Here is a list of unbiblical teachings that are accepted in some church groups:
Sin-you-must — teaches that you will continue to sin after being saved, and that a believer sins in word, thought, and deed daily. This teaching makes people easy prey to temptations and leaves them thinking that sin in a believer’s life is normal.
Further Reading: Sin You Must Teaching
Easy-Believism — teaches that godly sorrow, repentance, and obedience to Christ are not necessary. Instead, all you must do is believe. This teaching can have people that are only under conviction thinking they are saved.
Eternal Security> — teaches that if – once you are saved – you go back to your old life and live and die in sin, you will still go to heaven. This teaching gives a false sense of security and can work a carelessness in how you deal with temptations.
Further Reading: Considering Eternal Security and the IF Scriptures
Sinning Christians — teaches that a Christian will not experience spiritual death if they commit one sin, and that it takes either practicing sin or ‘big’ sins like murder or adultery before you are spiritually separated from God, and are no longer a child of God. This teaching takes away the seriousness of what happens when a Christian sins. It also leaves a person thinking they are a Christian when they are not.
Further Reading: Committing Sin Brings Spiritual Death
Unconditional Election– teaches that God pre ordained- before the world was created – who would be saved. Those who are not pre ordained as saved, have no chance to be saved. This teaching will leave the saved with a false sense of security and the unsaved with no hope that they can do anything about their unsaved state.
Pentecostalism– teaches that a prayer language called ‘tongues’ is the evidence of having experienced a higher spiritual experience after conversation called the ‘Baptism of the Holy Spirit’. This teaching will leave a person trusting in an external manifestation that is experienced in unorthodoxed groups like the Mormons as evidence of conversion and a higher spiritual experience.
Baptismal Regeneration — teaches you are saved when you are baptized and you can’t be saved without water baptism. This teaching can cause people to trust in baptism as proof of salvation, and can leave those that have been converted – but not baptized – doubting their conversion.
Mistakes-are-sin– teaches that mistakes in opinion, judgments, and actions including faults, errors, and any conduct that comes short of complete angelic perfection is unwillful sin, and that there is no difference between what some are calling unwillful sins and willful sins. This teaching makes no differentiation between mistakes and sins. This teaching leads the Christian to confess that they are a sinner and opens them up to the unbiblical teaching of ’sin-you-must’ – with the excuse that we are all human and can’t help but make mistakes.
Further Reading: Are Errors, Faults, and Mistakes Sin
One True Visible Church (OTVC)– groups that hold this doctrine teach that their group is the one true visible church. They teach that all honest people will come to them, and that God is not working with any other group but them and if any leave the group, they are no longer saved. Examples of groups that hold this teaching are: The Watchtower Society, 2 x 2, Church of God in Christ Mennonite (Holdeman), and The Church of God (Restoration). This teaching is used to build a union in conduct, dress, and doctrine by the groups ministers – which claim they have the authority to cast disagreeing members out of the Body of Christ, and to take away their right standing with God.
Further Reading: One True Visible Church (OTVC) Teaching
December 12th, 2008 at 8:24 am
I cannot believe how off you are! I notice no scriptural references…Because you do not get your beliefs from scripture. How ironic that you have a picture of a wolf in sheep’s clothing; a nice likeness of your doctrine!
December 12th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Hi Ernie Carrillo;
>>>I notice no scriptural references
Thank you for your comments. I have dealt with most of these views more extensively in other posts and posted supported them there with scriptural quotes. After the short explanation in a number of the teachings you will note that I have a link to more reading. If you check those out you will notice that I have used scriptures there to show where these teachings are wrong. Thanks for pointing that out as I should write a post on the teachings that I have listed there and don’t have a full article on.
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July 24th, 2009 at 2:10 am
Hi Bob,
Thanks for having this site. I enjoy your articles!
You bring up some valid unbiblical teachings in this article, however, Baptismal Regeneration is not one of them. True we need to experience an ‘inner conversion’ i.e. godly sorrow and repentance. But we must also partake of the ‘outer conversion’ i.e. baptism in water to experience forgiveness of sins. The following scriptures make this clear:
Acts 22:16, Titus 3:5, IPeter3:21, Acts 2:38. This is the teaching of the first century church.
