My neighbor Jonathan came to this country from Nigeria at least ten years ago. He obviously has never made any effort to acquire an American accent. I dread seeing him come out for smoke break after supper, as that spells a long, loud monologue most of which I’ll find unintelligible.

He’s full of fixed opinions about the Bible. These many books he dismisses as “man-made,” but other verses he holds to with fundamentalist tenacity. It makes no sense to me.

He keeps exhorting me to study the various books that did not find their way into the Protestant canon.

Ain’t gonna happen.

The Bible as we have it is plenty in and of itself for a Christian to seek to understand and live by; and I strive to live by it every moment I’m awake. I don’t need any more.

Reblogged 2023-01-05.