Can a Christian question the authority and infallability of the Bible?

[faroukfarouk]

I dont think so. I believe in heaven.

The question to all of us is, Are we good enough to go to heaven without a Saviour from our sin?

 

[Adstar]

Didn't you ever question it? I know I did.

I had and still have lots of questions for God about the scriptures.. But i have never doubted that the Bible is the Word of God..

 

[Saint Beloved]

What good would it do?

Hebrews 11.6 says: "He that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him".

Questioning something means you're interested and engaged, open to something. I'd be worried if I or anyone else didn't question things. It's how we learn and know what we believe and give reasons for why we believe.

 

[Hearingheart]

Hi Hearing,

Believers and non believers alike question this so I think it's just a natural human thing to do. God doesn't mind honest questions or anger just disapproves of intellectual scoffing and pride.

Scripture is a tool it's a believers spiritual weapon sharp as a sword but its wisdom is shielded from the hard hearts of scoffers and mockers they'll never be able to appreciate and gain from it. Only God's Spirit can help the reader to understand the deep mysteries it contains it's part of the joy in the growing personal relationship with our spiritual family.

Anyone can intellectually believe in One God, One Crearor and Jesus the Messiah but that's vague. Followers are called to believe in specifics.

What do you believe about them?
Do they know you?
Do they take an interest in your daily life?
Did Jesus actually exist?
Did Jesus personally die for you?
Have you been blessed?
Have you experienced revelations?
Have you been baptised in the name of the Holy Trinity?
Have you received the Holy Spirit?
What are you seeking?

I was on the outside looking in once and didn't hold the bible in any great esteem but now I don't want to read anything else, I don't need anything else, everything else is filler, the bible sustains me. I had to spend time with God and a sound bible teacher to appreciate it. Yes, it has many translations and was written by men of faith inspired and guided by the Holy Spirit. I had to want it, really want it before anything changed for me no one else could do that for me. God promised to preserve His Word and I believe Scripture is that promise fulfilled and just as when you use different vocab for different age groups all the translations speak to who they're designed for.

No one can answer this for you or pursuade your heart. Only God's Spirit through earnest seeking and prayer.
Good luck and God bless you.

I'm not speaking of myself so no need be concerned for my heart.

It seems that lately I have had contact with many outside of the building walls of the organized church, who I believe truly love the Lord and accept Jesus as the Christ and His gospel.

Scripture says to call on the name of the Lord and we will be saved. It doesn't say our salvation is dependent on the canon.

So my reason for posting this, is to try to get input. There is a reason these people have crossed my path.

These are people who no are involved with a church body, but still hold to Christianity. Each one has maturity and health, more so than I witness in most Christians. Yet they are pushed aside because their salvation depends on what they believe about the canon.

 

[Saint Beloved]

I had and still have lots of questions for God about the scriptures.. But i have never doubted that the Bible is the Word of God..

Then you were especially blessed but not everyone comes from that position.

 

[faroukfarouk]

A little encouragment goes a long way!
Be patient, did you get to where your steady faith is now overhight? Mine didn't.

By God's grace it grows and is strengthened by the Word of God rather than by rationalization and doubt.

 

[Bluerose31]

The question to all of us is, Are we good enough to go to heaven without a Saviour from our sin?

I believe Jesus Christ has saved me.

 

[SeventyOne]

So are you saying there is no evidence that man could have manipulated or tampered with writings to suit a group or organizations agenda?

There are corrupted translations but that has no effect on the validity of the scriptures themselves.

 

[Adstar]

Then you were especially blessed but not everyone comes from that position.

Well it is a position we all want to be at in the end..

 

[Albion]

I don't agree with some things in the Bible and I still consider myself Christian.For example, I don't believe in hell and yet I still consider myself Christian.

Well, what you're illustrating is the difficulty with sorting Christians into different categories when it comes to this particular issue. Some people think of the Bible as generally correct but only generally so. Others think it's correct except for one or two points, often a geographical or historical one. Others say it's infallible from beginning to end, period. And still others claim that it's infallible so far as its message goes but not necessarily so as concerns every last word. And yes, there are those who are willing to concede that the Bible in the original languages was infallibly correct...but not the translations which alone are available to us today.

 

[Noscentia]

2 Timothy 3:16

The literal translation for 'inspired' is God-Breathed and that is what the Bible is. If you're willing to allow your own human judgement to determine what in it is true and what is not, then you become your own final authority for truth. The Bible is God's Word and Christ is the word become flesh. I don't see how you could trust in Christ completely but not His word.