The ante-Nicene church frequently referred to the act of water baptism as ‘grace’. I’ll quote from Clement of Alexandria in his ‘Instructor’ Book 1 chapter 6 which discusses baptism:
“This work is variously called grace, and illumination, and perfection, and washing. Washing by which we cleanse away our sins. Grace, by which the penalties of our sins are cancelled. And illumination, by which that holy light of salvation is beheld, that is, by which we see God clearly.”
In fact, the early church writers write in unanimity about the importance of baptism in the salvation process. True, the early Christians believed that infants were ’saved’ without baptism because they had no way to repent or even understand sin. And many early Christians believed there was a ‘baptism in blood’ that saved those who came to faith and were quickly martyred before having a chance of being baptized, but the normal path to conversion in the early church included being buried with Christ in the waters of baptism to arise to a new life. Please show me from the Bible and Early Church record if this is not the case.
I know this is an unpopular view in our ‘modern times’ but this is the teaching of the first, second, and third century church i.e. there needs to be an inner and outer conversion.
July 24th, 2009 at 2:25 am
Hi Dean,
Will we all like to quite the early church fathers when they support our view we will all have to admit there are a number of teachings that the early church fathers teach that we don’t hold to. This is the case as many of the early church fathers of the first three centuries teach different things. Therefore we can only conclude that what the early church teaches is not binding. If it was we would have to accept all that they teach and that is not even dealing with the issue of their differences.
Therefore we much go to the scriptures.
I would hold that if we can find examples in the Bible of those that were saved without water baptism that we must conclude that it is possible also now to be saved with out baptism.
I do hold that if you know that you need to be baptized and you refuse to obey that that is sin and if you don’t repent of that disobedience and walk in the light you will be lost. Also I would hold that when a person is saved they need to be baptized right away. The congregation I currently attend just two a few weeks ago held a baptism at the river the same day the man got saved.
So when we look to the scriptures we find the man or the cross got saved with out baptism (Lk 23″42-43) and also those of Cornelius were saved, and had the gift of the Holy Spirit poured out on them, and they spake by the gift of languages (Act 10:45-47).
July 24th, 2009 at 3:44 am
Hi Bob,
I agree-we must always go to the Scriptures first. The early church fathers are helpful with some of the more ambiguous issues of the Bible, in seeing how they understood these very issues.
With all due Christian love and respect I don’t think the examples you bring up in Scripture are examples of being saved outside of New Testament baptism. Let me explain:
1. Thief on the cross-Jesus did forgive this man’s sins and said he would be with Him in paradise. I have no disagreement here. But, this man lived and died under the Old Testament. There was no New Testament in existence because Jesus had not died yet. A testament or will only goes into effect upon the death the the person it is from. Also Jesus is God, while he was on the earth he forgave sin as he saw fit. He instituted baptism as a way to enter into Him after his death. So this scenario does not truly count as a person who should have been baptized into Christ.
2. Cornelius and his household. This event did happen under the New Testament. I don’t think they were saved when the Holy Spirit was poured out on them, Here’s why: In Acts 11 Peter recounts the Cornelius event in Jerusalem. Verses 14 and 15 tell a key fact: ‘and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all of your household. And as I BEGAN TO SPEAK, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as he did upon us at the beginning.’ Peter hadn’t finished his message of salvation, he had just begun when Cornelius’ household received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Verse 14 makes it clear that salvation would come through the words of Peter not on some other event.
It needs to be understood also that Cornelius and his household signify the ‘ushering in’ of the Kingdom for gentiles. Up to this point the church was composed of Jews and Jewish converts. God allowed the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the speaking in tongues for Cornelius’ household to show Peter the Gospel is for all. This was the same baptism of the Holy Spirit found among the apostles in Acts 2 when the Jesus Kingdom was first ushered in.
Interestingly, Peter gives the message of salvation in both Acts 2 and Acts 10. Jesus did tell Peter that he would have the keys to the Kingdom. We see it fulfilled for Jews and for gentiles in these two Chapters. Acts 2:38 makes it clear ‘Repent (inner conversion) and each of you be baptized (outer conversion) in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Forgiveness of sins is normally through both of these conversions occurring.
With that said I refuse to put God in a box. God is God and can still choose to save anyone he desires. I gave a couple of examples of people that the early Christians believed could be saved without baptism. But the two examples I cited were people who could not experience both the inner and outer conversion.
