It is amazing to me to discover, after almost forty years in the ministry, that I’ve accepted and believed some things for no other reason than that they were the accepted points of view within the Christian circles in which I moved at the time.
It’s a bit disconcerting to think about how many Christians never take time to “check things out” on their own when it comes to Christian doctrine, especially in areas that are controversial. Some of the most difficult people to convince of truth are the folks who have held an unreasoned faith for decades and find it impossible to even consider that they might be wrong.
Each of us has been called to study the Word and come to a reasoned faith based on that study.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Why do you believe what you believe? Have you just accepted perspectives because that is what everyone in your spiritual community seems to be saying or thinking? Judaism did that in Jesus’ day, and it was in serious trouble. The tradition of the elders had taken the place of the truth of God.
Jonathan Swift said, “It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a belief he was never reasoned into.” I have been on both sides of that statement.
It’s a bit disconcerting to think about how many Christians never take time to “check things out” on their own when it comes to Christian doctrine, especially in areas that are controversial. Some of the most difficult people to convince of truth are the folks who have held an unreasoned faith for decades and find it impossible to even consider that they might be wrong.
Each of us has been called to study the Word and come to a reasoned faith based on that study.
2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.
Acts 17:11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
Why do you believe what you believe? Have you just accepted perspectives because that is what everyone in your spiritual community seems to be saying or thinking? Judaism did that in Jesus’ day, and it was in serious trouble. The tradition of the elders had taken the place of the truth of God.
Jonathan Swift said, “It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a belief he was never reasoned into.” I have been on both sides of that statement.
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