In today’s culture, it’s easy for even sincere Christians to build their beliefs on cultural stories instead of Scripture. This post explores the concept of “untethered faith”—a faith that drifts from biblical authority without realizing it. Learn how to recognize the warning signs, understand the subtle cultural forces at play, and get equipped to return to Scripture as your final authority.
Untethered faith happens when we say the Bible is our authority, but in practice, we let other voices shape our beliefs. That might be culture, politics, personal preferences, or even well-meaning church traditions. Over time, we stop letting God’s Word define truth and start using it to justify what we already think is true.
When we use the Bible to affirm a cultural story instead of using it to evaluate the culture itself, we’ve swapped authority—and that’s dangerous.
This drift often happens gradually. And if we’re not intentional, we may not even realize it’s happening.
These are the key patterns that will help you identify when faith starts drifting from Scripture:
We read the Bible like a highlight reel—skipping challenging passages and only focusing on what we already agree with.
We shrink deep, rich truths into catchy slogans that lose the depth and tension of God’s Word.
Whether conservative or progressive, we read our cultural biases into Scripture instead of out of it.
We say the Bible is our final authority, but in reality, we give more weight to politics, influencers, or personal feelings.
“When Scripture becomes a tool to support our agenda instead of the lens to shape it, our faith is no longer biblical—it’s cultural.”
Here are some practical reflection questions to help you evaluate your heart:
If you answered “yes” to any of those, you’re not alone—but it’s time to take action.
Untethered faith doesn’t just confuse us—it weakens the church and our witness to the world.
“Claiming biblical authority means nothing if we won’t actually submit to what the Bible says.”
Here’s how to start bringing your faith back under the authority of God’s Word.
It’s not just a collection of verses—it’s one story that points to Jesus. Interpret it through that lens.
We all bring assumptions to the Bible. Acknowledge them, and let Scripture challenge you.
God gave teachers to the church for a reason (Ephesians 4:11–12). Seek out faithful guides—not just popular ones.
Documents like the Nicene Creed help us stay within the historic, global understanding of the faith.
Biblical interpretation isn’t about winning debates—it’s about becoming more like Christ.
It means Scripture has the last word. When the Bible speaks clearly, nothing else can overrule it—not culture, science, or opinion.
Culture can help us see things we might miss, but it must always submit to Scripture. We test culture against the Word, not the other way around.
Disagreement is normal, but it should drive us deeper into study, prayer, and dialogue, not into relativism or division.
Take time to study the Bible as a whole story. Consider joining courses to build your framework. Click here to learn more.
As you pause and process what you’ve read, consider:
Untethered faith isn’t always loud—it’s often quiet, subtle, slow.
But the longer we stay detached from God’s Word, the more our faith becomes unrecognizable.
Today is a good day to return.
Open your Bible.
Ask the Holy Spirit for help.
And let the authority of Scripture anchor you in the truth that leads to life.
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” —John 8:31–32
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