“THE RIGHT TO BELIEVE”

Introduction:
	A. Does Every Person Have A Right To His Own Beliefs?
		1. A prevailing idea, and the "politically correct" view of our world today.
	B. Strictly "legally" speaking, we do have a freedom and a right to believe what
	     we choose.
		1. Freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution & Bill of Rights.
		2. Ed Harrell quote:
	"Most members of the Churches of Christ share the American heritage of freedom of religious expression and are fully committed to religious toleration. But I have my zealot side. Any man who believes that he can find literal truth in the Scriptures must also believe that those who do not find the same truth are wrong. What follows is that such people are sinful. The next logical conclusion is that they will go to hell. The most onerous charge leveled against those who are members of the Churches of Christ is that they are bigots. It is frequently assumed that they believe that all who do not accept the truths which they find in the Bible will be lost. All members of the Churches of Christ do not have such an attitude, but I do. This does not imply that I would restrict anyone's right to believe as he pleases; I hold no brief for persecution. The essence of the philosophy of toleration is a willingness to defend a man's right to free expression even when one has deep convictions to the contrary." (Harrell, David Edwin, "Disciples and The Church Universal," Nashville: Disciples of Christ Historical Society, 1967, p 35)
	C. Speaking scripturally, our rights are seen in a different light.
		1. Joshua 24:15
		2. John 14:15, 23, 15:10; Heb. 5:9; 1John 5:2-3; Rev. 14:12-13
	D. Those today who contend that we have the right to believe whatever we
	     choose often have an agenda.
     		1. Effort to justify their own rejection of the N.T. teachings of Christ
       		2. Have already decided not to comply with His terms of pardon, wear His
		    name, belong to His church, etc.
		3. Does one have a right to believe error? 
		4. What of a matter of personal conscience?

I. BIBLE CHARACTERS WHO DID NOT HAVE A RIGHT TO THEIR OWN BELIEFS
	A. Cain - Genesis 4:3-5
      		1. Abel offered by faith -  Heb. 11:4.
       		2. Implies they were told how to offer.
       		3. Cain rejected God's instructions, and was therefore rejected by God.
       		4. 1John 3:11-12
	B. Nadab & Abihu - Lev. 10:1-2
      		1. Offered strange fire
       		2. They were commanded to offer fire, but they offered the wrong kind.
		3. Illustration: God has specified the kind of music that He wants to be a
		    part of the worship of the church.


	C. Naaman - 2Kings 5:1-14
      		1. Expecting something spectacular, he was angry at the simplicity of 
		    Elisha's instructions.
	      	2. Preferred own rivers; had to obey God's commands or remain a leper
       		3. Many today react to God's commands in the same way as Namaan:
		    anger, frustration, etc.
	      	4. Example ... be baptized
       		5. Sinner can no more be saved without baptism than Namaan could have
		    been cleansed without dipping seven times in the Jordan.

II. "DOESN'T GOD CARE ONLY FOR ONE'S HONEST & SINCERE ATTITUDE?"
	A. Is a thing always right or safe just because we sincerely believe it is?
 		1. Financial world - many people honestly & sincerely believe their
		    investments are safe.
          	2. Battles lost because generals honestly & sincerely believed they had a
	   	    good plan of attack or defense.
         	3. Ship builders and owners honestly & sincerely believed the Titanic to 
		    be unsinkable.
		4. As reasonable to say "it doesn't matter what you eat or drink as long
		    as you are honest & sincere."  
             		a. What about poison?  Foods that are not good for you?
	B. Also in religion, it is possible to be honestly & sincerely mistaken.
         	1. Young prophet - 1Kings 13:11.
          	2. 2Thes. 2:11-12

III. IF IT IS RIGHT TO BELIEVE ANY DOCTRINE AS LONG AS ONE IS HONEST    
     AND SINCERE, THEN:
    	A. Faith in Christ is non-essential.
      		1. Honest Jews & Muslims
         		2. Neither believe in Christ - John 8:24
	B. One can abide in any doctrine - 2John 9
    	C. There is no basis for the unity of the Spirit of Ephesians 4.
    	D. The will of God is eliminated and replaced by the will of man.

Conclusion
	A. Christ, who has all power, has the right to dictate the terms of our belief.
	B. Hearing without obeying/doing, or substituting our own wants for the
 	     commands of God, will cause us to be rejected by God - Matt. 7:21-23