How do people resolve "I'm a ___, but I believe ___?"?

Question

Examples:

I'm a Catholic, but I believe in the right to an abortion.

I'm Christian, but I believe in evolution.

I'm Jewish, but I eat pork.

I have heard many people of many faiths take issue with some of the basic tenets of their beliefs.

In my opinion, given the nature of religion, it should never change. As the "rock", people need to change themselves, not the religion changing to accomodate people.

If you find yourself at odds with some part of your faith, how do you deal with it?

(I don't mean sinning, because that is a fundamental part of a lot of faiths.)

Answer 1

I dont understand why anyone would be in a religion if they didnt believe all of it was true. There are things in a religion that arent considered doctrine. Some religions may not take a stand either way on drinking but it might be more discouraged to drink. Then I can see why you might say I believe in my religion but most people in it think its wrong to drink and I have no problem with drinking. But if your religion straight out says it is a sin to drink and you dont believe it is then why in the world are you in that religion????

Religion takes a lot of commitment. If you dont agree it is the true word of God and Gods religion on the earth then why are you bothering to participate in it? Why not find the one you really do believe is the right one?

I am mormon and there isnt a piece of doctrine that I dont believe in. There are subjects where there is no official doctrine that many people speculate on but if the Prophet says this is doctrine, this is truth then for me to stay in that religion then I will have to pray and get a confirmation that yes that is true and what I believe. If I didnt have that testimony or at least seeking for that testimony then there would be no purpose in me being a mormon.

I use to have a Catholic friend that would tell me all the time that yeah our church teaches that you wont be saved because you are mormon but I dont really believe that and I would always wonder how she could stay in that church if she had a fundamental disagreement with one of the most basic principles taught.


I think we should always pray to find out if what they are teaching is the truth and the word of God and gain your own personal testimony of the truth of any religion. Noone should just rely on the testimony or word of anyone but God. If you believe that some of what that church is teaching is not consistent with your beliefs in God then what is the purpose of being in that church still?

Answer 2

I think the word for it is hypocrisy. I used to be right there with them....living one way during the week and another way on Sunday, and trying to justify it by saying "Everybody else is doing it" or "It doesn't directly say don't do it in the Bible" or whatever.

As I have grown in my faith, I have come under conviction of the Holy Spirit to change certain things in my life to bring myself more in line with not only the teachings of the Bible, but the doctrine of the denomination I belong to.
The only way people can really do that is to get their head out the sand and learn what the Bible says and what their church teaches and figure it out....if they can't go along with it and they don't believe the Bible supports that church teaching, then they should find another church that does line up with their convictions.

Here's why.
1. It is confusing for the person.
2. It is confusing to their kids growing up in that church and hearing what is taught vs. what their family does. It's the old "practice what you preach" cliche' or "do as I say, not as I do" Kids see right through that and they lose respect for all of the faith if it is seen as a menu where you get to pick which teachings or parts of the Bible you follow and which ones you don't, instead of as firm boundaries and guidelines for life despite changing times, peer pressure, circumstances, etc.
3. You lose your witness for other people--you can become a stumbling block to other Christians and to lost people.

I am a Baptist. Baptists (though some churches are getting lax on this) are not supposed to drink alcohol, and not supposed to gamble. I used to do both and think nothing of it. I wouldn't go to hell for it, because I can't lose my salvation, but what if someone who knew I was a Baptist saw me indulging in that behavior, and because of that experience, it turned them away from becoming a Christian or led them into sin? In that case, God will hold me accountable for being a stumbling block to them.

If I personally find myself at odds with something taught at my church, or even that I read in Scripture, I would go to my pastor (or to my father-in-law, who is also a preacher in the same denomination) and get them to explain it to me--why the church believes that way and what the Bible says about it, and then continue to pray and study and do some soul-searching until the Holy Spirit led me to what I should do. Through that process, I believe that I would either be convicted that I was wrong (as in the example I mentioned above) or validated that I am right and would need to look for a church body that was in line with these beliefs.
I once sat under a pastor who had previously been studying for the Catholic priesthood. As he studied the Scriptures during his seminary years, he came under strong conviction that the teachings of the church were not what the Holy Spirit was revealing to him through the Bible. He converted to the Baptist church and became a Baptist preacher. He challenged Baptist traditions with no basis in Scripture, just as he challenged the Catholic doctrines that caused him to leave the Catholic church, and I learned a lot from him about going straight to the Word and not just believing what some man (even a preacher, even the Pope) said God said.

Answer 3

i totally know what you mean. totally. i'll give you an example and try to explain it that way. i'm a christian...but i don't believe we should beat down homosexuals and make them feel crappy. i'm not going to say i agree with it...but i'm not going to say i don't.

so...as a christian, i recognize that people make mistakes (sins) and maybe i'm making a mistake, or maybe others are. i accept that i may just never know. that is my answer. and what i ask myself is...how would God want me to treat someone who was gay? woud he want me to get in their face and hit them with the bible? would he want me to condemn them and not be their friend? NO WAY!!! so i just do what i can. i try to be caring, a good listener and friend, and i reserve judgement for God...not for me. it's not my call. sometimes we just aren't going to know the right answer to everything, but we should know how God wants us to treat others...so that is what i do.

abortion...God believes in freewill, so do i. and i choose not to have one.

evolution and christianity...it's called Creationism...and it makes sense to me!

jews and pork....you got me there!! that's a tough one!

Answer 4

I gave you a star gladly I also hate this but is a turn around word that people "think" gives them the right to do as they please. I am a Jew and I don't eat pork

Answer 5

There is no resolve and there is no but....simply put...Im a Christian and I believe in Jesus.