If the Bible is infallible, Why are there so many different religions?

Question

The Baptists, Presbyterians, Cathloics, Methodists, etc... all believe in the Bible, but will all interpret the exact same scripture differently..hence the reason we have different religions....so is the Bible still infallible...if so, which religion is right and which religion is wrong?

Baptists, "dunk" believers after they accept Christ because they say it is in the scripture...they believe in the trinity, etc... other churches will baptize children, and do not believe in the trinity, etc...all based on their interpretation of scripture...so which religion is correct?

Matt,

I agree..men cannot agree on scripture..I am gay and am a Christian..however, many who call themselves Christian, say I am not because I am gay....they quote scripture, and assume their interpretation is the only interpretation...I hope everyone can respect everyone elses beliefs.

Busyliz,

What are "other religions" and what gives you the right to say which are correct and which are not.

IITimothy 3:16 says all scripture is given by inspiration of God...but, remember the Bible was written by man...who brought their own ideas, interpretations and prejudices, and customs into their writings...

Baptists believe Catholics, Jehovah Witnesses, Mormons and Jews are going to hell? Are they?

It's blasphemous to believe that you are the ultimate authority on scripture and that your interpretation is the only interpretation...remember there is only one ultimate authority on scripture and that is Jesus Christ himself..

Answer 1

Hi!
What an excellent question! I am a devout christian and there is a co-worker of mine who is also a devout christian. Like you say, we both study the same Bible yet we end up believing different things! This drove me crazy so I've been spending time with her in order to find out why we differ on the same Bible and I think I can answer your question atleast partially.

She has claimed that speaking in tongues is "the first initial sign of being filled with the Holy Spirit." This is what they teach at her church. They base this teaching on Acts 2:4 -
"And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."
NKJV

I, on the other hand do not believe everyone who is filled with the Holy Spirit must speak in tongues. I base my belief on 1 Cor 12:27-31
"Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way."
NKJV

I take this to mean that not all christians will speak in tongues. (nor do all work miracles, or heal, etc.) And here is why we do not agree...

The passage in Acts is a NARRATIVE of a historical event that occurred at Pentecost. But my co-worker treats the passage as if it were a DOCTRINE, or a teaching. In her mind, since those at Pentecost began speaking in tongues when they were Spirit filled, then that should be the norm for everyone. In other words, (according to her) the Bible is showing us from that historical event how it will be done all the time. But earlier in Acts, it says that when the Spirit came upon the disciples it was accompanied by a "mighty rushing wind." But clearly the wind doesn't start rushing around every time the Spirit fills someone. So, why does my friend like to claim the tongues part but not the wind?

Now, my passage in 1 Corinthians is NOT a narrative of a historical event, but it is rather a TEACHING. The apostle Paul is INSTRUCTING the church about tongues. And I believe it is these types of TEACHING passages that should be applied to every christian. In addition, the Bible does mention people being filled with the Spirit without any mention of subsequent speaking in tongues.

So, in short, one reason christians don't agree on the Bible is some do not know the difference between a TEACHING passage and a NARRATIVE passage or different purposes for each.

One other reason christians disagree on the Bible is this:

Some will read a passage that says, "He who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" and claim that this is all you have to do. Others will read the passage that says, "Repent and be baptized , every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins." and then they will claim that if you aren't baptized you will go to hell.

This is called "proof texting" and ignores the fact that "scripture interprets scripture" as we compare ALL the texts that deal with a subject, not just the one we want to use to prove our preconceived ideas.

Some christians know that the Bible must be taken in its entirety in order to be correctly understood. Others clearly do not and this causes problems.

So, I have altleast clarified for myself some of the reasons why we disagree by studying the Bible with my co-worker. And it appears that it is WE who are fallible, not the Bible.

I really hope this makes some sense to you and I encourage you to explore the Bible and the many ways people approach it. I believe it is the infallible Word of God and can be completely and wholly trusted.

Good luck and thanks for a great question!

Answer 2

The bible is infallible. The baptists, presbyterians, ect are different demonitations of christianity. They intrepret the scriptures differently but that doesn't mean the meaning behind the bible has shanged or that the bible is wrong. There are different demontionations for the same belief because some churches have different ways of holding their services and conducting their churches. I believe that that is the main reason for the different demoninations. I do no think that they are believing differently than what the bible teaches. The bible is true and infallible and people have a different way of interepting the bible. I have read the same bible verse numerous times in a 6 mo period of time and pulled a different intpretation out of that scritpure that suited me to the situation that I was in. God works in mysterious ways and he will not let us down or give us a false word. The reason for other religions is to try and keep you from finding out that God's word is true and the way to live a good life. Those other religions are there to keep you from finding God because they are not of God. The bible says that "no man shall come to the father expcept through me." The bible also says " I am the way the truth and the life." The other religions are wrong because their beliefs and their books change with their society and with their needs and wants. In the book of Revelation in the last chapter and the last verse it states that if man changes any word of the bible that he will be cursed with death. I believe God means it and I wouldn't try to tempt him to see if he will go through with his word because I have seen him go through with his words and promises.

