What does the Bible say about people who choose to convert to another religion? While the Bible calls believers to stay faithful, it also acknowledges the challenge of spiritual wandering. Let’s look at how scripture discusses conversion, faithfulness, and returning to God.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Being Naive
What Does The Bible Say About Converting To Another Religion
Acts 4:12
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
This verse emphasizes the exclusivity of salvation through Jesus Christ. It reminds us that there is no other religion or belief system that can save us apart from faith in Jesus.
Converting to another religion means rejecting the truth of salvation in Christ and embracing a different path that ultimately leads away from God.
John 14:6
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
In this verse, Jesus boldly declares that He is the only way to the Father, the only means of having a relationship with God.
Converting to another religion means rejecting the exclusive claim of Jesus as the only way to God and substituting Him with a different belief system.
Galatians 1:6-9
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
Paul expresses his astonishment at the Galatians for turning away so quickly from the true gospel of Christ and embracing a different gospel that is, in fact, no gospel at all.
Converting to another religion means abandoning the true gospel and being influenced by false teachings that distort the message of Christ.
Deuteronomy 13:2-4
“If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
This passage serves as a warning against following prophets or dreamers who lead people to worship other gods.
Converting to another religion means succumbing to the influence of false prophets who divert people away from the true worship of God.
2 Corinthians 6:14-15
“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?”
Paul exhorts believers not to form close partnerships or relationships with unbelievers, highlighting the incongruence between righteousness and wickedness.
Converting to another religion means aligning oneself with a belief system that contradicts the teachings of Christ and participating in practices that do not honor God.
Jeremiah 17:5
“This is what the LORD says: ‘Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.”
God pronounces a curse on those who put their trust in mere human beings and turn their hearts away from Him.
Converting to another religion means placing trust and dependence on the wisdom and teachings of man rather than relying on God alone.
1 Timothy 4:1
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”
Paul warns that in the latter times, some will forsake the faith and be led astray by deceitful spirits and demonic teachings.
Converting to another religion means falling prey to deceptive spirits and doctrines that contradict the truth of the Gospel.
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Jesus teaches about the two paths in life: one that leads to destruction, which many follow, and the other that leads to life, which only a few find.
Converting to another religion means choosing the broad path that leads away from God and eternal life, instead of entering through the narrow gate of salvation in Christ.
1 John 2:19
“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”
John speaks about those who may appear to be part of the Christian community but eventually leave, revealing that they were never truly part of the faithful.
Converting to another religion means departing from the fellowship of believers, indicating a lack of genuine belonging to the body of Christ.
Colossians 2:8
“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
Paul warns against being ensnared by empty and deceitful philosophies that are based on human traditions and worldly spiritual forces, rather than on Christ.
Converting to another religion means being deceived by worldly philosophies and traditions that lead one away from the truth found in Christ alone.
John 10:9
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.”
Jesus identifies Himself as the gate, declaring that anyone who enters through Him will be saved and find nourishment and security.
Converting to another religion means rejecting Jesus as the only means of salvation and forfeiting the abundant life and provision He offers.
1 Peter 5:8
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
Peter urges believers to be vigilant and clear-headed, as the devil seeks to devour and destroy those who are not watchful.
Converting to another religion means falling prey to the schemes and temptations of the devil, who seeks to lead people astray from the truth of Christ.
2 John 1:9
“Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”
John emphasizes the importance of abiding in the teachings of Christ, stating that those who deviate from His teachings do not have a genuine relationship with God.
Converting to another religion means departing from the teachings of Christ and forfeiting a true understanding of the Father and the Son.
1 Corinthians 10:21
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.”
Paul stresses the impossibility of simultaneously partaking in the communion of the Lord and participating in practices associated with demonic influences.
Converting to another religion means attempting to mix the worship of the true God with practices that are contrary to His nature and teachings.
John 15:5
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.”
Jesus uses the analogy of a vine and branches to illustrate the vital connection between Him and believers. He emphasizes that apart from Him, we can do nothing of lasting value.
Converting to another religion means severing the vital connection with Christ and attempting to bear fruit apart from Him, which ultimately leads to spiritual barrenness.
Isaiah 44:6
“This is what the LORD says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: I am the first and I am the last; apart from me, there is no God.”
God declares Himself as the first and the last, the King and Redeemer, asserting His exclusive position as the one true God.
Converting to another religion means rejecting the uniqueness of Yahweh as the only God and embracing the belief in other deities or systems.
Psalm 16:4
“The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips.”
The psalmist acknowledges that pursuing and worshiping other gods leads to increased sorrows and, personally, he refuses to offer sacrifices or invoke the names of these false gods.
Converting to another religion means subjecting oneself to the consequences of following false gods and participating in rituals that oppose the worship of the true God.
Exodus 20:3-5
“You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.”
God commands His people not to have any other gods before Him, to refrain from making and worshiping idols, for He is a jealous God.
Converting to another religion means disregarding the commandment to worship the one true God and engaging in idolatrous practices.
Isaiah 45:5
“I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me.”
God declares His uniqueness as the LORD, the only God, emphasizing that even for those who have not acknowledged Him, He is willing to strengthen and provide.
Converting to another religion means rejecting the only true God who offers strength and support, and turning to false gods who cannot provide genuine help.
Matthew 24:24
“For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
Jesus warns about the rise of false messiahs and prophets who will deceive people, even performing miraculous signs and wonders.
Converting to another religion means falling victim to the deception of false messiahs and prophets, who present counterfeit manifestations of power.
Philippians 3:19
“Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.”
Paul describes those whose ultimate destination is destruction, whose focus is on earthly pleasures, and whose values center around shameful things.
Converting to another religion means aligning oneself with a belief system that leads to destruction, promoting earthly desires and indulgence rather than seeking heavenly glory.
Psalm 115:4-8
“But their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk, nor can they utter a sound with their throats. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”
The psalmist contrasts the lifelessness of idols made by human hands with the living God who sees, hears, and interacts with His creation.
Converting to another religion means trusting in lifeless idols that lack the ability to perceive, speak, or move, and consequently becoming spiritually stagnant and unresponsive.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
Paul predicts a time when people will reject sound doctrine, preferring teachings that cater to their own desires and surround themselves with like-minded teachers who propagate mythological beliefs.
Converting to another religion means embracing teachings that cater to personal desires, turning away from the truth of God’s Word, and yielding to mythical beliefs.
1 John 4:1
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
John encourages believers to discern and test the spirits, ensuring that the teachings they encounter are aligned with God’s truth, as many false prophets are spreading deceit in the world.
Converting to another religion means neglecting the call to discernment and being susceptible to the influence of false prophets who propagate misleading doctrines.