Building Christians Up From The Foundation & Unto Perfection
Hebrews 6:1-3
Hebrews 6:1-3
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Skip to Questions and Objections List
There are often disagreements about any given theological topic. These disagreements frequently arise from misunderstandings of more foundational doctrines; much like a house with a poor foundation, the roof will not fit properly. This is why I encourage you to begin our Christianity 101 course from the beginning.
Even then, disagreements may still occur. I have included this list of FAQs and objections raised by others related to this study. Sometimes, certain verses need to be explained in greater detail, as we might read things into the Scriptures that are not there without realizing it. This usually clears up any confusion.
However, some objections are common to every topic. These are typically the first objections addressed on the objection pages to quickly address them.
Common Objections
1. This goes against orthodox Christianity and what the church has taught for centuries.
4. No one else believes this! In fact, the majority believe something totally different!
5. Such and such scripture says what you are saying is untrue.
Study Specific Objections
This goes against orthodox Christianity and what the church has taught for centuries.
First, let me say that this statement is incorrect. Since the beginning of the church, there have been many different doctrines taught. Not all were true, but not all were false.
There are false doctrines that have been believed for centuries, alongside the truth of Scripture, which has also been believed for centuries. So the church actually has taught this, along with other doctrines, for centuries.
The argument that this goes against “orthodox” Christianity is another matter, though. The term “orthodox” means conforming to what is generally or traditionally accepted as right or true; established and approved.
Essentially, orthodox Christianity is defined by a majority of Christians who hold the same view. However, orthodox teachings are not always correct, since the majority can be (and often are) wrong. For example, the religious leaders at the time of Jesus would have been considered orthodox. Yet, time and again, Jesus showed their teachings to be incorrect.
Our test for what is or is not true should never come from majority opinion or the age of a teaching. Our test is Scripture and Scripture alone. Any teaching about what Scripture says is subject to the Scriptures themselves. Thus, the Scriptures interpret themselves.
So it doesn’t matter if something goes against the majority opinion. If they were wrong, then they were wrong. The word of God is always right. We should know the word of God from the Bible itself rather than just rely on someone else’s commentary (even mine) about the word. Teachers can guide you, but you must understand that only the Bible itself is 100% correct 100% of the time.
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Aren‘t you being prideful because you think you know better than the great theologians of the past?
No, not at all. Just because someone considered to be of high esteem says something different from a person of lower esteem, it doesn’t mean the person of higher esteem is correct. This is not a matter of pride; it’s a matter of truth.
Jesus was also accused of being prideful because He acted and spoke with greater authority than others, such as Moses. It wasn’t about pride, though; it was about truth.
Why do I believe I understand the truth of these things? It’s not because I believe I am somehow greater than others. It is because I have read the Bible and come to a different understanding—an understanding that I believe is true based on the information given, not on how highly I esteem myself.
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“Someone else (a link I would like to send or a well known teacher) can explain this subject and why the doctrine on this site is wrong better than I can. So please see…such and such”
There have been many times when I’ve been given links to other ministries that teach things contrary to what I do. The funny thing is, I’ve often already seen those articles and have included explanations in my own writings as to why they are incorrect.
So, I find it both laughable and annoying when someone tries to refute what I teach by showing me what someone else teaches, which I’ve already proven to be incorrect.
The reason many people point to the teachings of others is often because they do not fully understand the subject well enough to defend it themselves. So, they rely on others who “understand it better” to do that for them.
What they don’t realize, however, is that the reason they don’t fully grasp it is that those they point to as great teachers don’t have a firm grasp on it either. Thus, their students are left without understanding as well.
In fact, the same arguments the student would make are the very ones their teacher will make. If those arguments don’t hold up for the student, the teacher will also fail, since they are saying the same thing. So do yourself a favor: don’t pretend you aren’t smart enough to figure this out, allowing someone else who is “smarter” to do it for you. Use your own brain.
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No one else believes this! In fact, the majority believe something totally different!
Since when has majority opinion been proof of something being true? Majority opinion is merely an endorsement from many people who may themselves be incorrect. The objection that no well-known or respected group or intelligent person believes something was also used against Jesus. They said, “Have any of the scribes or Pharisees believed in Him?!”
So, denial of something based on this comes from peer pressure, not truth.
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Such and such scripture says what you are saying is untrue!
A common theme in never-ending debates occurs when one person uses a scripture that seems to say one thing, but another person cites a different scripture that appears to give a different view. Typically, we just keep quoting our supporting scriptures back and forth.
But this only leads to frustration. Instead, we need to lay down our arsenal and learn how to use it properly. The Bible will not contradict itself, so if we see two opposing views, we need to ask ourselves how they work together.
Is it possible that one of us is reading something into the scriptures that it doesn’t actually say? Could it be that other foundational doctrines we believe are not true, forcing us to interpret certain scriptures in a way that tries to make them fit? I’ve often found that misunderstanding scripture can lead to this. A little help in understanding what we read might be in order. For more on this, please see Unit 1:7 in this course.