Answer 3

Can I reply the query with a query? Does the Bible get its authority from the church, or does the church get its authority from the Bible? Which predates which? Anyway, nice query, getting individuals to believe. As a follower of Jesus myself, I have got to ask why we as a organization attest to such a lot religion within the Word but achieve this little of what it teaches within the exact practices and traditions of our religion. Ouch. But to reply your query extra instantly, individuals want absolutes. I'm no specific, I suppose in absolutes. I suppose the Word is infallible. John tells us the Word grew to be flesh and dwelled amongst us. So I'm extra willing to mention the LIVING WORD is infallible.

Answer 4

The Bible is infallible, but men are not!

We should all be just Christians!

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

There are many denominations that claim to be Christian, but they teach things that contradict each other. How do you choose which one to believe?

Notice Acts 17:11

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

The Bible does not contradict itself. If two churches teach things that contradict each other, then at least one of them is in error, contradicting the Bible. Search the scriptures to see which one (if either) is teaching the truth!

The many denominations should not exist.

Notice what 1 Corinthians 1:10 says;"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment."

Jesus prayed for such unity in John 17:20-21.

Why do we have so many divisions? Men are not satisfied to all speak the same thing. Men are not satisfied to teach only the word of God. Men are not satisfied to only speak where the Bible speaks, and be silent where the Bible is silent. Men are not content to do Bible things in Bible ways and call Bible things by Bible names. Too many wish to add their own desires and teach their own doctrine.

Notice 2 Timothy 4:2-4.
"Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

We should return to the Bible as our authority and only guide book. We should have a "thus saith the Lord" for everything we teach and do as a church.

The Bible teaches that the church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1:22-23) and that there is only "one body" (Eph 4:4).When the church first began, there were no denominations.

In Acts 2, we see that about 3000 all heard the same message, all understood it the same way, all believed it the same way and all obeyed it the same way. The result was they became Christians - nothing more, nothing less, nothing else. At this point, God added them to His church (Acts 2:47).

There is no authorization for Christians to "join the church of your choice", but they were added to the church Christ built and purchased! (Matt. 16:18, Acts 20:27)

After they became Christians they continued in one accord in fellowship and together in the apostles doctrine. (Acts 2:42-47) They had the type of unity Christians should have.

Today, if we read and understand what they understood, believe what they believed, and do only what they did, without adding any man-made doctrine, we will become only what they became - Christians!

This is the goal and plea of those who meet together under the name "church of Christ" today. We only want to be the church you can read about in the Bible.

Christ is the head of the church, therefore we have no "headquarters" on Earth that oversees the local congregation, but each congregation goes directly to the Bible to see what should be taught and practiced.

We only want to follow God's word in our name (Rom. 16:16), method of worship, organization, and teaching (doctrine). The word of God is sufficient for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction. Using it in this way, we can be completely furnished with everything we need, and there is no need to add any man-made doctrine. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

Those who teach as doctrine the commandments of men have form of worship that is vain. (Matt 15:9)

I invite you to examine the Church of Christ by a comparison with the scriptures! If the things we teach are scriptural, found in the Scriptures, then accept them. If the things we teach contradict the Bible, then reject them!

Any church that claims to follow the Bible should not object to such a comparison to scriptures. In fact, they should encourage it!

Answer 5

The Bible is not, the Pope is. And by the way, the Catholic church said a long time ago that Protestants were heretics.
So they are all going to hell without any possibility of redemption non ?

Answer 6

Men cannot agree on finer points of doctrine. That is no surprise. What there is unity on is the belief and power of Christ.

You have to read the Scriptures yourself and discover who is doing Gods will and then go join them!

Answer 7

Its the people, Not the Bible.
2 Timothy 3:16,17

Answer 8

There is a difference between religion and denomination. One may emphasize baptism (Baptists), another communion (Catholics), another the Sabbath (Seventh Day Adventists) and another speaking in tongues (Pentecostal) All may be branches of the same tree.