I post this because it is not right to label ‘baptismal regeneration’ as an unbiblical teaching. It is the teaching of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Century church. It is part of the conversion process. It is not just something you do out of obedience. It is being baptized into Christ (Romans 6:1-4).
Your statement:
‘Baptismal Regeneration — teaches you are saved when you are baptized and you can’t be saved without water baptism. This teaching can cause people to trust in baptism as proof of salvation, and can leave those that have been converted - but not baptized - doubting their conversion.’
I ask what’s wrong with trusting in baptism as proof of salvation? If you have godly sorrow, have repented and have been baptized you have followed the course of conversion in the New Testament. And if a person has been ‘converted’ (inner conversion) but not baptized(outer conversion) they should be doubtful of their salvation unless they have had no opportunity to get baptized e.g. martyred for their faith upon repentance with no chance of getting baptized.
Written in Christian love and with deep respect for your walk in the Lord,
July 24th, 2009 at 4:08 am
Hi Dean,
I would hold that the law and the prophets were until John and then the kingdom of God was preached and men pressed into it. But so that we don’t digress on that point I am willing to move from the thief on the cross to Cornelius. You state that “this event did happen under the New Testament”. I am not sure if I understand you on this point. You do believe the new covenant started with the death of Christ don’t you? (Heb 9:16-17). So if the New covenant started with the death of Christ than clearly the event of Cornelius happened under the new covenant time?
The next issue I would disagree with is that Peter had to finish preaching before Cornelius could be saved. I think you are stretching there. Next the idea that when Cornelius had the Holy Spirit come on him and he spoke with the gift of languages but he was still not saved is a long stretch also.
Do you believe that people can receive the gifts of the Spirit and still be unregenerate?
Also the idea of not “put[ting] God in a box” becomes a cure all for every thing. You can use this to take care of any thing you want. You can have God making exceptions where ever you want him to and I don’t agree with that.
If there is an example of some one being born again with out baptism then all can be born again with out baptism.
I think it is clear to all unbiased people that Cornelius was saved post-baptism.
Seeing how Cornelius was saved post-baptism then baptism is not a requirement for salvation but an answer of a good conscience toward God (1Pe 3:21).
As far as your language “outer conversation” and “inner conversation” these are terms that we don’t find in the new testament and I don’t see any scripture to support such a teaching.
You ask what is wrong with teaching that baptism is proof of salvation. That should be very clear. Anybody without godly sorrow or repentance can get baptized (and for some that would be seen as salvation). But no one can get saved with out godly sorrow and repentance. Hence the true proof is godly sorrow and repentance.
July 25th, 2009 at 1:47 am
Hi Bob,
Yes, I do believe the New Covenant started with the death of Christ. Therefore the event of Cornelius began under the new covenant. I don’t see the stretch you are referring to. The Scriptures are quite clear.
As for my statement about not putting God in a box. I was simply stating what the early Christians believed about one martyred for Christ who had NO opportunity for baptism. This primarily happened with Roman soldiers who were commanded to kill Christians and upon seeing the Christians unwavering faith in Christ, refused to kill them. This meant their death on the spot as well. True, this is not found in Scripture.
I agree that the terms ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ conversion are not found in the Bible. I use these only to show good people like yourself that godly sorrow and repentance is not the complete picture of salvation.
[Edited by Bob Mutch]
July 26th, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Hi Dean,
I edited your last post and removed content that was not new but a repeat of what ever you had already said. I feel like I have make all points that the Lord wants me to make and I think we should close our discussion with the points in your last point. I don’t feel like it with benefit either of use to discuss this point further. Thank you for bringing up your points.
July 27th, 2009 at 2:57 am
Hi Bob,
Although I do believe I brought up some additional points in my last post that are important to understand, I am powerless to do anything on this blog since you are the final editor. I felt our discussion was civil and I thank you for it.
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:26 am
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:12-14) Probably the clearest verses in the New Testament concerning Christians that PRACTICE sin.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Hi John,
I think the following scriptures are even clearer but the one you posted was a good scripture also.
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
-1Joh 2:3-4
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
-1Joh 3:6-8
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
-1Joh 3:10
We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
-1Joh 3:14-15
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
-1Joh 4:20
We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
-1Joh 5:18
Thanks!
Bob.
November 30th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
The way you have described this is very thorough. I will link your blog page to mine.
