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Does Everyone Have A Right to His Own Belief?. Let the Bible Answer. A Common Response. Members of the church are often charged with religious bigotry and intolerance When discussing moral or religious differences, many respond saying, “He has a right to his own belief…”
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Does Everyone HaveA Right to His Own Belief? Let the Bible Answer
A Common Response • Members of the church are often charged with religious bigotry and intolerance • When discussing moral or religious differences, many respond saying, “He has a right to his own belief…” • By “right,” they mean “one is granted the privilege of determining what he will believe”
Does Everyone Have a Right to His Own Belief? • Legally … Yes (in the eyes of man) • Our U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights grant citizens many rights and freedoms (religion, speech, etc.) • Amendment I: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Does Everyone Have a Right to His Own Belief? • Biblically … No (in the eyes of God) • Our freedoms, rights and beliefs are to be controlled by a single standard, God’s word (Jn. 17:17; Rom. 10:14,17) • A single standard is seen in the area of mathematics, measurements, etc. • A single standard determines our “right”, not one’s own belief (Num. 15:39; Deut. 12:8; Judg. 17:6; 21:5)
Does Everyone Have a Right to His Own Belief? • Biblically … No (in the eyes of God) • God is the Creator and we are the creatures; God is all-knowing and all-powerful (Rev. 4:11) • Mankind is limited and does not always know the right way (Jer. 10:23; Prov. 14:25; 16:25; 20:24)
Does Everyone Have a Right to His Own Belief? • Adam and Eve did not (Gen. 3) • Cain did not (Gen. 4:3-5) • Nadab and Abihu did not (Lev. 10:1-2) • Moses did not (Num. 20:10-13) • Naaman did not (2 Kings 5:10-12)
Does Everyone Have a Right to His Own Belief? • Disobedient Jews did not (Acts 13:45-46) • Saul of Tarsus did not (Acts 26:9-10) • The unrighteous did not (2 Thess. 2:11) • False teachers did not (1 Tim. 1:3; 1 Jn. 4:1)
Does Everyone Have a Right to His Own Belief? • Those who say everyone has a right to believe what he wants… • Are inconsistent • Usually have an agenda • Have no fixed standard to go by • Do not want to be limited by a standard • Must face the consequence of complete anarchy
Does Everyone Have a Right to His Own Belief? • All “rights” (authority) have been given to Jesus (Mt. 28:18) • As such everyone today must… • Hear, believe and obey the gospel (Rom. 1:16) • Be members of the NT Church (Mt. 16:18) • Worship according to the NT (Jn. 4:24) • Live their lives according to the NT (Eph. 4:1)