“I Love Jesus, But Not the Bible” — Why That Doesn’t Work

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Have you ever heard someone say, “I love Jesus but not the Bible”? Here’s an illustration of why that statement doesn’t quite hold up.

A Lesson From Play-Doh

My wife, Kasi, and I have five children. Our two oldest daughters—ages 11 and 6—love playing with Play-Doh. They have all the tools, all the colors, and all the imagination in the world.

Confession time: I enjoy playing with them too. It takes me back to childhood. But there’s one rule in our house I keep breaking—they hate when I mix the colors. “Daddy, you’re ruining it!” they shout.

Why do kids love Play-Doh? Because they believe they can create anything they want. If it doesn’t turn out the way they like, they roll it back into a ball and start again.

Are We Worshipping a “Play-Doh Jesus”?

That same mindset may be why so many say they love Jesus but not the Bible.

They’re not rejecting Jesus—they’re rejecting the Jesus of the Bible. Instead, they’ve created a version of Him that fits their preferences. A “Play-Doh Jesus,” molded to suit their lifestyle.

When this Jesus stops being convenient? They roll Him up and reshape Him into someone new. But that isn’t worship. That’s idolatry.

The Real Jesus Disrupts Our Lives

The Jesus of Scripture doesn’t always agree with us. He disrupts our comfort. He challenges our indulgences. He commands us to deny ourselves, love our enemies, and forgive endlessly.

Honestly, His holiness can feel like a buzzkill in our pursuit of happiness. So what do we do? We bend Him into someone less offensive.

But when we create a Jesus who just nods along with our opinions and lifestyle—that’s not worship, it’s self-deception.

We Want God in Our Image

Let’s be real:

  • We don’t want to be made in God’s image—we want Him made in ours.

  • We want Him to vote like us, think like us, and feel how we feel.

  • We want Him to approve of what we approve of and ignore what we ignore.

We don’t want a King. We want a mascot.

But Here’s the Problem

If the version of Jesus you’re worshipping was built around your preferences, that’s not the real Jesus. It’s a misrepresentation—an idol with the name “Jesus” slapped on it.

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
— John 4:24

You can’t truly love Jesus if you reject the Bible that reveals Him. All we know about Jesus comes from Scripture. Everything else is just made up.

So Who Is the Jesus of the Bible?

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Shane Pruitthttp://www.shanepruitt.com
Shane serves as the Director of Evangelism for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. He and his wife, Kasi, reside in Rockwall, TX with their five children – Raygen, Harper, Titus, Elliot, & Glory. He has been in ministry for over 15 years as a church planter, lead pastor, associate pastor, and student pastor. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies, a Master’s Degree in History, and a PhD in Clinical Christian Counseling.

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