Articles
Misconceptions Leading To Disbelief
You might occasionally hear an objection to belief in the God of the Bible, or an excuse for one's unbelief, stated in the form of a question: "If God is such a loving God, why does He allow suffering?" This is a question many of us have probably asked ourselves or someone else, at some point, and we quite often try to give some philosophical answer or explanation, often without satisfaction on the part of the one who asked the question. But in so doing, we might be overlooking the basic problem with the question: It demonstrates ignorance of the God of the Bible, and is based on one's misconception of just who God is and what He will or will not do.
For example, someone asked, "If God is such a loving God, then how does he allow the torture and inhumane treatment in slaughter houses for the most innocent beings on earth?" For this individual, inhumane treatment of animals in slaughterhouses is justification for unbelief. Would the absence of inhumane treatment of animals cause her to believe? Not likely.
Or, another asked, "If God is such a loving God, why does evil exist?" The questioner went on to argue that a loving God would demand intervention to prevent evil and, taking that premise all the way to its logical end, demands that evil would have never existed. Again, we find the premise is a false premise, based more on the individual's concept of who God should be and how He should act than any information revealed to us in the Bible about God. If we were to take this description of God as true, then we would all be without free will and merely robots doing everything He directed us to do. I am fairly certain the one who objects to belief in God because evil exists would not be satisfied with that world, either. If God acted in the way this individual demanded, then he would be complaining about God eliminating anyone who disagreed with Him or who was not perfectly righteous. Then again, we wouldn't even exist, since all of us have sinned (Rom. 3:23)!
These are not the only misconceptions about God that lead people to disbelieve the God of the Bible. Furthermore, others who claim to believe also have misconceptions about the God of the Bible, and such misconceptions have led many to have additional misconceptions about how man can be saved, who can be saved, and how or whether God intervenes in the lives of men today. All of these misconceptions and more are the root cause of many divisions amongst professing believers, animosity toward those who claim belief, and confusion among many who may be seeking the truth or answers to sincere questions. How can we eliminate these misconceptions about God and anything related to Him, and know the truth?
First, we must know the real, true, and living God, and simultaneously reject any concepts of God that do not align or agree with the information He has revealed to us. It is both arrogance and outright foolishness to project our concepts of who God should be onto the real, true, and living God, while rejecting the information He has revealed to us about Himself. The only way we may know about God is by (1) looking at the Creation and learning what that tells us about His nature and power, and (2) reading and studying the Bible, which tells us about God's character, His power, His dealings with mankind, and His plan for us.
As God's word even tells us, “since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead” (Rom. 1:20), so we can know something about God by examining His Creation. And, since the Bible claims to be God's word, inspired by Him to be written down (2 Tim. 3:16), and since God by nature does not lie (Titus 1:1, 2), we can believe what it tells us about Him. Arguments about the credibility of the Bible can be easily demonstrated, verified, and accepted by honest hearts, too; much of purported 'inconsistencies' or 'errors' put forth as an excuse for disbelief have already been disproved or explained sufficiently, and those who persist in their unbelief do so in spite of the evidence, not for a lack of evidence. With this said, then anything we believe or any concept we have not based on either of those two sources [Creation, and the text of the Bible] is merely a misconception.
Second, we must reject our personal feelings and concepts about God. This habit of man to base his or her beliefs on feelings or personal desires is the cause of many believing not in the God of the Bible, but a god of their own invention. Making gods of our own invention, aligning with our own desires, is nothing new. That was why men established a temple for Aphrodite and Apollo, and practicing "sacred sex" in or near those temples; it is why there was a god of drinking and excess; it was why there were gods of war and vengeance.
In modern times, it is why some preachers claim God came to them personally to get the TV or listening audience to send in money; it is why some preachers tell their congregations they have been "called" by God to some new work. These things have nothing to do with what God actually said in the Bible, but solely based on someone's desire, bolstered by some false claim of a Divine revelation or vision to justify it. Sadly, many who listen to these religious charlatans haven't opened up their Bibles to examine it for themselves, and believe the false claims, and often because they are promised some reward. Then, the desire of the listener or audience member, based on the preacher's desire for more money, becomes the source of belief, rather than the Bible.
Is it any wonder some who see these abominable practices turn away and show no more interest in spiritual matters? They may not be believers, but they sometimes know more about God than those sitting in the pews or watching at home! And they know better than to simply accept the claim without proof. So should we!
False doctrines have been long preached and long accepted by men for the simple reason the audience wanted to believe it, rather than because of a systematic study and investigation of what God's word has actually revealed and actually teaches. We should be willing to “test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1), rather than simply take one's word for truth. If every word of the inspired apostle Paul could be challenged (Acts 17:11), then every word of anyone today claiming to speak God's word should also be challenged. Don't put your soul in danger by simply taking someone's word for it — not even your parents' word!
Misconceptions about God have been the cause for disbelief, but so have misconceptions of professing believers! If we are to lead the lost to salvation, we must study our Bibles and get to know the real God and the real Jesus, and the real plan of salvation God established, and then teach that. Toss out the false claims, reject the erroneous concepts of God and how one can be saved, and put away your personal opinions and desires so we can see the truth clearly.
Feelings will not save us. — Steven Harper
