Religious Confusion

All thinking people eventually wonder about the cause or reason for confusion in religion. Paul said, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Cor. 14:33). That there are different and conflicting doctrines taught by professed disciples is evident; and since God is not the author of such confusion, man must be the author. Such is clearly the case because Jesus expressed concern that his disciples might be one so that the world would believe in him (John 17:20, 21).

In view of John’s statement, “My loved ones, do not put your faith in every spirit, but put them to the test, to see if they are from God: because a great number of false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1 BBE), it simply cannot be denied that a great deal of error is being taught “in the name of Jesus.” My concern is that many do not see error as a problem or threat and therefore do not diligently seek religious truth.

Let us suppose that an evangelist comes to our community to conduct a religious meeting and proceeds as follows: At the first service he declares that salvation is by faith only, but at the next one he contends that salvation is by faith exercised in obedience to the gospel rather than by faith alone. At the third service he teaches that the mode of baptism can be sprinkling, pouring, or immersion. At the fourth he plainly shows that immersion is the only scriptural mode of baptism. At the fifth service he tells the people that they ought to baptize their babies, but at the sixth he says that penitent believers are the only scriptural subjects for baptism. At the seventh service he preaches "once in grace, always in grace" but at the eighth he asserts that one can be lost through unbelief after being saved. At the ninth service he says that it is all right to have a human creed, but at the tenth he affirms that we should take the Bible as our only guide in religion.

No thoughtful person would continue to listen to ONE preacher like that, but the majority of people have no problem with TEN preachers preaching these conflicting doctrines. All religious folk recognize that if ONE man should preach as described above he would contradict himself and therefore lack credibility. But what kind of a God do they suppose we have if he endorses all the conflicting doctrines and has actually sent these preachers out to preach them?

Just as it makes a difference what men preach it makes a difference what we believe. Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life” (John 5:39a). And Paul said, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Thess. 5:21). Paul spoke highly of the Bereans who “…Received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so (Acts 17:11). These people were apprehensive of error and loved truth. What about you?

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