You Say – You Believe?

Believe in what?

Do you genuinely believe in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and trust that the Bible is the inspired word of God?

Today, people hold beliefs for various reasons, and when it comes to faith in God, you might encounter individuals who assert that their belief in God is solely based on personal choice. When questioning individuals who have chosen to believe in God, their response will consistently be that they believe in His existence strictly because they have made the conscious decision. It is only considered accurate because “I believe it,” which is how belief is rationalized.

Difficulties

It is becoming challenging to teach others about Jesus and for some to rely on the Bible to get to know Jesus. Even among seniors today, getting them to unlearn their secular influences and the confusion brought about by modern technology is like asking someone not to eat for a month. People are so consumed by stuff, the availability of things, twenty-four news, constant communication via cell phones, travel anytime, anywhere, overwhelming amounts of theological data on the Internet, diverse beliefs among Christians, and uncertainty of one’s convictions have become rampant. People’s hearts are growing cold toward the gospel truths. The gospel has become subjective instead of fact, and many now hold to a personal gospel that has a sprinkle of the actual gospel. In other words, people only believe what fits their current life situation. Many have begun to think in one-line statements that are not in the bible.

Beliefs no in scripture:

1. Moderation in all things.
   1. The phrase: “Moderation in all things” is a common extrapolation of Aristotle’s Doctrine of the Mean (as presented in his Nicomachean Ethics).
2. Once saved, always saved.
   1. Consider the present slogan: ‘Once Saved, Always Saved.” It conveys the idea of a permanent state of salvation. While drawing from the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, this perspective distorts its complete teachings by focusing solely on a specific aspect.
3. Better to cast your seed…
   1. One frequently cited proverb that highlights the taboo nature of masturbation is often misunderstood as a biblical admonition: “It is better to release semen into a prostitute’s womb than to waste it on the ground.”
4. Spare the rod and spoil the child.
   1. Despite what many believe, the Bible does not contain the phrase “Spare the rod, spoil the child” that has become so well-known. Labeling the saying as completely invalid would be unfair, as some verses espouse a similar principle.
5. To thine own self be true.
   1. When encouraging individuals to decide based on their moral compass, the frequently referenced Biblical phrase “To thine own self be true” is sometimes mentioned, imparting a sense of inner guidance. The truth is, this saying finds its origins in the Shakespearean tragedy Hamlet, not the Bible.
6. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
   1. According to research, the phrase’s earliest known origin can be traced back to a 1583 Roman Catholic catechism, which reprints an earlier version from 1567.
7. God helps those who help themselves.
   1. Throughout history, the saying “God helps those who help themselves” has been shared and adapted by various civilizations, transcending time. Dating back to ancient times, the Aesopian fable “Hercules and the Wagoneer” is one of the earliest known expressions of this concept.
8. Money is the root of all evil.
   1. The source of this expression can be traced back to a biblical verse that cautions, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). There is a noticeable disparity between the two statements. With its inherent neutrality, money can be harnessed for virtuous and nefarious deeds. Money itself is not inherently wicked, but the deep affection and desire for it can lead to the emergence of various forms of evil.
9. Cleanliness is next to godliness.
   1. The book of Leviticus often explores the concept of cleanliness and impurity, emphasizing the importance of the Children of Israel being distinct from the neighboring nations through their cleanliness. In the New Testament, cleanliness is mentioned to purify the believer’s life.
10. This, too, shall pass.
    1. Enduring trials and challenging situations can be tough, but a common source of solace for those facing hardships is the saying, “This too shall pass.” While there are many and diverse theories regarding the origins of this saying, one early mention can be found in the Old English poem Deor, believed to have been written around the 10th century AD.
11. The eye is the window to the soul.
    1. The Bible does not speak of the eye as a window to the soul, yet it represents the eye as a lamp of the body.
12. God works in mysterious ways.
    1. Though the origin is uncertain, and certainly not found in Scripture, the phrase may have originated from William Cowper’s hymn “God Moves in a Mysterious Way”, that God works in ways curious and beyond the measure of our limited experience and conception is obvious.
13. The lion shall lay down with the lamb.
    1. It is common for people to misquote this passage from Scripture. The image of a lamb peacefully nestled beside a strong lion has a lasting impact, as it infiltrates popular culture and even inspires Christian-themed products. The image has developed by combining various animals in a few lines from Isaiah’s writings. Lions and lambs are mentioned in these verses, but they are paired with different animals. (Isaiah 11:6).
14. Pride comes before the fall.
    1. The original version of Proverbs 16:18 states that pride inevitably results in ruin, although the exact reasons and timing of its alteration for widespread consumption remain unknown. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18).
15. Original sin is the cause…
    1. According to the doctrine of “original sin,” human nature became corrupted because of Adam and Eve’s first sin, resulting in all humans being inherently sinful. This doctrine is a “theological construct,” meaning it is not directly stated in the scriptures but instead pieced together from different passages. Augustine is credited with formulating the doctrine in the late 4th Century AD, marking its initial emergence.
16. The Rapture
    1. The pre-tribulation rapture doctrine can be attributed to John Nelson Darby, who invented it in 1830 AD. Despite exhaustive efforts, no evidence of this wild doctrine before 1830 has been found, except for one instance: Morgan Edwards, in his college paper for Bristol Baptist College in Bristol, England, in 1744, mistakenly interchanged the second coming with the first resurrection of Revelation 20 and mentioned a “pre-tribulation” rapture. Although he openly acknowledged their novelty and lack of prior teaching, Edward’s ideas did not influence the modern population’s adoption of the false doctrine. None other than Darby is the deserving recipient of the prize.

