Volume 20, Issue 14 (April 8, 2018)
Is There a Way out of Religious Confusion?
By Kyle Pope
Many people feel frustrated and uncertain about religion because everywhere around us there is religious confusion.1 Some teach that people should serve God in one way while others teach He is worshiped in another.2
Is there a way to cut through all of this confusion and discover the truth about what God expects of men and women in this life? Yes!
The answer is found in God’s Word revealed to us in the Bible.3 Within the Bible God has given us what we must know in order to live and worship in a way that is pleasing to Him.4 If men and women will commit themselves to follow the Bible in every aspect of their lives they can know with certainty the way that is pleasing to God.5 But, someone might ask. . .
“Don’t different people understand the Bible differently?”
Unfortunately this is often true. However, the reason for this is not because the Bible cannot be understood.6 Often, we bring to our study of Scripture a number of obstacles that hinder our understanding. Some of these obstacles are:
► Preconceptions (a preconceived idea about what we should do or what God expects).7
► Prejudice (a predetermined inclination in a certain direction).8
► Religious Traditions (ideas taught by religious groups that are not found in Scripture).9
► Family background (the way our family has always believed about certain matters).10
“How can we avoid these obstacles and escape religious confusion?”
The way is simple:
1. Commit yourself to follow God’s word whatever the cost.11
2. Test any idea you may hear or think up yourself by the standard of Scripture to see if it is truly God’s will.12
3. Be willing to reject anything that you cannot prove from Scripture to be the truth.13 And finally...
4. Be willing to follow everything that you find in Scripture to the very best of your ability.14
If we can help you in your decision to do this, please let us know. We would love to sit down and talk with you about your efforts to serve God.
1 1 Corinthians 14:33—“For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches.”
2 1 Corinthians 1:10—“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.”
3 Psalm 119:105—“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
4 2 Timothy 3:16-17—“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
5 Ephesians 3:4—“...When you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ.”
6 2 Peter 1:3—“...His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
7 2 Timothy 4:3—“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers.”
8 2 Peter 3:2—“Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts.”
9 Matthew 15:9—“And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.”
10 1 Peter 1:18-19—“...You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”
11 Matthew 10:37—“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”
12 1 Thessalonians 5:21—“Test all things; hold fast what is good.”
13 Revelation 22:18—“For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book.”
14 John 8:31—“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed.’”
