|
Honesty And Humility In Religion |
|
"OPEN MY EYES, THAT I MAY SEE WONDROUS THINGS FROM YOUR LAW" - PSALM 119:18 Intellectual honesty is important in the pursuit of truth, especially in religion. It is a constant challenge because our conclusions are colored by our past experiences, prejudices and preconceptions. It is hard to be completely objective 100% of the time, but it is an ideal we must strive to attain. Our relationship with God demands no less. The problem is that over time we begin to view our conclusions as the standard of right and wrong. For example, in our preaching about the one true church, we may encourage others to be like the "church of Christ" in their work, worship, and organization, but the appeal, though it contains an element of truth, only contributes to sectarianism and division in religion. Man is not the standard, not even the "church of Christ." We must point people to the word of God as the standard by which we must measure our beliefs and practices. "For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" (2 Corinthians 10: 12). In the realm of judgment or expediency, we may view with suspicion brethren who choose a method that is not the common practice of churches in a geographic location, not because it violates scriptural precedent or principle, but simply because it is different from "our" tradition (1 Corinthians 6:12; 10:23). A church is not "liberal" because it engages in a practice that is unfamiliar. Perhaps we need to re-examine our traditions and consider other scriptural options that may be more expedient in our time and place. It is a real test of intellectual honesty. There are some who believe that honesty and objectivity mean fellowship with sin and error. It requires no thought to wrap ourselves in the security blanket of tradition and oppose something using the "slippery slope" argument. To the contrary, a firm commitment to the truth involves testing all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21) by the standard of Jesus and the apostles (1 John 4:1-6). The honest truth-seeker upholds the word of God as the yardstick by which we must measure ourselves and others. The belief or practice in question stands or falls accordingly (John 12:48). The bottom line is not an appeal for an open door policy, but more humility in our personal study and application of the Bible and in our public and private teaching. We need to stand behind the cross and magnify God in our work and worship. If we merely convert someone to our point of view, we have another supporter who can wave "our" flag, but not a true disciple of Jesus.
|
