August 22, 2023
I heard a perplexing, disturbing statement recently when I was in conversation with someone after church where my husband was a guest minister: “We are all entitled to our own beliefs.”
We do live in a free country. We are free to believe what we want to believe as citizens of this country, for which I am thankful. But, does this translate to the church? If we call ourselves Christians, are we really entitled to believe what we want to believe?
The answer is actually a resounding “No.” By calling ourselves Christians, we are claiming we are followers of Christ. God has graciously given us the Bible to show us how we are to live in a harmonious relationship with him. That is our rule book as Christians. That is the book we are required to follow. Whenever I hear the word “entitled” in a Christian context, the red flags go up. We are called to live obedient, submissive lives, denying ourselves and upholding God’s Word, glorifying him at all times.
Jesus showed us time and again through the Scriptures that we are to uphold God’s moral law. In fact, he called for a more stringent interpretation, based on the heart, not just actions. For example, in Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus repeats the law that “you shall not murder,” then he states that even hating another is liable to judgment. He goes on to state that with adultery, even looking at a woman with lustful intent means you’ve already committed adultery in your heart (Matt. 5:28).
“Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:19 -ESV). He is speaking here of the entire Law and the Prophets, not just one or two commandments.
It is sad that people who call themselves Christians in today’s churches want to pick and choose what they believe. Often the parts they reject point to a law they are breaking, or someone close to them is breaking. They don’t want to submit to it. In today’s culture, gender is fluid and sexual relationships can be whatever people want them to be. In this regard, many Christians have abandoned the teaching of the Bible and have fashioned a God of their own liking. They have chosen society’s morals over those upheld by Jesus.
Can we still be called Christians if we are unwilling to obey and submit to the whole Bible? This is a question we each need to ask as we examine our hearts. The answer is actually, “No.” We are not entitled to believe whatever we want and still call ourselves Christians.