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What do you really believe? Do you even know what you believe and why you believe it?
There should be no fear in asking yourself questions. It is not a sin question what you
believe. The purpose of this article is to question some beliefs widely held by Christians.
Please don't be offended by my use of "you" and "Christians". I realize these are gross
generalizations, as Christians vary greatly in their beliefs. In fact, beyond agreeing that
"Jesus is Lord", you'd be hard pressed to find two Christians from different franchises to
agree in much else. I also include myself in when I say "Christians" or "you" because up
until recently, I held the same beliefs that I am now questioning. But when I think about
it, I did not hold these beliefs out of any deep conviction or careful study. I just accepted
what I was taught. After all, the Bible teachers, pastors, authors, and preachers who
mentored me were all decent, caring, and intelligent people. It never occurred to me that
they just might be more influenced by the traditions and doctrines of men than they or I
were willing to admit.
Christians don't believe anybody really dies
Christianity has joined many of the world's religions in redefining death to mean life in
some other form and in another location. When a man dies, his body is buried or burned.
In order for there to be any life beyond that he would need to have some immaterial,
invisible, conscious, and immortal part of his being. This is sometimes called the soul or
spirit. In Genesis we read the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being (soul in
the KJV) (Gen. 2:7) It is clear from this account of creation that man does not have a
soul man is a soul. The same word translated soul or living being here is also used of
insects, fish, and animals. If being made a living soul means one is immortal, then
insects, fish, and animals must also be immortal. However, the same verse says that the
Lord God breathed into his nostrils, thus giving him life. This is understood to be the
spirit or "life force" which caused a lifeless lump of dust to become alive. We are told in
Ecclesiastes that at death the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit
returns to God who gave it. (Ecc. 12:7) (notice there is no mention of heaven or hell)
Man has a spirit, but is this spirit a conscious entity which can continue to live after he
dies? We do have the promise of the resurrection of the dead. This, according to Paul, is
our only hope of any life after natural death. I'm willing to remain open minded on this
issue, but just where is the scriptural evidence of an immortal soul or spirit?
Christians don't believe Jesus Died on the Cross
All four gospels say the same thing in the last chapters Jesus died. You may believe that
only his body died and his spirit floated off to take care of some unfinished business.
(The verse in 1 Peter which says he was put to death in the body but made alive by the
Spirit... can be interpreted to refer to an event after his resurrection). But if only his body
died, then how could he say The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (Jn.
10:11) and For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give
his life as a ransom for many. (Mk. 10:45) Also, what would it mean if he offered up a
corpse to be the sacrifice for our sins? Jesus gave his life for you, not just his body. I've
heard the objection that those who believe Jesus was really dead when he died claim that
Jesus "ceased to exist" for three days. Nonsense. The Bible does not say "Jesus ceased to
exist" the Bible says "Jesus died". That is what I believe. No one ceases to exist so long
as God has in mind to raise them from the dead.
Christians don't believe the wages of sin is death
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Rom. 6:23) You believe that the wages of sin is eternal hell, or spiritual death, or eternal
death, or eternal torment, or whatever you want to call it. I read several commentaries on
this verse and most of them ignored the fact that it directly contradicts the current
Evangelical theology. One commentary said that Paul really means the second death.
But the verse doesn't say that, nor does any part of the Bible say any such thing. Also the
second death is found only in the Book of Revelation, so Paul had never heard of it. I
realize Paul isn't always so direct or easy to understand, but I find this verse to be crystal
clear the wages of sin is death, not eternal life in hell. Remember this is not a parable,
but a direct teaching. If Paul meant something else, he certainly did not lack the
vocabulary to express himself. He could have said the wages of sin is eternal death for
example. As you can see, he is contrasting this with eternal life yet he does not say
eternal death. Paul is also complementing the teaching of the Old Testament. Starting in
Genesis chapter 3, we see that the punishment for sin is death without the slightest
warning of any additional punishment after death.
Christians don't believe Jesus paid the penalty for our sins
The wages of sin is death. Jesus died on the cross. Therefore the wages of sin have been
paid, and we can stand before God forgiven for our sins. Praise the Lord! But you believe
the wages of sin is eternal hell. Jesus did not go to hell for eternity. In fact, he didn't go
to hell at all. So if the wages of sin is hell, Jesus cannot save you from it! He did not pay
that price for you. But praise God the wages of sin is death, and Jesus did die on the
cross for you!
