Changes

'''Cafeteria Christianity''' refers to the practice of deciding for oneself which parts of the [[Bible]] to accept, as one might select certain foods in a cafeteria while rejecting others.<ref>[http://www.churchofgoddfw.com/monthly/cafeteria.html "Cafeteria Christianity," from the Church of God - DFW]</ref> This implies that the person is a [[Christian In Name Only|Christian in name only]] and, while believing in a deity, does not adhere to any particular creed of Christianity, preferring to decide for themself how to express their faith. Other terms include "salad-bar Christianity" and "[[cherry picking|cherry-picking]] Christianity." Cafeteria Christianity is an example of self-generated Christianity, i.e., "Christianity" developed to meet one's own demand profile.<ref>{{cite book| first1=Robert |last1=Ekelund |authorlink1= Robert Ekelund |first2= Robert |last2= Hébert |first3= Robert |last3=Tollison |authorlink3= Robert Tollison |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FP08EXnwP3YC&lpg=PA334&dq=cafeteria%20Christianity&pg=PA258#v=onepage&q=cafeteria%20Christianity&f=false |title=The Marketplace of Christianity |publisher= MIT Press |year= 2006 |page = 258 |isbn=9780262050821 }}</ref>

'''Cafeteria Christianity''' is a (generally derogatory) term used to refer to the practice of deciding for oneself which parts of the [[Bible]] to accept. The term derives from the idea of selecting certain foods in a cafeteria while rejecting others.<ref>[http://www.churchofgoddfw.com/monthly/cafeteria.html "Cafeteria Christianity," from the Church of God - DFW]</ref> This implies that the person believes in a deity, but may not adhere to any particular creed of Christianity, preferring to decide for themself how to express their faith. Other terms include "salad-bar Christianity" and "[[cherry picking|cherry-picking]] Christianity." Cafeteria Christianity is an example of self-generated Christianity, i.e., "Christianity" interpreted in the context of one's own beliefs.<ref>{{cite book| first1=Robert |last1=Ekelund |authorlink1= Robert Ekelund |first2= Robert |last2= Hébert |first3= Robert |last3=Tollison |authorlink3= Robert Tollison |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=FP08EXnwP3YC&lpg=PA334&dq=cafeteria%20Christianity&pg=PA258#v=onepage&q=cafeteria%20Christianity&f=false |title=The Marketplace of Christianity |publisher= MIT Press |year= 2006 |page = 258 |isbn=9780262050821 }}</ref>

This practice is particularly common among [[Liberal Christianity|liberal]] denominations, which cite only those passages which show Christ's forgiveness and mercy, but not His justice, in order to deny the existence of [[Hell]] and the necessity of [[faith]] for redemption. Matt. 7:1, "Judge not, that ye be not judged" is quoted out of context particularly often for this purpose.  Likewise, they selectively ignore passages which refute [[evolution]], condemn [[abortion]], make statements about the role of [[women]] that refute modern [[feminism|feminist]] dogmas, condemn [[homosexuality]], [[adultery]], and [[remarriage]] after an un-Biblical [[divorce]], and conflict with other liberal views. Liberal Christians are also fond of citing Scripture selectively in order to rebuke [[Hypocrisy|only someone else's sins]] or to [[special pleading|explain away]] the sins of liberal political allies.

This associated practice is particularly common among [[Liberal Christianity|liberal]] denominations, which often cite passages showing Christ's forgiveness and mercy in order to deny the existence of [[Hell]] or the necessity of [[faith]] for redemption. Matt. 7:1, "Judge not, that ye be not judged" is quoted particularly often for this purpose.  Likewise, they do not adhere to passages which refute [[evolution]], condemn [[abortion]], make statements about the role of [[women]] that refute modern [[feminism|feminist]] dogmas, condemn [[homosexuality]], [[adultery]], and [[remarriage]] after a [[divorce]], and conflict with other liberal views.

However, cafeteria Christianity is not limited to the left side of the political spectrum: conservative Christians are also fond of citing Scripture selectively in order to expose hypocrisy while explaining away the same issues in their own camp (such as criticizing the Catholic Church for covering up child molestation among its priests&#8212;arguing that the problem is due to the Church's prohibition against priests marrying&#8212;while ignoring similar cases involving married pastors or leaders within major Protestant churches or denominations).  A notable example of "right-wing" cafeteria Christianity is the [[Westboro Baptist Church]]; their followers quote verses about God's judgment but ignore those about mercy.

