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Does Every Man Have a Right to His Own Belief? By: Garland M. Robinson |
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Does Every Man Have a Right to His Own Belief? By: Garland M. Robinson |
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In one sense, everyone does have a right to their own belief. God has given each one the freedom to do or not do what they choose. God does not interfere with one’s freedom of choice. However, that does not mean each person is right with God when they choose their own way. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12). To follow your own counsel has never been right with God. Men have always done "...that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6). Man cannot direct his own steps (cf. Jeremiah 10:23).
On the other hand, there is only one belief acceptable with God, HIS! Jesus “...said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow ME" (Luke 9:23). “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). All who do not believe in Jesus, though sincere in their belief, will not and can not go to heaven. So, NO, everyone does not have the right to their own belief. To be acceptable with God, one must believe and do things God’s Way.
Ephesians 4:4-6 says “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." The “one body” is the church (Ephesians 1:22-23). Since there is only one body and the body is the church, there is only one church. Therefore, one church is not as good as another. Everyone does not have a right to their own belief about the church. You either believe God’s Way or are wrong. If one does not believe and embrace the “one Spirit...one hope...one Lord...one faith...one baptism...one God," then he is wrong. People often believe in the one Spirit, one Lord and one God but then turn around and say they believe there are many bodies, many faiths and many baptisms. Yet, the Bible clearly says there is one body, not many; one faith, not many; one baptism, not many.
To be right with God, I do not have a right to my own belief. It’s not acceptable with God for you to go your way and I go mine. We either embrace God’s Way or stand contrary to His Way.