[Editor: link removed for comment spam.]
December 1st, 2009 at 9:34 am
Hi firstbathrooms.co.uk,
Some one is posting comment spam to my blog and linking to your site.
Bob.
January 3rd, 2010 at 4:07 am
About Baptismal regeneration I am of the firm opinion that water baptism is important and when we are baptized into the Lord the old self dies and we put on the new likeness of Christ. However, we will continue to face the temptations to sin but the extent of sinnning will depend on our prayer life and our spiritual life. The more we pray and the more we are involved with the church (the bride of Christ) the lesser we sin and we should repent of any shortcomings as a daily practise. We will not have time to think of sin if we keep ourselves busy with reading the word of God, praying, interceeding, fasting, winning souls and being faithful in meeting our brothers and sisters. But water baptism should not be taken as a guarantee of entry to heaven all the same it is required by a believer if he or she has accepted the Lord as personal Saviour. The Lord has stressed emphasis on the inner heart. For example my dad accepted the Lord just two days before he died and he was on bed so there was no way he could be baptized and no one expected him to pass away immediately after that conversion. Though he was sick as he was looking much healthier after his conversion. But I know that he is with the Lord now.
August 22nd, 2010 at 1:55 am
2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
The gospel is simple, as stated above. It’s all about Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross. (1 Cor. 1:23, 1 Cor. 2:2) It is NOT about us and our filthy rags of righteousness. (Isa. 64:6)
“Easy believism,” as it is called here, is actually “BIBLE believism.” Please read the following scriptures to erase any doubt on this issue: John 6:28-29, John 3:36, John 3:16, Romans 10:13, Romans 10:9, Acts 16:31, Acts 10:43, Romans 4:4-6, Galatians 2:21, Revelation 22:17, 1 John 5:12, and 1 John 5:5. Here is free Bible software, if you don’t have a Bible. http://www.e-sword.net/ Don’t take my word for it, read for yourselves. Brothers and sisters, become handy with the sword! Here is just one of the above scriptures:
Acts 16:30-31 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (31) And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Please notice. They did not say “thou might be saved, if thou wilt continue to forsake thy sin” There was not any other condition for salvation offered by the Apostles, only belief. And there was not one bit of insecurity on the issue of whether believing would save them. All of the Bible testifies to this. Abraham was saved by believing. David (an adulterer) was saved by believing. Jonah (a disobedient prophet) did not want to take the simple message of repentance to Nineveh, because he hated Nineveh and knew they would be saved by simple repentance (turning to the Lord)!
In regards to “sin we must” as it is called on this page, hear the word of God:
1John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
I did not say this, God did. Anyone who says they have stopped sinning or can stop sinning is deceiving themselves. For more information on how you have not measured up to God’s perfect standard, please start with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17), and if you are a believer, progress to the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5-7), where Jesus raised the bar to a spiritual level for a spiritual people (His disciples).
Gal 3:24-25 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
The theology presented here is actually the same as Catholic theology repackaged in a protestant form. Every false religion in the world teaches that salvation is earned by works, spiritual discipline, or some other form of righteousness achieved by human greatness; including, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and New Age. Many people who teach works salvation claim salvation by faith alone, but then they immediately require “sin free living”, or change the Biblical definition of repentance (which is a change of mind). The repentance that the Bible speaks of with regard to salvation is coupled to the phrase “and believe” (Mark 1:15), not to the phrase “from sin.” Once again, hear what the Bible says:
Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Jas 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Christianity is about Jesus Christ, and your relationship with him. Anyone who is born again will bear fruit, which will result in many changes in a believer, including holiness (being set apart). These happen because a person is saved, not in order that a person may be saved. The difference is day and night, and vitally important. Biblical salvation is to realize your utter hopelessness and sinfulness and turn in faith to Christ to be saved. At that point, you are born again, and have passed from death into life. (John 5:24) The theology presented here teaches that salvation is determined by works (living a sin free life), and that you will never know in this life if you are truly saved (because you may lose your salvation tomorrow if you stop living right (see below, the Bible teaches you can know for certain)).