Christians don't believe God hates the sin but loves the sinner
Although there is no specific verse that says "God hates the sin but loves the sinner", it's
a fair statement based on many scriptures, including John 3:16 : For God so loved the
world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life. And Romans 5:8 : But God demonstrates his own love for us in
this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. So if God hates sin and loves the
sinner, why can he not destroy the sin while saving the sinner? You believe he does this
only for a few, while the rest retain their sin for eternity. In this view, sin will continue to
exist and multiply in hell for eternity. This makes God tolerate sin, which expands at a
greater rate than the virtue in heaven. And while God tolerates ever expanding sin, he
continues to hate the sinner for eternity. Isn't it better that we take literally the
declaration that Christ is the atoning sacrifice for all sin? He is the atoning sacrifice for
our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 Jn. 2:2)
Christians don't believe that God is sovereign
Unless you are a Calvinist, you probably don't believe God is sovereign. The majority
view is that man's free will, rather than God's perfect will, determines his eternal destiny.
We know it is God's will that all be saved: This is good, and pleases God our Savior,
who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1Tim. 2:34) and
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient
with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter
3:9) Thus, the only way anyone will not be saved in the end is that if man's free will has
the final word. To put it another way, man is in control of his destiny, while God steps
back and just lets things happen. It's an interesting theory, but there is zero scriptural
evidence that man's will can ever supersede God's perfect will. If you doubt this, read
Romans, chapter nine.
Christians don't believe in the resurrection of the dead
Do you believe in the resurrection? If so, then exactly what will be resurrected? Only
zombies later to be reunited with spirits? The phrase "resurrection of the body" is in
some creeds but never in scripture. The scripture speaks of the resurrection of the dead,
never just the body. Read carefully the account in John chapter eleven, when Jesus raises
Lazarus from the dead. There is no talk of Lazarus "being in a better place" Jesus didn't
comfort the mourners by assuring them that Lazarus is in heaven now with the saints. No
Lazarus was dead. He was so dead that even Jesus, the Son of God, shed tears for his
dead friend. The common belief that you go to either heaven or hell when you die is not
compatible with the resurrection of the dead. They can't both be true it just makes no
logical or biblical sense. If you do go to heaven or hell when you die then what exactly
is the point of the resurrection? You obviously don't need your physical body to enjoy
heaven or suffer in hell. And when, how, and where would this great event the reuniting
of the spirit and body take place? Would those in hell have to leave hell, go back to
earth, pick up their dead bodies, and then return to hell? Would those in heaven have to
leave heaven to get their old bodies? Or would all the dead bodies just be delivered via
FedEx Priority Overnight Service?
Christians don't believe in Judgment Day
Like the resurrection, the day of judgment is pointless if everyone just goes to heaven or
hell upon death. Jesus spoke of the day of judgment: I tell you the truth, it will be more
bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town. (Matt
10:15) It seems from Jesus' own words that there is a day coming when all will be
judged. He also implies that it won't be a pointless, black and white, heaven or hell type
judgment, but rather a righteous judgment. Otherwise, how could he say it will bearable
for Sodom and Gomorrah? If they're all just going to hell, how could it be more bearable
for one city than for another? Anyway, this brings up the same problems as the
resurrection: Will those in hell, get to leave hell temporarily (and maybe be allowed to
shower and put on a decent suit first) so they may appear before God to be judged? And
after that, be cast back into hell? Will those in heaven be judged only to have the charges
dropped? The day of judgment is meaningless if everyone immediately goes to heaven
or hell upon death.
Christians don't believe Jesus is the Savior of the World
Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (Jn 1:29) And we have seen
and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. (1 Jn. 3:12)
...we know that this man really is the Savior of the world. (Jn. 4:42)
The mission of Jesus is clear he came to save the world. That means the whole world.
Did Jesus fail to fulfill his mission? What kind of savior is Jesus if he only saves one
percent? Even if he saves ninety nine percent, he would not be the Savior of the World.
Nowhere in the New Testament do find the teaching that Jesus is only the potential
savior of the world, or that he came only to offer salvation, or even that we have to meet
him half way. We do have to believe to be saved, and believe is what all will do
according to Philippians 2:911 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave
him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Also, Jesus said But I, when I am lifted up
from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (Jn. 12:32) That sounds like a promise to
me. The word translated draw means to pull in by force, like pulling a net full of fish into
the boat. In Colossians we are told by his blood, Jesus reconciled the whole universe to
himself. ...For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to
reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making
peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Col. 1:1920) Jesus saves and he is very
good at what he does. His mission was to save the world and he did it!
I could add many more, but I think you get the point. To the reader with an open mind
and heart, I ask only that you ask yourself what you really believe and why you believe
it.