How do Christians decide what to believe?

Question

For example the same page in the Bible states that not only should men not have sexual relations with other men but they should also not trim their beards.
There are so many commands in the Bible that people just do not live by. How is it justifiable to discriminate between these commands?

Answer 1

I can't answer for everyone else, but I can bring you my personal opinion. First, I put everything into context: historical, cultural, etc. Since the biblical stories of faith are a collective of progressive writings, I know that the writers had a developing understanding of how God wanted people to coexist together. Secondly, and this is the primary filter, I filter the Old Testament writings of faith through the New Testament writings, especially the teachings of Jesus. Jesus clarified many misconceptions of the OT when he stated on numerous occasions to the Jewish teachers of the Law, "You say but I say." In other words they had it wrong. Take the present day hot topic of homosexuality as an example. What did Jesus say about this topic? Nothing that I have read. This leads me to believe that sexual sin was not divided into separate divisions of sin and/or acceptability. In summation, I focus more of my scriptural understanding through the one who lived God's words in faith better than anyone else, and that person was Jesus of Nazareth. I hope my explanation is beneficial for you.

Answer 2

Christians decide to belive different things based on either their own ideas and values and what works best for them or following the teachings of others with without question or by following the teachings of the Bible whether easy or hard by investigating and questioning everything an coming to a conclusion based on complete knowledge.

Firstly I believe the reference you refer to is in the Old Testament in the Book of Leviticus (I may be wrong). The trimming of the beards was not allowed as this was something they had done previously when following false gods and changing the body given to them by God. However the New Testamant only mentions men not having sexual relations with men and not the beard trimming. This is due to when Jesus came, the Old Laws (of the Old Testamant) were not valid anymore, to the extent that there would be no penalty for not following them. Jesus bought new commands with him (eg baptism), However as mentioned by Jesus and other books in the New Testamant some commands were "carried" over; men with men for example (9 out the the Ten Commandments is another-the Sabbath Day no longer needs to be followed).
There are many commands that many Christians do not follow (a contraversial one being going to war), this should in no way reflect on Gods teaching of the Bible but should only reflect on the person themselves.
The best way to know which commands should be followed is by reading and studying the Bible and investigating any questions thoroughly.
A good way of knowing whether you have understood what the Bible says is by comparison, eg if a verse makes sense out of context and in context with the ones around it the meaning should be correct.
There is much more to say on these questions but unfortunately there is not enough space!

Answer 3

First of all, the "page" you're referring to is in the old testament, but there is a couple other places in the NEW testament that homosexuality is denounced and beard-trimming isn't mentioned. A lot of christian groups believe that some of the laws that existed before Christ were abused and that Christ abolished some of them; though some of the laws were reinforced in the new testament.

Even as a christian, however, I'm still torn on what I believe about homosexuality. I've met some incredibly nice, giving and charitable homosexauls and some extremely vile heterosexuals, but I also think that there is some validity in both sides of the argument. I truly think though that each individual has good and bad qualities and it really isn't up to us to make the decision who should or should not be punished, because I have this funny feeling that homosexuality is going to have a different accountabilty then hatred...

Answer 4

You need to differentiate between observance and belief. There are actually very few things that Christians are asked to observe. What Christians are asked to do is to live. Some manage it better than others, and some are more concerned about it than others.

No doubt you have heard of born again Christians. To live the life you have to be born into the life. In other words you can't just open the Bible, observe what it says and so be a Christian. There has to be a Divine input into someone for them to become a Christian, and for the life to be lived there has to be a Divine through put.

No Christian on being born again is imbued with all knowledge and needs guidance from teachers in the Church again the teaching is expected to be Divinely led and also open. The word quite often used is an exposition.

I met a Jew once who had no time for Jesus or his followers. He gave this analogy. The scriptures are like crude oil - they need to be cracked before they can be used.

Historically, when the disciples, who at first were all Jews, first started to get Gentile converts there were divided about how to treat them. One party thought they should also become Jews and be circumcised so they had a meeting about it in Jerusalem. The outcome was a letter was sent round the Churches saying that they were not required to become Jews but were to abstain from pagan observances.

'It is the decision of the Holy Spirit, and our decision, to lay no further burden upon you beyond these essentials: you are to abstain from meat that has been offered to idols, from blood, from anything that has been strangled, and from fornication.'