Notice here, Catholics say “mortal sin”, here all “sin” leads to spiritual death, and Catholics say “venial sins” , and here we have “mistakes”. Next time you get pulled over for speeding, tell the officer that it was just a mistake, and note the response you get. Please notice, Uzzah touched the ark of God to try and steady it and was killed on the spot. (2 Sam 6:6-7)
You either have Christ’s righteousness imputed to you (Romans 4:6), or you can go to God and tell him how many wonderful things you did for Him, as those who are cast out of the kingdom do before hearing “I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:22-23)
And with regard to “eternal security”, the Bible teaches that you can KNOW you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13) You cannot possibly know that you possess something eternal (which means forever, by the way) if you can lose it tomorrow. Jesus says in John 3:16 that whosoever believeth on Him has eternal life. If that same person that believeth dies spiritually tomorrow by not living a sin free life, he did not have eternal life, he only had temporary life. But again, hear what the Bible says:
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
You say, “aha! That scripture says you have to walk a certain way!” If you are truly born again, you will walk after the Spirit, because you are born of the Spirit. (John 3:6) It will become your consuming passion and joy in life. The theology presented here, however, offers no security (the scripture says be careful for nothing (Philippians 4:6), no assurance (Hebrews 10:.22 tells us to have assurance), and no way to know you are saved (see above). This is characteristic of modern sinful society (divorce, distant families) and fleshly love, rather than Agape love. The Bible says our God is a refuge (Psalm 9:9) and a comfort (2 Cor. 1:3), trying to save the lost (John 3:17, 2 Peter 3:9), and calling us to take the gospel of peace (Romans 10:15, Eph. 6:15). It’s hard to understand in this fleshly, godless society…but God loves you so much and is so faithful, that you will respond to Him if you are His child. He is not like a modern spouse who discards their relationship when things get tough. Want proof? Look at modern Israel, the nation that rejected Jesus. He is faithful to the bitter end!
Do you know Jesus? Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father but by me.” (John 14:6) The Bible is clear about salvation. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. (Acts 16:31). This message is NOT an easy message, most people refuse to humble themselves and accept that they are not now, nor can they ever be good enough on their own to merit the kingdom of God. If it were easy, the whole world would believe His word, but few people do these days. There are MANY false religions, and they all teach that you can better yourself somehow, and eventually you may be good enough for God. Even psychology teaches this lie, minus God, of course. The gospel is all about Jesus Christ, our Lord and wonderful savior, not about our prideful attempts at righteousness.
We tend to get wrapped up in a lot of theology here in rich America, instead of remembering the gospel that saved us, picking up the cross and walking on. I was given the gospel of John, read it, knew I was a sinner, and came to Christ begging for forgiveness 17 years ago. I was saved that very moment. After time, I went back into a worldly lifestyle. But I was never, not one time “unsaved”. I had the Holy Spirit still inside of me, convicting me of sin (vastly different from being unsaved and just going on in sin blindly). I still witnessed to people, I still read my Bible, I still prayed. No one knows the heart except God, and thats what “repentance” and “faith” are really all about. Being saved is an inside change (Matthew 23:26), that eventually cleans up the outside. It’s not because we try to do it. It’s all by His grace.
October 26th, 2010 at 3:54 am
I agree with Ian in many things.
My parents were not baptized Christains and did not attend church until much later in life, but they demonstrated their love for God so greatly in our lives. From we were toddlers they’d sent us to church each Sunday, gave us offerings, buy us all kinds and levels of Bibles and storybooks etc. I could read since I was four, and I enjoyed the various bible stories. As a result, from a tender age I understood many Godly principles and truly love God and people. I never liked missing children’s church. As a family we’d often have home bible studies and morning prayer meetings even though we weren’t “Christian”. Being immersed in a rich Christian lifestyle I honestly cannot say when I “got saved.” I’ve always love and respect God for as long as I know myself.
