Jesus said unto them, "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth." - John 9:41
I was once talking with a group of people who all supported the same "church", so I asked them a simple question. "Have you learned to discern the difference between 'truth' and 'doctrine' ?"
They answered "Uh... Yeah. Why do you think we're in [unnamed church]?"
I said "That's why I'm asking. Have you learned how to recognize the difference between 'Truth' and 'doctrine' in your church?"
They said "What do you mean? We're [unnamed church affiliation]. Our doctrine is right."
I said "Is it perfect... ALL of it... Every little bit?"
They said "Well no, it's not PERFECT. I'm sure there are some small errors somewhere."
I said "And THAT is exactly why I ask the question. I'm not worried about you being deceived by some other group. I'm not even worried about you being deceived by me. Because when you encounter others, you have your guard up. But you trust your own church. And you've already acknowledged that there is a real likelihood of some error being preached there. So if you don't learn how to tell the difference between what is truth and what is being taught, you'll be deceived by your own church."
They basically just looked at me with stunned, fearful expressions as they considered what they'd just learned.
The same danger faces everyone here. We keep our guard up against anyone we consider to be on the outside. But are we able, and I mean TRULY able to discern untruth, mistake or error if it comes from within...ESPECIALLY if coming from within our own person?
One of the greatest obstacles to someone 'seeing' something new or deeper, is when that person says within him-or-herself. "I don't need to learn. I already know. I already see clearly." (Better read 1 Cor. 13:12)
John chapter 9 is about Jesus healing a blind man, while the 'religious' people of the day were incapable of seeing what was truly going on.
In the last verse of the chapter, quoted above, Jesus was trying to tell them the problem. As long as they claimed they 'see', they would remain blind (because of stubbornness) and remain guilty (because of claiming to have clear understanding).
There is error in your church. ( I promise you there is). If you admit that you cannot see it, and cry out to Jesus/God for healing, he can give you miraculous sight just as he did the blind man in John 9. But to those who claim "There isn't any major error in my doctrine/church. And I see just fine", know that you will give account for any error that IS in your doctrine/church, and you'll be unable to claim ignorance.
My recommendation... be quick to admit weakness... repent... and do what some other blind men had to do... cry out UNTIL Jesus hears and heals. Then we too can rejoice greatly.
Love in Jesus,
Kelby
I was once talking with a group of people who all supported the same "church", so I asked them a simple question. "Have you learned to discern the difference between 'truth' and 'doctrine' ?"
They answered "Uh... Yeah. Why do you think we're in [unnamed church]?"
I said "That's why I'm asking. Have you learned how to recognize the difference between 'Truth' and 'doctrine' in your church?"
They said "What do you mean? We're [unnamed church affiliation]. Our doctrine is right."
I said "Is it perfect... ALL of it... Every little bit?"
They said "Well no, it's not PERFECT. I'm sure there are some small errors somewhere."
I said "And THAT is exactly why I ask the question. I'm not worried about you being deceived by some other group. I'm not even worried about you being deceived by me. Because when you encounter others, you have your guard up. But you trust your own church. And you've already acknowledged that there is a real likelihood of some error being preached there. So if you don't learn how to tell the difference between what is truth and what is being taught, you'll be deceived by your own church."
They basically just looked at me with stunned, fearful expressions as they considered what they'd just learned.
The same danger faces everyone here. We keep our guard up against anyone we consider to be on the outside. But are we able, and I mean TRULY able to discern untruth, mistake or error if it comes from within...ESPECIALLY if coming from within our own person?
One of the greatest obstacles to someone 'seeing' something new or deeper, is when that person says within him-or-herself. "I don't need to learn. I already know. I already see clearly." (Better read 1 Cor. 13:12)
John chapter 9 is about Jesus healing a blind man, while the 'religious' people of the day were incapable of seeing what was truly going on.
In the last verse of the chapter, quoted above, Jesus was trying to tell them the problem. As long as they claimed they 'see', they would remain blind (because of stubbornness) and remain guilty (because of claiming to have clear understanding).
There is error in your church. ( I promise you there is). If you admit that you cannot see it, and cry out to Jesus/God for healing, he can give you miraculous sight just as he did the blind man in John 9. But to those who claim "There isn't any major error in my doctrine/church. And I see just fine", know that you will give account for any error that IS in your doctrine/church, and you'll be unable to claim ignorance.
My recommendation... be quick to admit weakness... repent... and do what some other blind men had to do... cry out UNTIL Jesus hears and heals. Then we too can rejoice greatly.
Love in Jesus,
Kelby
- 2
- 1
- 1
- Show all