Blinded to the Truth

If there is one thing that is common to religion and politics, it is that relentless determination of folks to defend their affiliation (denomination or political party) with little to no regard for truth. Of course both sides will deny this, proclaiming simply that their side IS the side of truth. Yet when confronted with undeniable truths that contridict their stand, they tend to downplay the significance of those facts or ignore them all together. The priority is to defend their side and win the debate, rather than to seek and acknowledge the truth. Pride is the driving force behind this inattentiveness to facts and is the greatest hinderence to acquiring wisdom.

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2

Even among religiions that share the same core beliefes and use the same source (such as the Holy Bible) as the foundation for their beliefes, there is often great division on tributary doctrine. It is extremely rare for anyone to radically change their religeous beliefs as a result of discussing or debating their beliefs with a person having an opposing view, even when storng evidence supports that opposing view. The subconcious objective is to win the debate, or at least not to be moved from ytheir position by anyone or anything. Ironically, this relentless desire to be correct often assures that the person will continue being deceived.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Proverbs 12:15

When our loyalties lie with a political party or a religeous denomination, independent of truth or moral right, we tend to follow their lead while being oblivous to changes in doctrine. If I am a republican or if I am a democrate, it is not because I have any great loyalty to that particular party, but rather it is because it just so happens that my understanding of the truth and my snese of morality is more in line with that particular party. If that particular party changes it's direction so that it no longer aligns with my values and my understanding of the turth, I'm not going to go along for the ride!

I am a Baptist simply because the Baptist faith is the denomination that best matches my own beliefs which are based on God's word. My loyalty lies with God and His Word. If the Baptist denomination were to change their doctirne such that their teachings and beliefes were no longer in agreement with my own, then I would leave that denominatioin without a second thought.

Tradition is another hinderance to seeing and accepting truth. People often Democrate or Republican or Baptist or Methodist, because their parents belonged to that same group.. They believe what they believe with very little knowledge of facts. They just automatically join the group without ever seriosly investigating what the group stands for. Some just do not want to think for themselves. It's enough that Mom and Dad embraced the doctrine. Perhaps one reason some folks are so headstrong in their beliefs even in the face of facts that invalidate those beliefs is that t their allegiance to tradition is more important than knowing and living according to the truth. The bible addresses this very condition in several places.

And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Matthew 15:6

And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mark 7:9

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colosians 2:8

A problem with tradition is that if one person's beliefs are challenged, then all the tradition itself is challenged as well as all who hold to the tradition. When a person is confronted fwith truths that contradics their beliefe based on tradition; accepting the truth means they are not only acknowledging their own flawed understanding, but also acknowledging that the understanding of those from which they inherited the tradition is also flawed. As difficult as pride makes it to admit a flwed understanding, it may be even more difficult to acknowledge that Mom and Dad, and Grandma, and Grandpa were wrong.

It is certainly not a disgrace to be wrong about something. None of us are perfect.However, to continue holding to a tradition after evidence is presented that disproves it's validity is to willingly choose to be wrong.At this point follwing the tradition is no longer due to ignorance, but is due to apathy.

What does this say about such a person's character? In the case of political or philosophical beliefes, it simply means the person does not think for themselves or else they don't really care about the issue(s) at all. They just wantsocial acceptence without regard for truth.

In the case of spiritual beliefes however, it reveals an even worse condition of the heart. They are placing tradition and family before the Word of God. Jesus addressed this behavior in his teachings on priorities:

34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Matthew 10:34-37

People today often have a shallow understanding of what it truly means to be fully committed and devoted to the Lord. Here Jesus illustrates the degree of devotion that is expected of his followers by comparing the love of family to the love we are to have for him. To love someone more than we love our parents or our children seems extreme, but that is the point. Our devotion and commitment is to be that extreme! This same analogy is used to make the same point in another scripture…

26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Luke 4:26

We are certainly instructed to love and honor our parents and in fact to love all people. That love however we have for others is to be like hatred in comparison to the love we have for God. The message is not to diminish the love we have for others, but rather to exemplify the greater love we are expected to have for Christ.

The lord demands absolute total devotion to Him. Anything less than a total commitment to Him is considered luke warm and is not desirable.

15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:15-16

Jesus is clear. We are to fully committed to him and his teachings. He is to be our top priority. Everything else is subordinate to living for him. To tie this fact to the focus of this issue of embracing truth rather than traditions, feelings, and other loyalties, we need to understand that JESUS IS THE TRUTH.