When I was ten, in grade seven, one morning in school devotion the leader asked all the christians to raise their hand. Deep down I knew I was as a Christian, but because I wasn’t baptized I couldn’t raise my hand. I was taught that if you are not baptized you are not save. You are not a Christian. I now know that is not true. There are no words to express how I felt that morning. I felt I was had let God down because I wasn’t among those who openly identified with Him. I fought back tears, and I vowed in my heart it would never happen again. I will be baptized. The church I attended held baptism only when they recruit enough people or if you’ve been waiting for baptism for a long time and they fear you will backslide. So then, if a person accepts Christ in her life today and isn’t baptized until nine months or a year later, does it mean she isn’t save until she is baptized? Nothing in my life changed when I got baptized at eleven. According to John 3:16, baptism is not a criterion for salvation. People can be save and are just as much a Christian as one who is baptized. However, if you truly love God you would want to do everything to express your love and appreciation for Him; and baptism is one such way. It is similar to communion and giving offerings and restraining from sinning etc. They are not prerequisites for being saved, but when you are saved your life is such that these things are a part of you. It’s like a couple: the wife loves her husband and she is still his wife regardless if he gives her precious gifts or not, but to express his love and appreciation for her, he buys her nice things, or make sacrifices or do things to express his love without her asking.
I’ve seen the church hurt people with doctrines and oh yes, they often have scriptures to “prove” it. There were times when I wondered if the bible was really inspired by God. Then God revealed a very important and fundamental thing to me. And that was: Do not take the bible word or word, rather apply the fundamental principle that is being conveyed. Since then I have gained a whole outlook on everything. I learn to respect and accept people even if they are quite different from me: Muslims, prostitutes, homosexuals….They may be different and they may do things that I wouldn’t but I don’t know their situation. If many of us christians were born in a Muslim country we wouldn’t be Christians today. I am not a homosexual, but there are many people who are born as such. Some have both male and female chromosomes, some have male chromosomes yet their bodies develop just as normal women (except for reproductive organs). Many people don’t even know these things and so are quick to persecute. It wasn’t until a year ago when I actually had genetic proof and sound knowledge of such things that my perspective changed. All my life I have been taught that God don’t make homosexuals and they are going to hell because they can’t be christians. We cannot deny that God has indeed made some people hermaphrodites, so who are we to say how these people should choose to express their sexuality. After all they are neither males nor females. Yes, I know that there are places in the Bible that does speak against homosexuality. Well, does God hate homosexuality in general, or does He hate promiscuous sexual behaviour. What about those who are married? Was it because homosexuals weren’t able to be married and sex out of wedlock is considered a sin? I don’t know. Nobody knows. And so I leave the judgement to God. They have right to serve God as much as we do.
This takes me to another sore topic, the idea that only christians are going to heaven. Even though there are scriptures to support this idea, I can’t help but wonder, what about all those people in the world who are far from civilization who still haven’t heard the gospel and are dying every day? Are they going to hell? What have they done to deserve hell? Some of these cultures (from documentaries) do acknowlegde and show reverence to a supreme being (God) even though they don’t know about Jesus. What about all those people who died before Jesus died on the cross, you mean they are all going to hell? And unborn babies conceived in or out of wedlock? What about those born handicapped or become mentally unwell and haven’t got a chance to accept Christ? Some churches teaches that everyone is a sinner until you accept Jesus (rom 3:23 all have sinned and come short of the glory of God), other teaches you are not responsible for your sins until you are 12. Really? I say, thank God that we know Christ, and leave the judgement as to who is going to hell up to God because we do not know His criteria for judgment. Our duty here is to worship God and not to judge others.
Many Christians are just like the Pharisees of Jesus’ time. They use scriptures= laws, to dictate, judge, control, and consequently brutally punish others in the name of God or Jesus. This was what lead to Jesus’s death remember?. According to them He was breaking God’s laws. And yes, He was, in man’s eyes, but not in God’s eyes. Today Christians are repeating religious history. Many are quick to scandalize the Jews for what they did to Jesus and they run with the idea that the laws were impossible to live by and through Christ we now live by grace. We are doing exactly what the Jews did, frown upon religions that isn’t consistent with the Bible. But just as God provided the Jews with the laws which needed to be changed, He also provided us with the Bible which also needs to be adjusted. They are only guides. Life isn’t static, society changes, clothes changes, family dynamics, men and women rights changes, work, social life, everything changes and yes, even God’s expectations from us changes. So we cannot function exactly under the same rules set for our ancestors. What we need to carry are the basic principles, but we have to adapt. One of the fundamental principles that Christ was conveying by healing on the sabbath and by advocating for the woman caught in adultery, wasn’t to do away with the rules (laws), but rather that the rules are not always applicable. Churches altar many scriptures to their satisfaction but not to accommodate others, such as women should be silent in church, covering of women’s heads, and no remarriage. Church communities would be a lot better if we apply the principles of Jesus, ie. help those in need without expecting things in return; show love rather than judgement and exclusion; and scriptures and laws are only guides and there are times when they cannot be applied dogmatically. One proof of the latter is that, we do sin (1 john 1:8-10 and 1john 5:17), even after we accept Christ. Yet the Bible says if you are a christian you do not sin (1 john 3:6-9 and 1 john 5:18). Within the same book and even in the same chapter, we see this contradiction, that’s if you take it word for word. But if you understand the fundamental principle you will see that it is consistent. Yes we are prone to sin, and even as christians we do sin, but if you truly have Christ in your heart, you will not be sinning… you will not make sinning a habit.