 

[JESUS=G.O.A.T]

I never know if I'm posting in the correct place....that's my disclaimer and I'm sticking to it.

Say one believes in One God, One Creator and also Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God and even uses and reads the Bible but sees the Bible as a useful tool as well as other ancient writings without giving it a place of uncontested infallibility.

Understanding that man has a sin nature and throughout history has exhibited the ability to manipulate, maim, murder and steal in order to procure what he wants, how do we know the Bible is really the only source available through which God would speak?

Is a Christian who doesn't hold to the infallibility of the Bible still considered a Christian?

I mean a lot of those people simply weren't christians, they were like the pharisees. I mean you can know the word and not live it.

That's why the bible says walk in spirit and in truth, some in history and even now simply had word in them and that's it, and use the word for their own reasons.

 

[Albion]

These are people who no are involved with a church body, but still hold to Christianity. Each one has maturity and health, more so than I witness in most Christians. Yet they are pushed aside because their salvation depends on what they believe about the canon.

Who's pushing aside whom seems to run in all sorts of directions these days, doesn't it?

But there is probably more to the pushing aside of the people you are referring to than just how they understand the Bible. For example, if they exempt themselves from the sacraments and fellowship, both of which are pretty strongly stipulated in the Bible as "to do" matters, that is enough for some Christians to think ill of them, regardless of whether they also think the Bible is infallible or not.

And, for their part, many non-churchgoing followers of Christ return the favor by looking down on these other people as robotic followers of institutional "Churchianity."

 

[Saint Beloved]

I bring up the question because of a conversation and because I want to explore the subject.

I have had conversations with many who love the Lord and exhibit holy and godly behavior but who are not connected with a church because of what is seen as worship of not so reliable source of writings call the Bible.

Now some of these people have been Christians for many years and actively read and use the Bible, they also give credit to other writings and some used to see it as infallible but have since changed their stance.

God's character doesn't change and the evidence of His creation gives testimony of Him. We have the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us.

I really need to work this out....thanks all for your input.

We can't carry others burdens, only our own.
If you are convicted to pray for the divisions among us, do! God told us church attendance would be neglected and that false teachers and doctrine would abound in the last days this discontent is not a surprise to us.

If God wants you to understand what many can't so be it but if it just be a human intellectual tennis match distraction than I'd advice a better pursuit of God's given time on earth.

 

[Saint Beloved]

How do you know that God's character does not change, or what is Godly or holy behaviour?
May I suggest you start reading the coldcasechristianity blog/web site, where a dectective has used his investigative skills to anaylise the NT. His conclusion is that it is an accurate and reliable statement of what happened.

So yes a Christian can question the authority and reliability of the bible.
What is more interesting is are they prepared to accept the answer that it is accurate etc ?

The OP obviously has some familiarity with the bible and Scripture tells us this is so.

 

[Saint Beloved]

Maybe at first. People come to the Lord from a variety of circumstances. As children in the faith they are still feeling their way around and may still hold these views for a while, or even other lies, such as evolution, that they were raised in. This probably isn't the norm. Generally, the accounts I've heard were of people who were born again and instantly understood many of these types of truth's, but I can't say everyone has the same experience.

After all, one of the purposes of the coming of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into truth.

Now, if someone claims to be a christian for a long time and still buy into these lies, there is good cause for them to question the reality of their own salvation.

Agreed, well said!

 

[Sam91]

So are you saying there is no evidence that man could have manipulated or tampered with writings to suit a group or organizations agenda?

New International Version
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever." Isaiah 40:8


Yes, I believe that Almighty God protects His scripture.

However, I am talking about the Bible, not what man teaches

 

[Saint Beloved]

So are you saying there is no evidence that man could have manipulated or tampered with writings to suit a group or organizations agenda?

There is evidence of corruption and tampering no one can deny that but what is better to look at the corruption of humanity or the preservation and evidence for that also from God?

 

[Saint Beloved]

I don't agree with some things in the Bible and I still consider myself Christian.For example, I don't believe in hell and yet I still consider myself Christian.

Friend, all we know of Hell Jesus spoke to us of Himself not only that but more of it was told as a warning to believers it was hardly spoken of or aimed at unbelievers. You stand on dangerous ground calling Jesus a liar.

 

[GingerBeer]

Can a Christian question the authority and infallibility of the Bible?
Is a Christian who doesn't hold to the infallibility of the Bible still considered a Christian?

Yes to the topic question.
Yes to the final question.