If "Christians" add their own beliefs to what the Bible says, or?

Question

take out scriptures from the Bible because those scriptures don't fit with their beliefs, then hasn't that "Christian" created his own god to worship? Do you think that is what Jesus meant when He said "Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide, and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter by it. For the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those who find it."?

Answer 1

First I'd like to know why you've put quotes around the word "Christian."

Even if you dislike them (which you obviously do), they're still surely called Christians.No quotes necessary. Don't be disrespectful to the same people whose minds you're trying to change.

Answer 2

Sounds like you're operating under the assumption that a Christian has to believe the Holy Bible is the divine word of God. I believe in God. But the books of the Holy Bible were essentially chosen by Emperor Constantine. The Holy Bible is, however, full of really good advice on how to lead a successful life and to be a morally righteous person. But basically it's all about interpretation. Created their own god to worship? No. Interpreted their own God? Yes.

You know the story about the 3 blind men trying to describe an elephant? The first man feels the trunk and says "An elephant is much like a snake, only thicker and stronger." The second man feels one of the animal's legs and says "No. It's massive and cylindrical like the strongest of oaks." The third man feels the side of the beast and says "No. It's like the largest and most expansive of walls." All men were, in a sense, correct; all men were describing the same creature. Similar to a lot of Christians. Lot of other people too.

Answer 3

Your query has such a correct reply that I'm amazed that "the ones designated individuals (who) do quote the Bible as though Scripture is needed for Salvation" have not deserted their function out of embarrassment. Maybe they are "status-their-floor" considering the fact that they are studying their "King Jimmy's Book" and forgot that THE Bible used to be compiled through the Roman Catholic Church, the equal Church that maintained the lessons of the Church Fathers (aka: the Apostles and Doctors of the Church), the Tradition of the Church, in which such an amazing quantity approximately God is discovered. Oh good, a few individuals in no way desire to gain knowledge of. God Bless you.

Answer 4

We are admonished to not "add to or take away" from the scriptures, this is true, but we are told also that unless we become like little children we won't see the Kingdom of God. It's not so much about getting all our scriptural "ducks in a row" and then comparing our definition with someone else's (although this IS important); it's about becoming the children of God and being filled with His goodness, about KNOWING God, not just knowing ABOUT him... Religious people can quote the scriptures all day long, but miss the more important issues of Life itself, so just make sure you aren't doing that... get to know Jesus as your best friend.

Answer 5

If a Christian ignores, or takes out scriptures from the Bible, then they could be creating their own 'god' from the own beliefs.
A Christian accepts, loves, and believes the whole Bible, a non-Christian picks and chooses what they will believe about the Bible.

Answer 6

The Protestants removed the books from the Holy Bible.

Tobias
Judith
Wisdom
Ecclesiasticus
Baruch
Machabees I & II

I was raised on the King James version. I now read the:
Latin Vulgate
Douay-Rheims Bible

The books removed are inspiring and should be read..

I am Catholic. I am Christian.

Answer 7

Lets define a Christian first. Christian is one who believes in the existence of christ and through him our sins are clensed. A church is a place where religion is tought and what is relavent to that religion. I dont take what somebody else thinks as truth as it says, only a true Christian will understand what is writen, and all that is writen, not what they want it to say. narrow gate, narrow path,believe in Me.

Answer 8

No, not creating their own god, they still believe in the same one, they are just making modifications. The truth is, religious groups have changed the bible, leaving things out, altering them, adding to, you name it, it's been done. Look how many versions are out there. It's funny I should get a thumbs down for that, probably by someone who doesn't know the history of the bible.

Answer 9

I don't think they're worshiping a different God, but I do think they're being hypocrites.

You can't say that the bible is true in its entirety, but dismiss passages such as:

- Don't eat pork or shellfish
- Don't mix fabrics
- Execute a disobedient child
- A person who beats their slave to death shall not be punished if the slave takes a day or two to die
- Don't braid your hair
- Don't wear jewelry

How can you claim the bible is true, but ignore these passages?

How can you say that homosexuality is wrong because it says so in Leviticus, but say trimming your beard is ok even though Leviticus says not to?

Answer 10

A Christian should never diminish God's Word however an individual Christian may fall under conviction about a practice in their life that the Bible either doesn't mention or doesn't call a sin. They just shouldn't try to impose their personal convictions about disputable matters on the rest of the body of Christ.

For instance, some Christians think that it is a sin to drink alcohol and/or smoke cigarettes. The Bible doesn't say that it is a sin to drink alcohol like Jesus did with his disciples at the last supper and it doesn't mention smoking. But God is a God of relationships and sometimes He will let a person know that something isn't in his will for their life. So for people like that, they should abstain from these practices while allowing others to enjoy the freedom that God grants to them in their own lives.

Romans 14:2-6 One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand. One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God......It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Romans 14:21-23

As to what Jesus meant by the narrow way, I think that He was talking about avoiding extremes of error in our understanding of the Scriptures. There are many passages from the Bible that if they are taken out of the whole context of God's Word might seem to impose a harsh legalistic standard of behavior and others that would seem to allow license for reckless behavior.

It has been rightly said that the Devil brings errors in pairs so that if a person is offended by one extreme they may the more easily be driven to the other extreme. This is seen in churches where on the one hand some of them preach a legalistic interpretation of the Scriptures while there are other churches that never preach about sin but only about the message of God's love.

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace AND truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 8:3-11 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?" 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more."