But I'm Not Wrong!

Over the years, as a reader and "student" of the Bible, I've often conducted careful researches to re-evaluate some former conclusions regarding scriptures that originated from preachers, priests, and radio ministers. As a result, I found my own thinking in error by agreeing with them. While being in error is not a good thing, never finding our error is a great deal worse (James 3:1) — proof that we sometimes do not honestly “test the spirits to see if they are of God” or "prove God" (1 John 4:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:21). As I learned God's Word over time the more I knew I needed to test the things I previously accepted at face value. No one should ever accept what they have heard from a preacher or teacher as being absolute truth without carefully examining what they heard against the Scriptures themselves. THIS REQUIRES READING THE WORD OF GOD. Sadly, people don't want to read the Bible. So how would you know if what you've heard is the truth? Not every person who teaches (including me), not every preacher, minister, or pastors words should be exempt from examination. Don't accept everything you hear as gospel truth! Compare it to what God has said. You'll have to read scriptures to do that. People often don't want GOD'S truth, especially when the truth differs from what they want their life to be! Contrary to popular belief or political correctness, abortion is wrong according to God's Word. Homosexuality is also wrong according to God's Word. But if you listen to society or some preachers today, they will tell you both these things are not sins. To avoid being mundane I won't repeat all the scriptures that back up, for example, the truth that homosexuality is an abomination in God's eyes since I've mentioned it before in another blog(s). One was written in January, called "Homosexuality. The Seed and the Soil." I even gave a very understandable illustration that should leave no doubt in your mind about the subject. And while you're at it, don't just pass over the word abomination. Look up the definition in any dictionary. It's a grave matter.


Have you noticed as I have, how people become filled with fervent passion or even anger when anyone challenges or questions their religious beliefs when they themselves have never even read the Bible? They have no idea if the beliefs they adhere to (given to them many times by a so-called man of the cloth) are even true? Many times, it is not the ideas themselves that are dear to us, but rather that our self-esteem is threatened. We are by nature stubbornly pledged to defend our own from attack, whether it be our person, our family, our property, our faith, or our opinions.
Sadly, few of us take the pains to study the origins of our cherished "religious beliefs." We like to continue believing what we have been accustomed to accepting as truth (our comfort zone). Unfortunately, resentment often arises when doubt is cast upon our beliefs, which leads us seeking every manner of excuse for clinging to them. The result is that most of our so-called reasoning consists of finding arguments for continuing to believe as we already do. All you have to do is look at the political environment today to really get a sense of how people react when their beliefs are challenged! The more they are disputed, the tighter people cling to them even if their political beliefs are radical and off the cliff! (here is a link to some pretty radical religious beliefs) ... https://www.thrillist.com/culture/the-10-craziest-cults-you-ve-never-heard-of-obscure-religious-sects-and-societies)


The spontaneous and loyal support of our preconceptions — the process of finding “good” reasons to justify our religious beliefs (or any belief) — is known to psychologists as “rationalization.” Rationalization is the self-vindication which occurs when we feel ourselves (or our group), accused of error. This was evident from the patients we worked with when I was employed in the field of mental health. People will cling to their "beliefs" no matter how wrong, misguided, or infused with error they are just to escape hearing or knowing they've been duped. Many times, our so-called good “reasons,” have little value in promoting honest enlightenment, because no matter how solemnly they may be put forth, some are at best the result of personal preference or prejudice — not of an honest desire to seek to accept religious knowledge based upon the inspired Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16).


Many of us frequently engage in self-justification, for we cannot bear to think ourselves as ever being wrong, even though in God’s word, we have constant illustrations of our weaknesses and mistakes (1 Samuel 15:22-24; 2 Samuel 12:1-13; Acts 8:9-24). So, as a result, we spend much time finding fault with circumstances and the conduct of others, rather than admitting our own failures and disappointments! (Matthew 7:1-5).
When studying and sharing God’s word, I pray we always possess honest and open hearts — always having a humble mindset — ready to admit our mistakes and errors when they are pointed out to us (or when we discover them ourselves) and then a willingness to change our "religious" beliefs according to God’s religious standard, the Bible!
Until next time,
-Pat-