Unbiblical Doctrines

The fundamental doctrines of Christendom are based not on the Bible but on ancient myths-those of Greece, Egypt, Babylon and others. Teachings such as the inherent immortality of the human soul, eternal torment in hellfire, purgatory and the trinity (three persons in one Godhead) are not found in the Bible.

For example, consider the teaching that bad people will be tortured forever in a fiery hell. How do you feel about this idea? Many find it repugnant. They find it unreasonable that God would forever torture humans, keeping them in excruciating pain. Such a fiendish idea is contrary to the God of the Bible, for "God is love." (1John 4:8) The Bible is clear that such a teaching 'had not come into the heart' of almighty God. - Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5; 32:35.

Today many religions, including th churches of Christendom, teach that humans have an immortal soul, which at death goes to heaven or hell. This is not a Bible teaching. Instead, the Bible clearly states: " The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all,.... for there is no work, or devising, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in Sheol [the grave], the place to which you are going." (Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10) And the psalmist states that at death man "goes back to his ground; in that day his thoughts do perish." - Psalm 146:4.

Recall, too, that Adam and Eve broke God's law, the punishment was not immortality. That would have been a reward, not a punishment! Instead, they were told that they would "return to the ground, for out of it [they] were taken." God emphasized to Adam: "For dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19) Thus, the teaching of inherent immortality of the soul is not in the Bible but was borrowed by Christendom from Non-Christian peoples who lived before them.

Also, Christendom's Trinity doctrine portrays God as some mysterious three-in-one God. But that teaching is not found in the Bible either. For instance, at Isaiah 40:25, God clearly states: " To whom can you people liken me so that I should be made his equal?" The answer is obvious: No one can be his equal. Also, Psalm 83:18 simply states: "You whose name is Jehovah, you alone are the Most High over all the earth." - See also Isaiah 45:5; 46:9; John 5:19; 6:38; 7:16.

The teachings of the Bible about God and his purposes are clear, easy to understand and reasonable. But the teachings of Christendom's churches are not. Worse, they contradict the Bible.


Continued-Next time: Ungodly Actions