ARE YOU LOCKED-IN TO ERROR?
In order for someone steeped in an opposing viewpoint to really see God’s truth in a given matter, preconceived beliefs must be temporarily suspended as they will present a formidable mental block to one receiving the factualness of a different belief. Satan’s blinding POWER must also be considered in such matters.
Many fail to realize that God gives foundational truth in the Hebrew scriptures. If one is not well grounded in those scriptures and begins to formulate his doctrine from the Greek scriptures first or primarily, or, in some cases entirely, then their coming to see the truth in a host of various doctrines is problematic. They probably will never see what God really has to say in His Word.
Also, the overriding idea that revered theologians of the present and past must indeed “have it together” concerning the doctrines they espouse and hold to be God’s truth, again erects another formidable mental block one must get around one way or another. The “Christian” denomination has Thomas and Alexander Campbell, the Methodists have John and Charles Wesley, the Baptists have J.R. Graves, R.A. Torrey, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, etc. It never seems to dawn on the various pastors and preachers that they are leaning on the arm of flesh, looking to men to formulate their beliefs and religious practices. All of these men had a great deal of truth in what they taught and believed. Many were eloquent and convincing speakers. And, when you have believers who fail to really “prove” all things, error can creep in sideways and never be seen as error. (Some of these “great” theologians also embraced great error).
There is another formidable mental block to the truth entering the human mind – continued sin! Paul writes, “Sin not…neither give place to the devil.” (See Ephesians 4:26-27). All too many prospective preachers still live unsanctified lives, allowing sin into their lives – often daily – never realizing they are giving place to the devil to deceive them and prevent truth from entering their minds when they do so. They study the Greek scriptures first, or almost entirely, again preventing God’s truth from entering their minds and protect them from embracing error. God’s true prophet Daniel spoke of how he knew he and his fellow Israelites would have to turn from their iniquities in order to understand God’s truth. (See Daniel 9:13).
Christ’s Faithful Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley