TFR Blog

Things not in the Bible: Fulford

2024-06-26 by Forthright Staff

BY HUGH FULFORD ─ This is Hugh’s Views and News from June 25.

That the forbidden fruit that Eve ate was an apple
A Pope
The sinner’s prayer
The title “Reverend” applied to any preacher
The date of Jesus’ birth.
The notion that there were three wise men who visited Christ soon after His birth (Note: Wise men visited, but the number is not given).
The doctrine of salvation by faith only
Many churches of all kinds of denominations: Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Baptist, Methodists, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, nor any other denomination or sect, Catholic or Protestant
Instrumental music in the worship of the first century church
The idea that if a person has a good heart he/she will be saved
The notion that there are many ways to God
The belief that one can earn his eternal salvation by good works
The Rapture
Various acceptable reasons for divorce and remarriage
Baptizing babies
Sprinkling, pouring, or christening as baptism
The date of Christ’s second coming
The notion that one can be spiritual without having to attend church and engage in formal or prescribed religious activities
Purgatory
Religious officials known as Archbishops
Religious officials known as Cardinals
One pastor leading a congregation
Once saved, always saved
Praying to or through Mary the mother of Jesus
Women serving as ministers or elders of local churches
The idea that one can do nothing to be saved

In Acts 17:11 it is said of the people of Berea (northern Greece): “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). The Bereans were checking up on the preaching of Paul and Silas.

Does there not need to be some searching of the Scriptures today to see if what one has “always heard” or “always thought” or “always believed” or what the televangelists are saying is actually in the Bible? Truth has no fear of being investigated; in fact, it welcomes such.

Only truth, not error, can make us free (John 8:32).