Dear Conrad -- How do we know what faith is right? I mean, I know there are different variations of the bible and of religion based around Christianity, so how do we know which is right? Thanks -- Lisa

Dear Lisa,

I’m assuming your question is based around differing Christian beliefs.

For definitions we can define “the right view” as the one that is true, the one that is real, the reality that God has created.

Christians believe that Bible is the Word of God. Meaning God revealed to us what is really true. Things like - the creation of the world, moral law, how you get to heaven, etc. So for the Christian to know what view is right is to know what God has actually done, is doing and will do, who he is and his relationship to us.

So the correct view understands the actual reality of God. Since the Bible is the actual revelation of God -- the correct view is the view that correctly interprets the Bible.

Let’s break down a couple Bible believing views starting at the largest branches.

Those religions that ‘believe’ the Bible are first separated by their view of Christ. Classic Christianity (Protestants and Catholics) believes in the deity of Christ, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses deny that Christ is God (that is why they are not merely other denominations of Christianity but separate religions).

The second branch would come between Protestants and Catholics. Both adhere to the deity of Christ but now it’s a view of salvation. Protestants believe that you only need faith to be saved. Catholics believe that you need faith and good works to be saved.

Further down the line you can break down Protestants and Catholics further into denominations because of differing views on lesser issues.

Most Baptists will not deny that Presbyterians are Christians. They simply have differing beliefs on matters such as infant baptism, soteriology, church government, etc.

But how do we know which one is the correct view? The correct view is the view that is Biblical.

The only way we can know that - is to study the Bible ourselves and not just trust what some other person has to say about the matter.