Finally I would like to say, the christian life is a race, there will be bumps, hills and valleys on the way. But it’s not about how fast we reach our destination, but rather whether we reach. For someone who accepts Him late, the race will be a sprint, for others it will be marathon, a triathlon. We will all receive the same reward (Christ’s parable of the workers in the vineyard). We don’t have to clean up ourselves or abandon all bad habits before we embrace Christ. That’s worldly thinking, He is not like man, He will not scorn us. Instead whatever state we are in when we accept Him, He pours out His love on us such that we are broken on the inside, which eventually cleans us up and strengthens all areas of our lives. The church is chasing people away because they don’t measure up to their standards. And my heart aches. Church is now a money making business / courthouse. God’s love and the gospel is hard to find in them. I often go to church and receive nothing from the service. It is getting serious.
By now you may realize that my way of thinking is not mainstream, or popular christian views, but God has open my eyes to so many things. I am young and still learning, but I have a good filter cap on.
December 21st, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Ian, you have a snarky attitude. about 2/3 of what you printed is whacked regarding context anyway. People like you make my job of witnessing to the people’s of the world much more difficult. I have to answer for your sins, that get levied in the public’s eyes against the whole Church.
January 20th, 2011 at 5:00 am
Bob, just wondering if you have had any personal experiences with the Holy Ghost since you have received Christ? I believe many experiences with the Holy Ghost are still real today, as I have shockingly discovered myself, although it is not necessary to speak in tongues to be saved. If you are walking very close to God, I challenge you to ask the Father about the Holy Ghost, and see what happens. Just wondering.
January 22nd, 2011 at 11:28 am
Hi Susie,
I believe there are many additional works of grace not just two. Having said that I do believe that there is a place God wants to led every Christian after they are saved where they can see they are selfish and self centered and that they consecrate to live a selfless life giving up there own rights and put others first.
Some may call this Entire Sanctification, the Second Work of Grace, Baptism of the Holy Spirit, or other terms.
I feel like instead of seeking some manifestation like speaking in another language, a warm feeling in your heart, or some one else’s pronouncement over you that you should be seeking for a work of grace that not only enables to give up all your rights, to put others before yourself, and to live for the good of others — but you should be seeking for a change where selflessness will become your first impulse and joy.
Bob.
May 24th, 2011 at 10:28 am
“This teaching will leave a person trusting in an external manifestation that is experienced in unorthodoxed groups like the Mormons as evidence of conversion and a higher spiritual experience.”
You meant Pentacost, Charismatics?
May 24th, 2011 at 10:47 am
Hi Sergey,
Yes that is correct.
Bob.
May 24th, 2011 at 11:05 am
B,
You are dead on, and if they gripe for scriptural references and you don’t have time, send them my way. :)
May 24th, 2011 at 7:12 pm
quote>>>Baptismal Regeneration — teaches you are saved when you are baptized and you can’t be saved without water baptism. This teaching can cause people to trust in baptism as proof of salvation, and can leave those that have been converted – but not baptized – doubting their conversion.>>>>
For those who question “mode of baptism”, this teaching can also make them have a hard struggle, putting too much emphases on water baptism, it being a necessary work you must do in order to “obtain” salvation ,…..
such as…. Which mode is correct? I must get it right…., Single Dunk? Tripple Dunk? Pouring out? Which name(s)/ what words should be quoted to make it “valid”?,…. Am I even saved if I did it wrong?,. Do I still need my sins “washed away” with water, using the right magic word formula?,… etc.
I see where Satan could really use all this as a seed of doubt, having questioned and studied it myself.
I am sure glad that the blood of Jesus sure cleanses better than all that! He alone is my Redeemer.