--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Too often we see the Bible through…" description: "\"Too often we see the Bible through whatever lens we get from our culture.\" — Brian D. McLaren" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86c/brian-d-mclaren-8226_bible_too-often-we-see-the-bible-through-whate_1914152.png" --- # Too often we see the Bible through whatever lens we get… ![“Too often we see the Bible through whatever lens we get from our culture.” quote by Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86c/brian-d-mclaren-8226_bible_too-often-we-see-the-bible-through-whate_1914152.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86c/brian-d-mclaren-8226_bible_too-often-we-see-the-bible-through-whate_1914152.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86c/brian-d-mclaren-8226_bible_too-often-we-see-the-bible-through-whate_1914152.png) > “Too often we see the Bible through whatever lens we get from our culture.” [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cultural lenses shape biblical interpretation, often distorting original intent. **In simple terms:** Culture colors how we read the Bible. Key Takeaway Recognize and question your cultural biases. Themes interpretation faith culture Mood reflective critical Type theological explanatory When to use this quote - personal study - church teaching - interfaith dialogue - academic research Key Concepts hermeneutics contextual theology Questions to Reflect On - How does your culture influence your reading of scripture? - Can you view the text from a different cultural perspective? A Different Perspective Cultural bias can limit spiritual growth if unexamined. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Bible Lens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible-lens-2900613/) [Biblical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biblical/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lens/) [Lens Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lens-culture-1656107/) [Lenses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lenses/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) ## Related quotes > [Food is a lens for culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-goodyear/food-is-a-lens-for-culture/) [Dana Goodyear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-goodyear/) > [ \[It's\] the lens through which your brain views the world that shapes your reality. And if we can change the lens, not only can… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-achor/it-s-the-lens-through-which-your-brain-views-the-world-that-shapes/) [Shawn Achor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-achor/) > [My lens of choice was always the 35 mm. It was more environmental. You can't come in closer with the 35 mm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-leibovitz/my-lens-of-choice-was-always-the-35-mm-it-was-more-environmental-you/) [Annie Leibovitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-leibovitz/) > [Everything at Apple can be best understood through the lens of designing. Whether it's designing the look and feel of the user experience, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-sculley/everything-at-apple-can-be-best-understood-through-the-lens-of/) [John Sculley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-sculley/) > [! discovered photography completely by chance. My wife is an architect; when we were young and living in Paris, she bought a camera to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastiao-salgado/discovered-photography-completely-by-chance-my-wife-is-an-architect/) [Sebastiao Salgado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastiao-salgado/) > [I have a thing with the camera. The lens is unconditional. It doesn't judge you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-have-a-thing-with-the-camera-the-lens-is-unconditional-it-doesn-t/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [The best zoom lens is your legs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/the-best-zoom-lens-is-your-legs/) [Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/) > [We are the strongest filter we can place before the lens. We point the lens both outward and inward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-caponigro/we-are-the-strongest-filter-we-can-place-before-the-lens-we-point-the/) [John Paul Caponigro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-caponigro/) > [Best wide-angle lens? Two steps backward. Look for the 'ah-ha'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernst-haas/best-wide-angle-lens-two-steps-backward-look-for-the-ah-ha/) [Ernst Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernst-haas/) > [If life were a camera, I'd have the lens cap on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schulz/if-life-were-a-camera-i-d-have-the-lens-cap-on/) [Charles M. Schulz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schulz/) > [The keyhole is my lens as a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-rodrigues/the-keyhole-is-my-lens-as-a-writer/) [Nelson Rodrigues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-rodrigues/) > [A screenplay is really an instruction manual, and it can be interpreted in any number of ways. The casting, the choice of location, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/a-screenplay-is-really-an-instruction-manual-and-it-can-be/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [I've always had the utmost respect and awe of what the lens can do and what a director can do with just a camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-gray-gubler/i-ve-always-had-the-utmost-respect-and-awe-of-what-the-lens-can-do/) [Matthew Gray Gubler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-gray-gubler/) > [Peace can be a lens through which you see the world. Be it. Live it. Radiate it out. Peace is an inside job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/peace-can-be-a-lens-through-which-you-see-the-world-be-it-live-it/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [The self is merely the lens through which we see others and the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/the-self-is-merely-the-lens-through-which-we-see-others-and-the-world/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) ## More by Brian D. McLaren > [I love writers who are insightful enough to be cynical but choose not to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-love-writers-who-are-insightful-enough-to-be-cynical-but-choose-not/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“I have a confession to make.121 Almost every time I tune in to religious radio or TV, I want to change my religion. I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/i-have-a-confession-to-make-121-almost-every-time-i-tune-in-to/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“If, for you, orthodox means finally “getting it right” or “getting it straight,” mine is a pretty disappointing, curvy orthodoxy. But if, for you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/if-for-you-orthodox-means-finally-getting-it-right-or-getting-it/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [That in itself is an act of peacemaking, because we're seeking to align our wills with God's will, our dreams with God's dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/that-in-itself-is-an-act-of-peacemaking-because-we-re-seeking-to/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“The wise preacher of Ecclesiastes might say, “There is a time for everything—a time to be laid-back and a time to be outraged; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/the-wise-preacher-of-ecclesiastes-might-say-there-is-a-time-for/) [Brian D. 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McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [The scarily brilliant Romantic poet and visionary William Blake dared to say what many of us have perhaps thought but kept to ourselves: “A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/the-scarily-brilliant-romantic-poet-and-visionary-william-blake-dared/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“A generous orthodoxy is like that. It acknowledges that we’re all a mess. It sees in our worst failures the possibility of our deepest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/a-generous-orthodoxy-is-like-that-it-acknowledges-that-we-re-all-a/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“Why is it that the choice among churches always seems to be the choice between intelligence on ice and ignorance on fire? —as quoted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/why-is-it-that-the-choice-among-churches-always-seems-to-be-the-2/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“globalism (for better or worse) transforms personal and ethnic identities, creating hyphenated and cosmopolitan identities—in which people consider themselves first and foremost citizens of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/globalism-for-better-or-worse-transforms-personal-and-ethnic/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [We must never underestimate our power to be wrong when talking about God, when thinking about God, when imagining God, whether in prose or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/we-must-never-underestimate-our-power-to-be-wrong-when-talking-about/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [“We must, therefore, never underestimate our power to be wrong when talking about God, when thinking about God, when imagining God—whether in prose or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/we-must-therefore-never-underestimate-our-power-to-be-wrong-when/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) > [You know what, the thing that breaks my heart is that there's no way I can answer it without hurting someone on either side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-d-mclaren/you-know-what-the-thing-that-breaks-my-heart-is-that-there-s-no-way-i/) [Brian D. McLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) [Explore all 82 Brian D. McLaren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-d-mclaren/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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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They came together the first day…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-macarthur/the-definition-of-a-church-is-crystal-clear-in-the-new-testament-we/) [John MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-macarthur/) [Browse all 8,465 Bible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Too often we see the Bible through whatever lens we get from our culture.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brian D. 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