These are only a few of the distortions people ascribe to being biblical. However, they are part of the personal gospel and not the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, the crux of the issue is that the truth of something hinges solely on a conviction, and people who ascribe to the personal gospel have traded the truth for a lie. We are in the tailwinds of the great falling away (apostasy) spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3.

It gets even worse! Today’s thinking is hollow and self-centered. Here are a few examples of beliefs based on this approach.

1. Do you believe in the existence of hell? Not unless I think so.
2. My belief system includes the idea of heaven, and I have devised a unique route to reach my version of heaven.
3. I want to know how or why everything in the Bible relates to me.
4. Forgiveness for what?

We must always bear in mind that we are not only products of our own time but also children who are influenced by the age in which we live. It is fascinating how much of its culture we unknowingly assimilate and incorporate into our lives. Our familiarity with its threats leads us to perceive them as harmless, as we have integrated them into our daily routines. The current age we reside in is characterized by a widespread denial of absolute truth and ultimate accountability. Look at today’s churches; they are more aligned with secular ideals than biblical truths. We are human; we do have human frailties. We do work in a secular society. We are indoctrinated with the culture of the time. We accept lies and manipulation for the sake of financial and personal gain. I have experience with churches adopting secular tools to build a more significant following and church buildings. Tools to measure one’s spiritual gifts that cannot be measured or determined by tools, but churches still use them, resulting in confusion between secular skills that we learn throughout our lives and those supernatural gifts given by God to encourage and uplift the community of believers.

Looking back:

Despite God’s love for Adam and Eve, they could not regain access to the Garden of Eden. God’s love for David was unconditional, as He forgave him for his actions. However, because of David and Bathsheba’s child passing away, the repercussions of David’s sin continued to plague his household, leading to ongoing conflict and even acts of violence (2 Samuel 12:10-18). Although Zechariah repented for his disbelief, he could not speak until the birth of his son, as stated in Luke 1:19,20. God’s commitment to upholding His Word is evident in these situations, highlighting the importance of our adherence to his teachings. If there were no consequences for sin, believers and non-believers would be tempted to sin without hesitation, and the frequency of our sinful actions would only increase. In due course, we would completely turn away from God’s love and gospel. A refusal to believe would ultimately lead to our downfall. Today, the church is on a downward spiral because of the self-centered approach to the gospel. Believers and followers of Jesus need to start speaking up in their local churches boldly, speaking the truth in love by the power of the Holy Spirit. A course change must happen soon, or we will witness many close their doors for good.

What is the connection between all of this and spiritual gifts? The presence of false doctrine and personal gospels hinder the utilization of a spiritual gift. Once individuals construct their unique rendition of the gospel, it diverges from traditional biblical teachings. Individuals’ tendency to accept personally chosen beliefs is quite prevalent today. Whenever individuals decide to act without seeking guidance from Jesus, the result is a gradual deterioration of one’s faith. As time goes by, and the same attitude persists, any attempt to motivate people to participate in church proves unsuccessful, and the reason for this is apostasy. The understanding eventually comes to fruition that spiritual gifts are the same as human skills and talents, rather than being seen as divine gifts that empower believers and foster mutual encouragement in pursuing a Christ-centered life.

Concluding Questions:

Which flavor of Christianity is desired:

• A Christianity that blends secularism or one that remains faithful to God’s word and teachings?
• A Christianity that acknowledges human skills as spiritual gifts or as a divine spiritual gift.
• A Christianity that cares more about others or one that prioritizes oneself?
• A Christianity that develops its understanding of God or embraces the understanding given by the Holy Spirit?
• A Christianity that mirrors a cultural worldview or reflects a biblical worldview?

You can write me at thechristianundergroundjournal@gmai.com

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

Views: 0