A belief that is controversial is one that is regarded by most of the professing Christian world as not true thereby causing controversy, contention, or debate. It is a belief that most professing Bible believing Christians would not agree with as a whole; But what is popular is not always the gauge by which we determine the truth in God's Word.
Anyways, here is what I believe the Bible teaches (that is controversial by most professing Christians):
#1. Sola Scriptura (The Word of God is our spiritual authority alone; No other outside book, or church has any authority to add to what the Bible says; There are many Christian groups who would disagree with this teaching in God's Word).
#2. The KJV is the perfect Word of God for our world today (But I agree with using Modern Translations to help update the Early Modern English (i.e. the 1600's English) that is in the KJV. Also, I believe the Word of God existed perfectly throughout time in the language of Hebrew, Greek, and Latin (before English became a world language). The alternative position is to believe the Hebrew and Greek are perfect or that no translation was ever perfect. This is a problem because it means we cannot trust our Bible plainly in the English today. We all have to become Hebrew and Greek experts in order to just read and understand God's Word. But I see nowhere in the Bible where God requires us to study another language just to understand Him. In Acts 2, God was more than capable of translating people's own languages so that they could all understand each other.
#3. A Person Must Be An Expert Translator in Modern Greek In Order to Translate Any Part of What the Bible Says in Biblical Greek (i.e. A person needs to know how to translate a page in English into Modern Greek with the people of Greece agreeing with that translation before they can offer any opinion on what the Bible says in Biblical Greek). For I would not let a doctor work on my car. They are not qualified. Why would I let a person who does not know how to write or speak Greek fluently among the people of Greece to translate something for me in the Bible? They are just guessing. But even if a Christian were to know Greek intimately and tried to give me their interpretation on the Bible, I do not know how to speak and write Greek (like an expert does) so as to verify if what they are saying is true or not.
#4. Dualistic Conditional Immortality (Hell is a real place that a person can experience consciously as described in the Story of Lazarus and the Richman, but I believe it is not a torture chamber. I believe the richman was tormented by the heat of the flame in the great gulf fixed between him and Abraham. I also believe it possible that there may be long periods of time of sleep (or unconsciousness) for the wicked in hell); In addition, I believe that after the Judgment: The devil, his minions, and all wicked people will be annihiated or erased from existence in the the Lake of Fire, which is also called the "Second Death." It is called the "Second Death" because it is relates to the "First Death."). Now, I used to believe in Eternal Torment for a long time (But the moral aspect of it never sat right with me). For a time I believed in both Eternal Torment and Conditional Immortality as both being a possibility. But after studying the Scriptures more, I had come to realize that Eternal Torment is not only immoral, but is also unbiblical (big time), too. For the word "forever" does not always mean "forever." (See Philemon 1:15).
#5. Conditional Salvation. This is the teaching in the Bible that says that believers have free will and they have a free will choice to walk away from God or to commit serious sin and separate themselves from the Lord. Believers are told to overcome in their faith so that they may receive the crown of life. Scripture is full of warnings to the believer to keep in the faith and not to fall away. Most today believe in Eternal Security, which is the teaching that a believer cannot out sin the grace of God or that a believer is somehow magically forced to generally live a holy life. In Eternal Security: Dying in one or two serious unrepentant sins is not all that big of a deal for God because He can still save them despite them doing such evil. This is wrong (of course). There is no initial fear of God (in a believer's early walk) in this type of belief. The statement in Scripture that says, "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (along with many other verses) is regulated as useless background noise if one believes in Eternal Security. Hundreds of verses have to be twisted and ignored if one ignores the Bibe's teaching on Conditional Salvation. There are only a small select verses that suggest Eternal Security, and all of these verses are easily refuted by looking at the context (i.e. the surrounding text). Also, Eternal Security cannot be made into a real life example (or parable). Jesus and even the Canaanite woman were able to make parables (or real world examples) to express spiritual truth. But this cannot be done with Eternal Security (For it has to ignore morality or God's goodness in order to make it work).
#6. Sinless Perfectionism (or Entire Sanctification). The idea of overcoming sin in this life is offensive to some believers for some odd reason. They think that a believer by the power of God working in them to overcome their sin (in this life) is simply not possible. Yet, Scripture is full of many verses that tell us about being "perfect" and to "sin not" or to "sin no more." God says in His Word, "Be ye holy, for I am holy." This really does not make any sense in light of thinking we will be slaves to our sin here on this Earth. God does not want us to be a defeated people, but He wants us to have the victory (So as to glorify Him and not ourselves). For Jesus says we can do nothing without Him. Hence, which is why with God, all things are possible. Important Note: Please take note that not having reached a state of Sinless Perfection does not mean one is not saved. Paul says his goal was to be perfect. Also, the Parable of the Tax Collector is not in conflict with Sinless Perfection. God's grace is how we are initially and ultimately saved. For if a believer sins, how do they get clean? By doing a good work? No. By going to Jesus Christ and confessing their sin (i.e. God's grace). The Parable of the Tax Collector is talking about a new believer's struggle with sin or a believer's lapse back into sin temporarily in their goal of striving to overcome sin one day. The problem is that the Pharisee did not repent towards God of his sins. Hence, why he was not humble. He did not receive God's grace by crying out to God.