If you truly believe something to be untrue, feel free to contact me. As long as it’s not something I’ve already addressed, I’d be happy to hear you out.
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Isn’t relying on prophecy subjective, since interpretations can vary widely depending on the reader’s belief?
Truth is never subjective. Widely varying interpretations are the result of human understanding. Some people are better able to grasp context than others, while some don’t use context at all and instead rely on their imagination. However, the prophecy itself is not subject to how people may perceive it.
I believe the spirit of the question is more about how we can interpret prophecy well enough to understand its meaning. To that, I would say that we must let the scriptures interpret themselves.
Often, prophecies in the Bible are straightforward, though sometimes they add a little flair. Either way, the keys to understanding them lie within the scriptures themselves—we just have to find them.
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How can you claim the Bible is 100% correct when some interpretations of biblical prophecies are disputed even among scholars?
Truth is never subjective. Widely varying interpretations are the result of human understanding. Some people are better able to grasp context than others, while some don’t use context at all and instead rely on their imagination. However, the prophecy itself is not subject to how people may perceive it.
Most prophecies in the Bible that are disputed are about future events. Naturally, we don’t always understand the details until after the fact. Prophecy isn’t meant for us to know the future in specific terms; it’s often meant for us to understand it after it is fulfilled, serving as proof of God’s foreknowledge.
As for past prophecies, consider that scholars will argue over everything. But that doesn’t matter. The simple truth is that if the events of a prophecy happen as stated, then it is fulfilled.
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Why focus on fulfilled prophecies while ignoring ones that haven’t been clearly fulfilled, such as those related to the end times?
You mean prophecies that haven’t been fulfilled yet? I would imagine the answer should be obvious. We use fulfilled prophecy as proof because we can’t yet rely on future prophecy. However, enough has already been fulfilled for us to be confident that the unfulfilled ones will be as well.
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If prophecy is the ultimate proof of divinity, how do you explain other religious traditions that claim fulfilled prophecies?
There have always been false prophets. Many of them get a few things right here and there, but only the Bible has ever been 100% accurate with detailed prophecy. If you’re asking how another religion could have *any* fulfilled prophecies, the answer is quite simple.
Satan is not unaware of what God has said. There are demonic spirits that can, and do, sometimes operate within people. These demonic spirits can grant special knowledge since they are not only aware of what is in the Bible but also of plans that are currently in place.
So, prophecies from them can sometimes come to pass because they are already part of their plan. However, they are never 100% correct. A prophet whose prophecy does not come to pass is not from God. Only those from God will never fail.
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Why dismiss the beliefs of other religions like Islam or Catholicism based on interpretation differences, while accepting differing Christian denominations?
These are not just interpretational differences. Islam both claims and denies the scriptures. They claim it when convenient but deny it by saying the scriptures are corrupt when there is disagreement. This is interesting because their Quran says the scriptures cannot be corrupted. So, their religion contradicts itself.
Their god is also not the same God of Abraham, even though they claim it is. The Bible was accurate when it spoke of false prophets who would deceive many. It even says many would come in His name but be wolves in sheep’s clothing. So again, this is another god entirely, pretending to be the God of the Bible.
Catholicism practices beliefs that are in direct and clear violation of the scriptures. They also deny that there is only one mediator between God and man. Instead of talking directly with Jesus, they believe they should go to Mary.
They also regard her as the “mother of God,” making her equal to, if not greater than, God. This is not only a violation of scripture but the introduction of another god, different from the one in the Bible.
Additionally, they include many extra books in their scriptures. Meaning they, like Islam, are opposed to the scriptures.
These are denials of the one true God, the scriptures, and the only name by which man might be saved, Jesus. This means they are not just different interpretations but entirely different religions, trying to pass themselves off as true to the Bible when they are not.
The differences between denominations, however, are due only to differences in interpretation. The very basic gospel is the same: There is one eternal God and one mediator between God and man, Jesus. Man is fallen and in need of a savior. Jesus died on the cross and was raised from the dead for our salvation. Anyone who puts their trust in Him shall receive eternal life.
This is what makes the distinction between another religion and another denomination.
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How do we know the Bible wasn’t written or altered after the fact to appear as though its prophecies were fulfilled?
The first problem with that theory is that it implies a conspiracy. This is addressed in the next study. It isn’t reasonable to believe this theory.
The second thing to consider is that these scriptures have always been revered and considered holy. They have always been available to the public as well, so any changes would have immediately caused people to reject them. Even today, there are KJV-only believers who argue that other versions of the Bible are false, and they are not silent about it.
On top of that, you must consider that the Bible was written over centuries. Books written earlier are often quoted in later ones, confirming within the texts themselves that they have not been altered to make things fit.
For example, many claim Daniel was written long after Jesus came and fulfilled His mission, but they forget that Jesus quoted Daniel in previously written books—books that were written before many of the events Daniel prophesied came to pass.
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