Actually because the Apostles had this problem and argued it through it gives guidance as to what relevant, and in some cases why the observance was made in the first place.

It was in observance of the law that Jesus was crucified. 'We have a law; and according to that law he ought to die, because he has claimed to be God's Son.'

In short God has brought in a new order of things. We are under Grace, not under Law. And by the way, the invitiation extends to all who will avail themselves of it. There is neither compulsion nor exclusion in the matter. No one is born into a religion and Christians especially must know the calling of God each for themselves.

Answer 5

If you would give the scripture reference for this, it would help. Without knowing specifically what passage you are referring to, it is difficult to respond with a decent answer.

Understanding the context in which something is written is very important when studying the Bible. I heard a joke one time where a man wanted to find God's will for his life, and decided to open the Bible, randomly point at a scripture, and that would be God's will for him.

The first verse was "...and Judas went out and hanged himself." Well, that just wouldn't do, so he decided to do try again. The second verse was "...go ye and do likewise". We'll now he was getting a bit nervous, but wanted to try a 3rd time. He went to "...and whatever you do, do quickly".

So, the jist of the story is that you can make the Bible say anything if you pull it out of context.

Sorry my answer was so long. I'm just not familiar with the verse in which you are referring.

Answer 6

The Bible is a book written by men about God. Some were inspired, others not. It is true is that a shepherd sitting on a mountain all his life had a lot more time to ponder the nature of God than we do so he probably has some good advice. If you like it, take it. If not then read something else. Just make the best choices you can and don't be shy to change your mind. No eternal damnation awaits you.

Answer 7

In order to know what to believe as a spirit-filled believer or Christian; A person must first have a personal relationship with the LORD. In other words a physical and spiritual conversion; the physical part is through water baptism, and spiritual is being filled with the Holy Spirit.
John:3:3; John: 3:5-7

That person decides by acknowledging the LORD Jesus Christ and his death on the cross to save them from sins. And studying the WORD of God to show themselves approved unto Him by rightly dividing his Word. (2 Timothy: 2:15)

The scriptures says, ..."You will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John: 8:32)

The reason why so many cannot understand the principles of the Bible is because they try to dissect it and analyze it based on their intellectual thinking and perceptions. It's the Holy Spirit that teaches and confirms the Written Word. That's why Jesus had to teach in parables because his followers were not able to understand or perceive the things of GOD naturally.

Until a person have a personal relationship with the Almighty and be filled with His Holy Spirit they will never understand His Word, or rightly divide it because the Word is spiritually discerned. I hope that I've answered your question in a way that it can be fully understood.

God bless you and may your spiritual eyes be opened that you may perceive the things of GOD more plainly.

Peace,

Hope

Answer 8

Christians read all of the Bible not simply the laws as Christians are not under any law. We understand the atonement provided by Christ. If you study the New Testament you will find the reason for many laws applied to the coming of the Messiah. If you study the teachings of Christ you understand that the law was fulfilled but is kept on our hearts and we go beyond the letter of the law but as I said we are not under any of the law. Jesus fulfilled the law and those things that were unclean are now made clean. We no longer sacrifice because Christ was the sacrifice that those represented. We now as Christians have a new life by faith not through the law. The law called for a sacrifice. Through faith that man of sin is dead already and no longer under the law but dead. If that man of sin is dead he is free from the law how can he make sacrifice if he is dead and if he be dead the penalty has been paid for the law is for the flesh not the spirit. We do not serve the sinful flesh but in spirit we worship God. If that sinful man is alive he is under the law and that same law will destroy him the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our lord.

Answer 9

Well the 10 commands in the bible are the ones your suppose to follow because if you don't that's sinning like it said thow shall not kill and if you do he'll forgive you but blaspheming against the holy ghost is an unforgiven sin god gave man a free will to do what they please but if he doesn't want them to he wont let them in the bible it said that the next time he destroys the earth it will be by fire and i believe it why do you think 9-11 happened because god is mad at the world and all of are sins......

Answer 10

Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Jesus Took the old law and nailed it to the cross.we dont live under the Mossaic Laws any longer.but as far as Homosexuality
it is sin.Ro 1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. 1co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Simple if we dont obey the commands of GOD there is no Justification in the choices we chose in error.but that doesnt mean God wont forgive us these sins if we repent.We know what to believe as we study Gods word.he gave us the New Testament to understand his will for us.he didnt give us a book that cannot be understood.