#7. Believers Currently Today (Who Die) Go to Abraham's Bosom (Paradise). It is Only After the Pre-Trib Rapture Takes Place is When Believers Will Then Go Directly To Heaven or God's Kingdom (When They Die); However, the Final Destination For All Believers is not Heaven, But It is the "New Earth" Whereby Believers Will Live with God in a Sinless Paradise For All Eternity in Physical Flesh and Blood Bodies.
#8. In the Pre-Trib Rapture, Believers Will Receive New Spirit Bodies (Similar to the Body of Angels). In the Millennium and the Eternal New Earth: Believers Will Then Receive Flesh and Blood Bodies. There is no such thing as bloodless glorified half physical and half spiritual type bodies (As many Christians teach today). Many Christians think that Jesus did not have any blood anymore when He returned after His resurrection. This is just not true.
#9. Jesus Had Power As God During His Earthly Ministry (In Addition To Suppressing His power of "Omniscience" (i.e. to Have all knowledge) So As to Be Like a "Man"). While I believe Christ suppressed His Omniscience to be a "Type of Adam" who was limited in knowledge, I believe Jesus also had power as God during His Earthly ministry, too.
(a). Jesus said He has power to raise the dead to life just as the Father had power to raise the dead.
(b). Hebrews talks about how Christ held all things together by the word of His power when He purged us of our sins.
(c). Jesus said, He would raise up this Temple (His body) three days later.
(d). Jesus had the power to forgive sins and give eternal life.
(e) Jesus had power to take away the sins of the entire world.
(f) Jesus Christ said wherever two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them. This was said to the people he was around and not to just us today.
(g) Jesus received worship as God.
So Jesus is God; Not in name only but in power, as well.
#10. Old Testament Saints Were Born Again Spiritually. The term in the Old Testament is called "Circumcision of the Heart."
#11. Believers Today Are Required to Follow the Commands in the New Testament and not Commands in the Old Testament. The Word "Law" in the New Testament (By itself) is not a reference to "all Law" (or the Commands or Laws in the New Testament) but it is in reference to Old Testament Law.
#12. House Fellowship Is The Model of Gathering Every Week With Other Believers (Only). Unbelievers Were Not Invited to Such Things. Evangelizing Was Done By Going Out To People's Houses (Usually in Groups of Two).
#13. Serious Sin is Separation From God.
Adam, Ananias, Sapphira, the Prodigal Son, the widows in 1 Timothy 5, and Simon are just a few examples.
#14. Not All Sin is the Same.
There are unforgivable sins, and there are sins that lead unto death and sins that do not lead unto death.
#15. Being Born Again of Water is Talking About Being Born Again By God's Holy Written Word. Being born of water is not talking about human birth or water baptism.
#16. New Testament Pacifism.
Jesus and His followers never taught how we are to wage war or to fight with our physical hands. On the contrary, Jesus and His followers taught the exact opposite. Granted, the Old Testament does teach that believers can wage war, etc. But the Old Testament is another Covenant (that is no longer binding). Also, it is true that Jesus will return as a conquering king (using violence), and the saints will follow Him; But these are disembodied saints (who have already lived out their faith here upon the Earth).
#17. The Nephilim.
Many Christians I think are just too freaked out by the idea that giant hybrid demonic men (Who are the offspring of demons and human females) can exist.
#18. Young Earth Creationism.
This is the belief that God created the Earth and the Universe in 6 literal 24 hour days. Many today believe in a form of Theistic Evolution.
#19. Jesus made unfermented wine (Freshly Squeezed Grape Juice) and not a fully fermented wine (Alcoholic Wine). Please take note that I believe a Christian does have a liberty in Christ to drink, but I simply think it is not profitable for them. Hence, this is the reason why I am "Abstentionist" and not a "Prohibitionist." The wine symbolizes Jesus's blood, which is the pure blood of the grape that is holy and undefiled. Alcoholic wine is a type of leaven and leaven represents "sin" in the Bible. Yet, Jesus was without sin. This is but one of the many reasons why the wine Jesus made was unfermented wine (Grape Juice) and not fermented wine.
#20. God hates the sin and not the sinner. Granted, this does not mean we can sin and still be saved. This also does not mean that God cannot be angry with sinners, either. This means that God ultimately loves all of His creation and desires them to repent and do good (Even when He knows they may not do so). For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus said to the Father to forgive those who were crucifying Him because they knew not what they were doing. If God hated the sinner or the wicked, He would wish that their was to perish or to be destroyed. But this is not the case. God wishes and desires all men to repent because He ultimately loves them; For God is love; And not hate. For God sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
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