6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6

Don't place too much empahsis on being right wing, left wing, democrate, rupublican, Baptist, Methodist. Place greater priority on following and supporting what is true, what is fair, what is moraly right, what is just, and what is Godly. Know what God's word says and what it means. Let the word of God show you what is moraly right, true, and Godly. Beware of those who teach false doctrines and political leaders who speak Enchantingly while there polocies are contrary to God's truth and morality. Don't allow another to tell you what to think. Examine the facts, know the truth and measure accordingly. Think for yourself. Have the humility to change your view when the real truth exposes your view to be corrupt or incorrect.

Speaking Hard Truths Vs Speaking Condescendingly

This commentary is in the context of communicating biblical principles and teachings, specifically in regard to preaching, teaching, and testifying.

What I refer to as speaking "hard truths" is communicating those biblical principles that are difficult for us to hear because they bring conviction to our hearts by showing us things about ourselves that we do not want to admit are true. In contrast, what I refer to as "speaking condesendingly" is to speak in a spiritual context outside the support or authority of scripture in a way that offends, condems, judges, criticizes, or humiliates another person.

Speaking hard truths that are supported by scripture may also cause negative feelings or discomfort. The difference is that when God's word is used in communicating those hard truths, it is the Word of God itself that convicts us and not the speaker. In such a case, God's word is doing exactly what it is suppose to do.

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12

God's word will work it's way into our inner most being (soul and spirit, and joints and marrow, thoughts and intent of s of the heart). It shows us things about ourselves that we need to know, but may not like knowing. It's not for our misery, but for out own good. It's like looking in the mirror and finding that our hair is in a mess. We may not be delighted to find that our hair is a mess, but by seeing that it is indeed a mess, we can do something about it. When God's word shows us areas in our life that are outside of God's will, then we can repent and with God's help make the necessary changes in our lives so that we can be reconciled back to fellowship with God and thereby be in a place to receive the fullness of God's belessings. It is for our benefit and so correction througth the teaching or preaching of God's word is something to be appreciated and couted as a blessing though it may sting when first received.

Sometimes the Lord will allow a preacher, teacher or even a simple child of God with a testimony to speak on a subject of which they have strong feelings. While this can certainly be a blessing for the speaker, there is also a risk involved. Any time we speak on topic that we are passionate about, there is the danger of "getting in the flesh" (speaking from personal feelings, rather than from doctrine). This will almost always have negative results. Let me give a real life example to illustrate..

One night during a revival, a man made a statement during the prayer request that may have been perceived as scornful or judge mental to some people. It was certainly perceived that way by one of the preachers that was holding the revival, because it was the focus of his sermon the next time he preached a couple of days later. The man who made the statement did indeed need to hear the message which addressed his scornful way of speaking to the congregation. However, when the preacher stood to preach, he openly brought attention to the thing this man had said a couple of nights before and then said, "I don't know if he is here tonight, and I don't care." This remark hit the man like a slap in the face. He was offended, humiliated, and angry. After that remark was made, it was very difficult for him to hear very much of the message that followed. The feelings of humiliatiion and anger put up a barrier between the preacher and himself that was difficult for anything else to filter through. This principle of offense interfearing with the message is supported by scripture..

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Proverbs 18:19

The first few verses of 2 Timothy, chapter four, gives instructions pertaining to preaching the gospel and I believe it would also pertain to teaching, testifying, and witnessing. Verse 1 of 2 Timothy chapter (4) reads..

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:1

"Preach the word" means that the things preached should be of God's Word (the bible). I believe it means that personal feelings and opinions should be left out if those feelings and opinions can not be substantiated by the word. God's word is not to be watered down, but neither is anything to be added to it. Doing such things is commonly reffered to as "being in the flesh" as opposed to "being in the spirit".

The remark, "I don't know if he is here tonight, and I don't care." was obviously a remark made in the flesh because:

1. It was not a comment that could not be substantiated directly or in principle by God's word.
   
   
2. It was not in agreement with the will of God. You see it DID matter to God that the person the preacher was referring to was there.
   

I am all for preaching hard truths. If the hard truths of the bible being preached offends someone then so be it. Often times a message of biblical hard truth will first be received with offense, but over time it will bring that person to the realization of their sin and ultimately lead to repentence. Scornful remarks made outside scripture do not have this power to bring about Godly sorow required for repentence. It only serves to hardend hearts and generate feelings of bitterness. It can even cause a person to develop a misconception toward all men of God, the bible, the chruch, and everythig pertaining to Christianity. A simple scornful remark can indeed do all of that. Perhaps this is why the bible gives such a strong warning about speaking in such a way.

1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 14But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 17But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
James chapter 3

The preaching and teaching of God's word will get the job done.

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