Can I be a Christian and yet doubt some parts of the Bible?
Many Christians today doubt many things, even the things of God. This is a sad reality amongst many believers who, ironically, find it hard to "believe" some things about the Lord.
This is very evident in what they believe about the Bible.
What about the Bible?
Real Christians follow Christ. They take His Word, receive it gladly, and obey it. They don't associate with Christ just for the sake of religious affiliation; rather, real Christians believe what the Lord Jesus says.
Take what He Himself said in John 14 verses 15 and 23-24, for example:
"If you love Me, keep My commandments." (John 14:15)
"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me." (see John 14:23-24)
Our love for Christ is evidenced by how much we obey His Word.
- When He said "go and make disciples," He meant that we should go and make disciples.
- When He said we should "preach the Gospel to all creation," He wants us to preach the Gospel to everything in creation.
- When He said to deny ourselves and take up our cross to follow Him, He meant that we should deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him.
It's that simple.
Believing God's Word
Friends, the act of believing in God's Word is an act of faith.
- For the scientific and logical mind, reading Genesis 1 might sound impossible -- how an eternally-existing Being would create everything simply by speaking.
- For fishermen it would be difficult to believe in a Man who walks on water.
- For rich people, it will be difficult to believe that earthly riches are nothing compared to heavenly riches in Christ.
We can only believe these things by faith.
- By faith we understand that everything created came by the mouth of the Creator.
- By faith we understand that Christ didn't just walk on water: He walked out of the tomb on the third day after He died.
- By faith we understand that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has ever conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.
Yes, friends, it's by faith.
So, can anyone be a Christian and doubt some parts of God's Word?
Well, we become believers in Christ only by faith (see Ephesians 2:8-9). If we doubt the Word's authenticity, who are we to say that we believe in Him (see John 1:14)?
"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17)