--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Christians take Scriptures out of context…" description: "\"Christians take Scriptures out of context to try to justify or to vindicate retreat and cowardice.\" — Randall Terry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/randall-terry-12421_bible_christians-take-scriptures-out-of-contex_1523355.jpg" --- # Christians take Scriptures out of context to try to… ![“Christians take Scriptures out of context to try to justify or to vindicate retreat and cowardice.” quote by Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/randall-terry-12421_bible_christians-take-scriptures-out-of-contex_1523355.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/randall-terry-12421_bible_christians-take-scriptures-out-of-contex_1523355.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d5/randall-terry-12421_bible_christians-take-scriptures-out-of-contex_1523355.jpg) > “Christians take Scriptures out of context to try to justify or to vindicate retreat and cowardice.” [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People often misuse religious texts to excuse fearfulness or inaction. **In simple terms:** Using scripture to excuse cowardice. Key Takeaway Avoid twisting texts to justify fear. Themes faith interpretation morality courage Mood critical reflective Type ethical political When to use this quote - political debates - personal decisions - public speeches - media commentary Key Concepts theology ethical reasoning Questions to Reflect On - How does context shape moral interpretation? - When does justification become excuse? A Different Perspective Such misuse can undermine genuine moral guidance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Christians](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians/) [Christians Scriptures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christians-scriptures-5635899/) [Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cowardice/) [Justify](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justify/) [Retreat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retreat/) [Retreat Cowardice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retreat-cowardice-3416993/) [Scriptures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scriptures/) [Scriptures Context](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scriptures-context-1615761/) ## Related quotes > [Retreat itself is often a plan of resistance and may be a precursor of great bravery and sacrifice. Every retreat is not cowardice which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/retreat-itself-is-often-a-plan-of-resistance-and-may-be-a-precursor/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [While I am sowing in one place, they ravage the field I have just left. I cannot be everywhere. If Christians had the Scriptures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-tyndale/while-i-am-sowing-in-one-place-they-ravage-the-field-i-have-just-left/) [William Tyndale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-tyndale/) > [Some extremists take elements of the sacred scriptures out of context.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/some-extremists-take-elements-of-the-sacred-scriptures-out-of-context/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I think so many people have taken biblical scriptures out of context on this, to say stuff like, 'Well, Jesus was a refugee.' And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-white/i-think-so-many-people-have-taken-biblical-scriptures-out-of-context/) [Paula White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-white/) > [“The Iran War has sharply brought into focus the distinction between two approaches to geopolitics. Faced with a boldly hostile enemy, some would not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-n-prasher/the-iran-war-has-sharply-brought-into-focus-the-distinction-between/) [R. N. Prasher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-n-prasher/) > [A man may be accused of cowardice for fleeing away from all manner of physical dangers but when things supernatural, insubstantial and inexplicable threaten…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-hill/a-man-may-be-accused-of-cowardice-for-fleeing-away-from-all-manner-of/) [Susan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-hill/) > [“The Holy Bible is the written code of holy teachings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-bible-is-the-written-code-of-holy-teachings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“It is certain that one who studies the scriptures every day accomplishes far more than one who devotes considerable time one day and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-w-hunter/it-is-certain-that-one-who-studies-the-scriptures-every-day/) [Howard W. Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-w-hunter/) > [ “Moksha \[Ultimate Liberation\] is not found in the scriptures, Moksha is in the Soul \[Our Real Self\].” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/moksha-ultimate-liberation-is-not-found-in-the-scriptures-moksha-is/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [The scriptures record remarkable accounts of men whose lives changed dramatically, in an instant, as it were: Alma the Younger, Paul on the road…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/the-scriptures-record-remarkable-accounts-of-men-whose-lives-changed/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“No knowledge comes from the outside world or an imaginary supernatural paradise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/no-knowledge-comes-from-the-outside-world-or-an-imaginary/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“Meditation on scriptures is soothing to the soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/meditation-on-scriptures-is-soothing-to-the-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Despite the fact that, the idea of religion has been filled by the human society with all sorts of garbage, and thus been made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/despite-the-fact-that-the-idea-of-religion-has-been-filled-by-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“The Soul (our true Self) has to be experienced, the Soul known through scriptures will not do. Work will not be completed through scriptural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/the-soul-our-true-self-has-to-be-experienced-the-soul-known-through/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) ## More by Randall Terry > [I want you to just let a wave of intolerance wash over you. I want you to let a wave of hatred wash over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/i-want-you-to-just-let-a-wave-of-intolerance-wash-over-you-i-want-you/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [It's kind of fun to listen to Christians who say: I'm a New Testament Christian. What other kind of Christian is there?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/it-s-kind-of-fun-to-listen-to-christians-who-say-i-m-a-new-testament/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [If you want to understand Jesus, you have to study the whole Bible. Christian duty is not defined solely by the words in red.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/if-you-want-to-understand-jesus-you-have-to-study-the-whole-bible/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [We are not at the same place we were in 1973. This country today is drifting, moving steadily towards the pro-life position because the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/we-are-not-at-the-same-place-we-were-in-1973-this-country-today-is/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [Most of the Ten Commandments are negative. The purpose of law is not to mandate good behavior. That concept comes from the French Revolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/most-of-the-ten-commandments-are-negative-the-purpose-of-law-is-not/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [It's interesting to note that all revolutionary literature was written by pastors. These guys were involved in a revolution against the mightiest power that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/it-s-interesting-to-note-that-all-revolutionary-literature-was/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [Once you depart from the Ten Commandments as being the foundation of right and wrong, you are in a free fall.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/once-you-depart-from-the-ten-commandments-as-being-the-foundation-of/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [He who frames the question wins the debate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/he-who-frames-the-question-wins-the-debate/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [I've traveled all over the country for years speaking in churches, teaching the Ten Commandments. It's amazing if 2 percent of any congregation knows…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/i-ve-traveled-all-over-the-country-for-years-speaking-in-churches/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [You better believe that I want to build a Christian nation, because the only option is a pagan nation. Not that the government can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/you-better-believe-that-i-want-to-build-a-christian-nation-because/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [What kind of America do people want to leave for their children? What horrors are down the road, stuff that was unthinkable 30 years ago?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/what-kind-of-america-do-people-want-to-leave-for-their-children-what/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [George Washington understood that the Bible is the place where God's records of right and wrong are kept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/george-washington-understood-that-the-bible-is-the-place-where-god-s/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [The Law of God in the Christian religion is the schoolmaster that leads us to Christ.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/the-law-of-god-in-the-christian-religion-is-the-schoolmaster-that/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [So many Christian leaders have been so tepid or downright silent on the advance of the homosexual agenda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/so-many-christian-leaders-have-been-so-tepid-or-downright-silent-on/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) > [Once you depart from the Ten Commandments, you have relativism, humanism, the abandonment of absolutes. You have anything. How long before child pornography is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-terry/once-you-depart-from-the-ten-commandments-you-have-relativism/) [Randall Terry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) [Explore all 55 Randall Terry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-terry/) ## 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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