Top 10 Misconceptions About Christianity
1. The Bible is riddled with errors so you can't believe any of it
Though some may say that there are many "contradictions" in the bible, they aren't taking into consideration a lot of factors. A true and thorough understanding of the Bible is necessary to know that these these so-called contradictions are, in fact, not contradictions at all. When taking into consideration proper biblical interpretation, knowledge of the original language, historical and biblical context, one is able to see that there is a clear and consistent explanation for each and every instance.
2. The new testament was written centuries after Christ. How could it possibly be accurate?
The Bible wasn't the only religious text written after Christ. There were many texts written about 25 years after Christ's death in addition to eyewitness accounts that may have helped influence the writing if the Bible.
3. Christianity is anti-science
It is quite possible for religion and science to coexist and most Christians believe that religion and science go hand-in-hand, they aren't necessarily in opposition to one another. Christianity isn't so much anti-science as it is more pro-faith. This means that for the things that science cannot prove, Christianity relies on faith to fill in the blanks.
4. Christians worship 3 gods
This one is certainly untrue - believing such would be in direct opposition with the Ten Commandments. This Trinity is often misunderstood by those who don't fully understand its context in the Bible. The Father, the son, and the Holy Spirit are one in the same not 3 separate entities.
“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2 Corinthians 13:14
5. Good people go to Heaven & bad people go to Hell
We're all sinners so is there really a truly "good" person? I'm sure you've told a little lie here and there... well, that counts toward the bad list. With that, it can be argued that we're all a little "bad" but that's the whole point! None of us are perfect and that's why Jesus sacrificed himself - to save everyone who is willing to be saved!
So, good or bad, the only way to get into Heaven is by accepting Jesus as your savior. This doesn't give you free reign to go around sinning though. It is out of respect for Jesus and the sacrifice that he made that we all try to do our best to be as good as we can.
6. If you are Christian, you don't have to be good
This one ties in directly with #5 above. Jesus did sacrifice himself for us but in return for such a loving act it is our responsibility to set a good example and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ever heard of the expression "lead by example?" We'd have an awful time getting others to know Him if we went around acting foolish.
7. There are so many different translations of the Bible, there's no way to tell how accurate it is
First off, there is a difference between "versions" and "translations." There were far fewer languages when the bible was originally written thus the original didn't have many translations. Scientists know exactly what the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts said. Today, we do have many translations, however, they are all derived from the original. This is what tends to cause some confusion.
8. Genesis convinces Christians that the earth is only about 6,000 years old
People tend to confuse this because they are thinking in worldly terms, not in heavenly terms. The Bible tells us that the sun and moon weren't created until the 4th day so, because of this, the idea of worldly (or solar-based) days cannot apply here.
The Hebrew word for "day" is "yam" which doesn't translate into a specific time frame the way we think of a day being 24 hours. It isn't stated in the Bible exactly the time frame in which God created, only that he did create. Time and the calendar are man-made, so you can't assume that God was working in "days" the same way we think of days.
9. God is cruel because he allows terrible things to happen
We live in a world where bad things happen, everyone knows this. We live in this imperfect world because the devil chose to rebel against God because of his free will. After this, came the fall of Adam and Eve and that was the catalyst for the world we live in now.
Because we live in a world with free will, we also live in a world where there is sin, that's the simple reality of it. If God used his power to make everything sugar plums and rainbows, that would, in turn, take away the precious gift that is our free will. That is why, as mentioned above, it is our responsibility to be as good a person as we can be.
10. Christians are always happy
This one would be really great if it were true wouldn't it? Christians do have a strong drive because they know that life has meaning and that they have a purpose which is very fulfilling. This can bring a lot of happiness but no matter who you are, we all go through challenges and hard times in life. It's not promised that life will be easy but you can be assured that you are not alone in your life journey. God is with you always.
“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
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