Do you prefer a church that is totally bible based or a church that compromises on biblical truths?

Answer 1

Bible based

Answer 2

I prefer the Catholic Church which takes the religious truth of the Bible and the guidence of the Holy Spirit over the centuries to more fully understand it and teach us about things that the Bible did not speak clearly or at all about.

The Catholic Church does not use Holy Scripture as the only basis of doctrine. It could not. The early Catholic church existed before and during the time that the New Testament was written (by Catholics).

There were hundreds of Christian writings during the first and second centuries. Which New Testament writings would become official was not fully decided until about 400 AD.

Catholics believe that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church (and is guiding the church today) to make the correct choices about things like:
+ The Holy Trinity (which is also only hinted at in the Bible)
+ Going to church on Sunday instead of Saturday (which is actually directly against one of the Ten Commandments)
+ The Communion of Saints
+ Which writings include in the New Testament?

Things that are even more modern like
+ Slavery is bad. Slavery is never declared evil in the Bible. This was one of the justifications for slavery in the Confederate States.
+ Democracy is good. The Bible states that either God should be the leader of the nation like Israel before the kings or kings should be the leader, "Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's." This was talked about a lot during the American Revolution.
+ Embryonic stem cell research is wrong. The inspire writers of the Bible had no concept that anything like this could ever be tried.

This second source of doctrine is called Apostolic Tradition.

With love in Christ.

Answer 3

Totally Bible based. How can one compromise with the Bible? That's like saying to God, "Ok, God, I like Isaiah 3:4-6 but in Job 1:2-6 I think you should change it to ......" You don't compromise with God. The Bible is God's Word and His Word is never changing. It is it. It is.

Jesus send the Holy Spirit to the 12 apostles and gave them the authority of the first Church. St. Peter was first first bishop, the first pope. This was first Church of Jesus. The first Christian Church. Now the Christian Church has over 2000 denominations. Why? Because people wanted compromises. See a problem? The only Christian church that still follows Jesus and has the Holy Spirit watching over it is the Catholic Church. It has the pope's authority, almost 2000 yrs of authority and Jesus' blessing and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Sadly in America many Catholic Churches are 'westernized' but if you listen to the pope himself and follow the Vatican and read the encyclicals, the Catholic Church in Rome and in the East is still totally Bible based. In America many have become feminized and almost turned into a theater instead of a mass.

Back to your question - totally Bible based.

Answer 4

Since the church Jesus founded existed before the books of the New Testament were even written, let alone compiled into what is now called the Bible, any church claiming to be "Bible based" CANNOT, by virtue of that fact, be the church founded by Jesus. I want to be in the church founded by Jesus Christ, not by some guy 1500+ years later.

Answer 5

TOTALLY Biblical based!! If one compromises on Gods truths, How can that be a church of God?

Answer 6

A Church that compromises on what the Bible says is nothing more than a building with sinners in it.

Answer 7

If I had to go to church in order to safe my atheist life, I no doubt will have to save myself from people who are bible based, so I will go to the church that compromises on biblical 'truths'. because between the two,the ones who 'compromise' no doubt show more wisdom

ps. I am currently listening to Keith Green.."End of the Highway" good song

NOTE: Compromise is good.

Answer 8

I believe the Bible, I cherish the Bible. I honor the practice of daily Bible reading. I love studying the Bible.

The inspiration of the Bible? Well, yes. The inerrancy of the Bible. Well, maybe.

What I learned long ago that I cannot accept is the inerrancy of any one person’s reading of the Bible.

So you have asked an interesting question. And you have received interesting responses. So far, of the 31 responses you have received, I count 14 that insist on a church that is “bible based only.” (E.g., “TOTALLY Biblical based!! If one compromises on Gods truths, How can that be a church of God?” “A Church that compromises on what the Bible says is nothing more than a building with sinners in it.” “Totally bible based!! You cannot compromise God's Word.” “Totally Bible based. How can one compromise with the Bible?”)

I grew up and was “called” to the ministry in a church that taught, “We speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where the Bible is silent,” a church therefore that does not accept instruments of music, Christian holidays like Advent or Epiphany, women as elders or deacons, single men as elders, childless men as elders, ordination of ministers, church organizations beyond the local congregation, missionary societies, inter-denominational cooperation, premarital sex, extramarital sex, drinking, dancing (well, maybe “folk” dancing) . . . . The list could go on. In some congregations, women had to wear hats. In some congregations, Sunday school was not permitted. One congregation in which we found ourselves did not permit food being prepared or served in the church building or congregational support of orphans’ homes.

That’s the problem with Bible-based churches. Of those14 people who have told you they insist on “bible-based” churches, I wonder how many of them belong to the same “bible-based” church. The most thorough, articulate, and intense response thus far is that of orchidmg, who describes herself as “open-minded & open-hearted.” She insists, No compromises! She says, “Now the Christian Church has over 2000 denominations. Why? Because people wanted compromises. See a problem? The only Christian church that still follows Jesus and has the Holy Spirit watching over it is the Catholic Church. It has the pope's authority, almost 2000 yrs of authority and Jesus' blessing and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.” But she goes on to lament that many Catholic churches in America have been “westernized,” “feminized,” “almost turned into a theater instead of a mass.”

2000 years of deciding what the Bible says, and what the Bible does not say -- in fact, of deciding which scriptures will be included in the Bible, and which will be excluded.

So do I prefer a church that is totally Bible based? At this point, I’m probably going to surprise you.

Yes. Yes, totally Bible based. That believes the Bible, cherishes the Bible, and honors the practice of daily Bible reading as I do. Yes, indeed.

But one that understands that each individual must live with his/her own reading of the Bible. The scriptures may be inerrant; the finite mind of humans is not. I respect your reading and orchidmg’s reading and Father K’s reading and markos m’s reading. I may even be influenced by your reading and their reading, as I am influenced by Gary Wills’ catholic reading and Eugene Peterson’s protestant reading and Philip Yancey’s evangelical reading and Elaine Pagels’ feminist reading and Karen Armstrong’s historic reading and, especially, Marcus Borg’s “none-of-the-above” reading.

But wherever I go I seek out a church that will respect and encourage my reading. The grappling of my finite mind with the Infinite Mind. That will provide the opportunity to share and share alike in a brotherhood and sisterhood of finite minds. So be it.

May God bless the reading of the Word.

I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.

God be merciful to me a sinner.

. . . we know not how to pray as we ought; but the Spirit himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

All things work together for good to those who love the Lord.

There’s a Divinity that shapes our ends / Rough hew them how we will. [Oops, that’s Hamlet; another level of inspiration . . . .]

I will lift up mine eyes unto these hills. From whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the Lord . . . .

God is love.

. . . And the greatest of these is love.

Answer 9

Totally bible based!! You cannot compromise God's Word.

Answer 10

I prefer a church where the congregation accepts the bible with an open mind.

Answer 11

That's a hard question to ponder in this specific time .... Really think hard about this Question B 4 you answer ... In our case, my husband and I believe that their is a God, but find that 80% of all pastors in a church are only their for the $$$$ just look at what they drive,where they live Ect ..we choose to lead a Native American way of life ..very spiritual people ..very calming way of life ..