However, cafeteria Christianity is not limited to the left side of the political spectrum: conservative Christians often cite Scripture selectively in order to expose hypocrisy while explaining away the same issues in their own camp (such as criticizing the Catholic Church for covering up child molestation among its priests&#8212;arguing that the problem is due to the Church's prohibition against priests marrying&#8212;while ignoring similar cases involving married pastors or leaders within major Protestant churches or denominations).  A notable example of "right-wing" cafeteria Christianity can be found on Coservapedia.  For instance, Conservapedia articles cite the Bible to condemn homosexuality, while denouncing abortion despite certain passages of the Bible in support of it. (e.g. Numbers 5:  If feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure... The priest shall put the woman under oath and say to her, "If... you have made yourself impure by having sexual relations with a man other than your husband... may this water that brings a curse enter your body so that your abdomen swells or your womb miscarries.")

Espousing cafeteria Christianity invalidates a person's [[Christian witness]]. If a self-proclaimed Christian does not take the entire Bible seriously, unbelievers will assume that they need not do so, either. Also, cafeteria Christians have proved to be such an embarrassment to Christianity that committed Christians are now searching for new terminology to distinguish themselves from cafeteria Christians. A cafeteria Christian can even endanger the faith of others by spreading false doctrine as though it were genuine Christianity.<ref>[http://roblattin.hubpages.com/hub/How-To-Spot-A-Cafeteria-Christian How to Spot a Cafeteria Christian]</ref>

Due to contradictions found in the Bible and Christian organizations, adhering to every part of the Bible is technically impossible. Thus, anyone could theoretically be argued to be a "Cafeteria Christian".

==Bible teaching against cafeteria Christianity==

==Bible teaching against cafeteria Christianity==

==Proof texts==

==Proof texts==

A common tactic used by cafeteria Christians is reliance on '''proof texts'''.  A proof text (sometimes spelled prooftext) is a short passage from Scripture that is cited, typically [[Quoting out of context|out of context]], to support a doctrinal position that the [[Hermeneutics|Bible when read as a whole]] may not support.<ref>[http://www.biblestudy.org/beginner/definition-of-christian-terms/prooftexting.html Definition of Christian Terms - Prooftexting]</ref>  

A common tactic used by cafeteria Christians is reliance on '''proof texts'''.  A proof text (sometimes spelled prooftext) is a short passage from Scripture that is cited, to support a doctrinal position that the [[Hermeneutics|Bible when read as a whole]] may not support.<ref>[http://www.biblestudy.org/beginner/definition-of-christian-terms/prooftexting.html Definition of Christian Terms - Prooftexting]</ref>  

::"A text without a context is a pretext for a prooftext" <br>—<small>''Evangelical Protestant scholar Dr. Donald A. Carson, who attributed this saying to his father''.</small>  

::"A text without a context is a pretext for a prooftext" <br>—<small>''Evangelical Protestant scholar Dr. Donald A. Carson, who attributed this saying to his father''.</small>  

When cafeteria Christians are confronted with Bible verses that contradict the results of their prooftexting, they typically [[fallacy of invincible ignorance|ignore]] such Bible verses.  If they do respond, they switch quickly from "The Word of God is the Word of God, and it says what it says" to "Yes, that's what it says, but what it means is ...." This is a classic example of [[confirmation bias]].

When cafeteria Christians are confronted with Bible verses that contradict the results of their prooftexting, they typically respond that such beliefs only reflect ancient Jewish/Christian tradition, not God's word.

Conservative Christian historians and [[Christian apologetics|apologists]] are mindful of this statement by [[John Eck]] addressed to [[Martin Luther]], in the year 1521:<ref>Eck's statement here is supremely appropriate in light of Luther's refusal to submit to the judgment of the Church, the emperor Charles V, and the [[Pope]], and the teaching of Paul in [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13:1-5&version=KJV Romans 13:1-5].</ref><blockquote>

Conservative Christian historians and [[Christian apologetics|apologists]] are mindful of this statement by [[John Eck]] addressed to [[Martin Luther]], in the year 1521:<ref>Eck's statement here is supremely appropriate in light of Luther's refusal to submit to the judgment of the Church, the emperor Charles V, and the [[Pope]], and the teaching of Paul in [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13:1-5&version=KJV Romans 13:1-5].</ref><blockquote>