Misguided Beliefs

What do you believe?

That question is pretty lofty. You could believe the Cubs is going to win the World Series. You could believe Billie Elish is the best artist to come around in years. You could believe in the theories of gravity.

We have a lot of beliefs. But just because we believe them, doesn’t make it right.

Many years ago the world believed the Earth was the center of the universe. That is until Copernicus stated otherwise.

But just because he stated it, didn’t make him right. He had to prove it.

There may have been other people before who stated the earth was not the center of the universe and they would have been technically right, but they had no proof other than their opinion.

And we all know what people say about opinions…that we all have one. And we always think our opinions are the right ones and the opposing opinions are wrong.

I was talking to someone the other day and faith came into the topic. “I think that whatever faith you follow is okay. As long as you’re a good person.”

This is an opinion. When someone begins a sentence with I think, you have to be extra cautious in the remainder of the sentence.

Just because I think the Cubs is going to win the World Series, doesn’t mean they will. They could lose half the games before October and never make it to the playoffs. So, can I still stand beside my statement in November? No. Because I thought wrong.

That is the tricky area of faith and opinions. I can converse with someone on minor issues of faith and we can disagree and part ways with knowing that no matter what the right answer is, it still doesn’t weaken my faith.

Was the world created in 6 days or over millions of years? I have my opinion based upon the Bible, but if someone disagrees with me, I’m not going to call them a heretic. Or did it really rain for 40 days with Noah or is the number 40 a symbolic number as one of my middle school guys asked a couple of weeks ago. Or was Jesus in the tomb three full days or three partial days? Or was he even crucified on a Friday or was it a Thursday?

To me, these questions are interesting ones to pose, but my opinion or thought on these issues don’t hinder the bigger picture about Christ.

I’ve heard people say, “Jesus isn’t the only way to Heaven.” Or I’ve heard people say, “Jesus was just a good teacher and not the son of God.” And others have said, “Salvation is more of a state of mind.”

And when I hear these statements, I don’t lean to the side where your belief doesn’t hinder anyone. Because these statements are very contradictory to Christianity.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”

John 14:6 ESV

How can someone follow Christ and believe you don’t need Jesus when Jesus said you needed him for salvation?

Many religions say Jesus was a good teacher, but would a good teacher lie to people? Would a good teacher make bogus claims and trick people? Would a good teacher lead people astray? If Jesus isn’t the Son of God, he was the biggest fraud of all history. Fraud and good teacher don’t belong in the same sentence when describing the same person.

So Jesus was either a fraud or the Son of God. He couldn’t be both. And if he wasn’t the son of God he shouldn’t be called a good teacher. And if other religions call Jesus a good teacher, are these religions true in lifting up a liar as a good man?

Would you call a liar a good person after they lied to your face? No.

And lastly, if you believe salvation is just a notion like the new age fad with crystals and energy, where is your proof with that? Are you believing it because it makes you feel better? To be one with nature? Or do you believe it because someone showed your proof?

Once again, you may believe your soul is cleansed by a special ritual with incense and yoga chants, but just because it’s your opinion doesn’t make it right.

When it comes to faith, don’t confuse opinions with proof. Don’t deny yourself a lasting hope for fear of being wrong. Don’t be so accommodating that anything goes for anyone because you don’t want to look uptight.

At the end of the day you can say you don’t believe in gravity.

But when you trip. You will still fall.

There is no denying the affects of gravity even if you don’t believe it.

I hope this post has caused some questions to rise.

May we ask the questions and seek out the answers He gives. And not seek out the answers we want.

Peace

I would love to hear your thoughts! Comment! Share! Let’s see what each other believes.

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