Glimpses of Truth

Confused?  Don’t Be! . . .

We should, you know, be growing sharper.  I mean, gaining knowledge.  For instance, we should be able as time goes along to spot mistakes in a sermon.  There are some, you know.  We ought to be able to correct the flaws in an argument.  In other words, we should not be tossed to and fro with all kinds of weird doctrines, by the sleight of men, their charisma.  We are to have some stability in our beliefs as they rest upon facts.

There are folks today who are so confused about Biblical doctrine that they just throw up their hands and quit.  In other words, they yield to two thoughts.  Number one, they say that they will leave doctrine to the so-called professionals.  The clergy!  They are supposed to know.  So I will just agree with my preacher.  No, I’m not after you, preacher; rather, I’m after you followers.  Be sure, be very sure, not to just agree with the preacher but with the Word.  They should agree, but I’m afraid they do not always do so.

There are some terrific examples in Scripture that teach us that so very important truth.  One is found in Acts 17:11.  Paul, an apostle, well known and respected and all that other good stuff, was not received, or should I say not totally believed, until the folks at Berea searched the Scripture to find for certain the truth.  Oh, that we should be so noble!  Paul was right, but the people checked to make sure.

How about Apollos in Acts 18:24-26?  He is described as an “eloquent preacher” and also “mighty in the scriptures.”  Yet Apollos needed two laymen, Aquila and Priscilla, to take him aside and set him straight.

Apollos was wrong and needed direction in his doctrine.

Number two is that those who are confused about what to believe begin not only to turn doctrine over to so-called professionals but to say things like, “Well, doctrine is too controversial, so I’m just going to try and love everybody, love, love, love.”  Well, love is good, it’s great, but it is one, only one, of God’s marvelous doctrines.

May we recognize the need to avoid the confusion caused by false and slanted doctrine.  And may we find ourselves as we find Him in the written Word.