Have you ever thought about how many, so called, Christian faiths cannot use the Bible to support even their “core” beliefs? It is because plain Bible teaching disagrees with their ideas and so they must go to some catechism, creed, or church ruling for backing. I have also noticed many church members just believe and do what they want to regardless of what “their” church says.
Sadly, more and more religious people do not care what the Bible says or either they view it as just an outdated suggest guide. Others deny the Bible is God’s final revelation and believe God is still speaking to them. If you doubt this, just consider what today’s churches teach and what people believe.
1) Some teach and practice infant baptism (sprinkling or pouring water over the head of a baby).
What does the Bible say about infant baptism? The answer is nothing, it never mentions the subject. However, what it says about baptism excludes infants from the act. Notice what babies cannot do that must occur before baptism. One must believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (Acts 8:36-38) and repent (Acts 2:38) before baptism. In addition, it comes after understanding and responding to the gospel. (Acts 2:37) No young child can do any of these.
Know also that sprinkling and pouring are not baptism because to baptize means to immerse. Just as you cannot immerse someone by sprinkling a little water on them, neither can you baptism them by the same. I also wonder why some in the Bible went down into the water and/or came up out of the water if sprinkling or pouring would have done just fine. (Acts 8:38-39 & Matt. 3:16)
2) Some say baptism is not for the forgiveness of sins and is not necessary for salvation.
They would not tell people to do the same as Peter did when he said. “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins….” (Acts 2:38) Many churches would never support Peter words in 1 Peter 3:21, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you….” Neither would they say we are “baptized into Christ Jesus….” (Rom. 6:3)
Instead, we might hear from them about the “sinner’s prayer”, but what is this prayer? You will not find the answer in the Bible because it never mentions the “sinner’s prayer.” If you want to know something about this prayer, then you have to go to some preacher or creed to explain its meaning. The reason you must go outside the Bible to hear anything about the “sinner’s prayer” is because it is not from God.
3) Some discuss, debate, and even change moral standards based on popular opinion.
They do not dare read from Romans one about the sin of homosexuality, nor do they want to talk about how all illicit sexuality is wrong before God. (1 Cor. 6:9) Tell people to not have sex before marriage is not popular these days. Many faiths just do not talk about God’s Will for marriage or they relax what Jesus taught about divorce and remarriage. (Matt. 5:31-31 & Matt. 19:2-9)
You might hear people talk about their Christian faith in one breath and getting drunk in another. They probably do not care much about what 1 Peter 3:4 says. I have heard preachers and members bemoan lying and then defend the idea of “little white” lies. I guess John’s words about how “all liars… will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur” does not mean too much to them. (Rev. 21:8)
We could go on for a while and use much space to show the many ways churches and religious people disrespect God’s Word. What you hear from many pulpits is nothing more than man’s invention. My challenge to everyone who reads this article is to test your faith against God’s revealed Will. If you assemble with a group that cannot give Bible answers for their beliefs and practices then it is time to change.
Terry Starling