Face value Quote by Frank Schaeffer
““Jesus certainly was not a “Bible believer,” as we use that term in the post Billy Graham era of American fundamentalist religiosity that’s used as a trade-marked product to sell religion. Jesus didn’t take the Jewish scriptures at face value. In fundamentalist terms, Jesus was a rule-breaking relativist who wasn’t even “saved,” according to evangelical standards. Evangelicals insist that you have to believe very specific interpretations of the Bible to be saved. Jesus didn’t. He undercut the scriptures.””
About This Quote
Source Interview: “The Gospel of the Bible” with Frank Schaeffer, 2020
Jesus challenged literalist interpretations, emphasizing deeper spiritual insight over rigid doctrine.
In simple terms: Jesus broke strict biblical literalism.
Key Takeaway
Embrace nuanced, compassionate faith.
Themes
religion
interpretation
spirituality
Mood
thoughtful
critical
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
theological
advice
When to use this quote
- church teaching
- personal study
- interfaith dialogue
- educational curricula
Key Concepts
theology
biblical criticism
historical context
Questions to Reflect On
- How can faith communities honor tradition while encouraging critical thought?
- What does “rule‑breaking” mean for modern believers?
A Different Perspective
Traditional believers may view reinterpretation as heresy, causing conflict.
![“[ Billy Graham ] is a hero to us all. His life of integrity. Somebody that can stick with it for that long and just stick with his message. What I love about Dr. Graham is he stayed on course. He didn't get sidetracked.” quote by Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2fd/joel-osteen-194_courses_billy-graham-is-a-hero-to-us-all-his-lif_295761.jpg)
