Thanks for the support Lynn, but you are incorrect in your pronouncing me an Arminian.
This thread began as a discussion (in a humorous way) about how folks twist the WORDS OF JESUS.
It's not about what my personal definition of the Gospel.
It's not about a Paul vs Jesus debate.
It's not about hunting down and exposing heretics.
It's about THE WORDS OF JESUS.
Please, folks. If you have nothing to contribute to THAT discussion, start a thread on your own topic and have at it.
Now, back to the topic. The red letter Bible didn't show up until around the early 1900s and was (and pretty much still is) an American thing. When it debuted there were those who objected for fear that the words of Jesus (in red ink) would come to be held in higher esteem than those that were not. I personally use only black letter Bibles, except for one volume I have that has the words of Jesus in the NT AND the words of God in the OT printed in red.
As far as twisting His words goes, I think part of it may be due to the proliferation of different version of the Holy Writ. Maybe it's the Mandela Effect for all I know.
We all know someone in our lives who has at one time or another been guilty of the aforementioned personal interpretations of the words of Jesus. I once heard an elderly lady say, "If English was good enough for Jesus - it's good enough for me". I didn't even know where to start to try and explain the truth to her. "Money is the root of all evil" is another favorite of the scripture twisters. Yet another is the parable of the wheat and tares juxtaposed with the "As the days of Noah were......". So, how's about we get back on topic and you share your favorite example of someone twisting the words of the Lord?