Most people accept carelessly what they are taught from childhood. And, coming into maturity, they accept that which they have repeatedly heard, read or been taught. Mormon boys and girls make good Mormon teenagers, who, in turn, make excellent Mormon parents. Of course, you can insert “Baptist,” “Methodist,” “Lutheran,” “Roman Catholic,” etc., actually any denominational stripe or color you wish. The overwhelming majority of humanity continue to go along with their peers, or whatever religious authority figures they may have in their realm of existence, usually without question. Humans have a rather curious habit of ASSUMING we are right in whatever we have come to believe, especially if most every human we come into close contact with believe as we do. And many, if not most, will vigorously and often emotionally defend their religious convictions.
A student in Germany studying world history is instructed in one version of World War I and II, but a history student in America or Russia is taught a somewhat different version. And sometimes that difference can be staggering! Likewise with seminary or Bible college students. A Baptist college student is taught a whole set of different doctrines than is taught at the nearby Pentecostal college or Roman Catholic seminary.
It is far more difficult to Unlearn an erroneous supposed truth than it is to learn a new truth. Of course, what may be a “new” truth to one is an ages old truth to others. The Baptist KNOWS that he has plenty of scripture to back him up in his “once saved, always saved” doctrine. Likewise, the Presbyterian KNOWS he has plenty of scripture supporting his stand on election and predestination. The Pentecostal preacher has no doubt he sees and understands the truth regarding the baptism of the Holy Ghost with “tongues” as a sign thereof.
Why, in general, are people in Thailand Buddhist; those in Italy, France and Spain Catholic; those in the Arab world Islamic? Primarily, of course, because they and those around them grew up being taught, and automatically accepting, those faiths. To expect one of them to discover the truth (hidden from them and also contrary to the teachings of childhood and adulthood that engulfed them) would seem to be expecting the impossible. Why do most people believe the things they believe? Few, indeed, ever stop to ask themselves in retrospect how they came to accept the beliefs they have long accepted as easily proven Bible doctrine.
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Besides being Creator of all that exists, and Ruler over that creation, God is also mankind’s Educator, who reveals knowledge beyond and outside the scope of human ability to discover and know on its own. But, in order to attain that knowledge and to come to know the truth in spiritual matters, one MUST be teachable. The Baptist, the Episcopalian, and the Mennonite, as well as any other “religious” personality must come to grips with the FACT that, being human, they can embrace error while fervently believing they have and know the truth in any given area. Pride must give way to humility before error can give way to truth. And disobedience must give way to obedience “that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Thy (God’s) truth” (See Daniel 9:13). I urge you to think on these things deeply.
Christ’s Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley