe and I doubt, I hope and I get discouraged.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/when-i-get-honest-i-admit-that-i-am-a-bundle-of-paradoxes-i-believe/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“At Sunday worship, as in every dimension of our existence, many of us pretend to believe we are sinners. Consequently, all we can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/at-sunday-worship-as-in-every-dimension-of-our-existence-many-of-us/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [“You tell others about Me - that I am a loving God. Your words are glib. My words are written in the blood of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/you-tell-others-about-me-that-i-am-a-loving-god-your-words-are-glib/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) [Explore all 320 Brennan Manning quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) Michael Arnold > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) Robert A. Peterson > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) Stephen Taylor > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) Walsham How > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. The Bible is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abel-ferrara/where-i-come-from-you-re-not-raised-to-think-on-your-own-it-s-not/) [Abel Ferrara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abel-ferrara/) > [“I felt like praying or something, when I was in bed, but I couldn't do it. I can't always pray when I feel like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger/i-felt-like-praying-or-something-when-i-was-in-bed-but-i-couldn-t-do/) [J.D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger/) > [What comes to mind when you think of heaven? 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