KingJ
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- Mar 31, 2015
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Recently I have found myself in numerous disagreements with older Christians. Believers who, by experience and years in the faith, should know Scripture better than I do. In these discussions I try to narrow the debate to the core doctrinal issue and show clearly when a belief misrepresents God’s character. My position is simple: if a doctrine incriminates God’s righteousness, justice, impartiality, or goodness, then that doctrine is false, regardless of how old or popular it may be.
Yet instead of engaging the substance of the argument through careful scriptural reasoning, many resort to ad hominem attacks, appeals to tradition, or dismissive rhetoric. That has compelled me to write this thread.
My concern is that many believers who should be teachers by now have grown complacent, handling the Word carelessly, defending inherited traditions uncritically, and failing in the serious responsibility of representing God accurately as His ambassadors.
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1. Scripture commands believers to welcome correction, not resist it.
Proverbs 12:1 — “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”
Proverbs 9:8-9 — A wise man loves correction and becomes wiser.
If a Christian cannot tolerate doctrinal challenge, that is not maturity, it is immaturity.
2. Many older believers become entrenched in traditions they inherited rather than doctrines they personally tested.
Years of hearing the same teaching can create emotional attachment to tradition. People often defend what they were taught before they examine whether it is true.
Mark 7:8 — “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
3. Christians are commanded to test teachings. Not blindly trust teachers.
Acts 17:11 — The Bereans were noble because they examined the Scriptures daily to verify Paul’s teaching. If even Paul’s teaching had to be tested, then so should every pastor, theologian, denomination, and tradition.
4. If a doctrine portrays God in a way inconsistent with His revealed character, it must be re-examined.
God is righteous, just, impartial, and cannot do evil.
Deuteronomy 32:4 — “All His ways are justice.”
James 1:13 — God does not tempt with evil.
Romans 2:11 — “God shows no partiality.”
A doctrine that meaningfully contradicts God’s revealed nature should be scrutinized carefully.
5. Representing God accurately is one of the believer’s highest responsibilities.
2 Corinthians 5:20 — We are ambassadors for Christ.
Ambassadors must represent their King faithfully. Misrepresenting God through bad theology is not a minor issue.
6. Pride often disguises itself as “defending truth.”
Some reject correction not because the argument is weak, but because admitting error would wound pride.
Proverbs 16:18 — Pride goes before destruction.
James 3:17 — Wisdom from above is “open to reason.”
7. Spiritual maturity includes doctrinal humility.
Mature believers understand they can still be wrong.
1 Corinthians 13:12 — “Now we know in part.”
The more mature someone is, the more willing they should be to refine their understanding.
8. Tradition can become an idol when people defend it above Scripture.
When someone refuses to reconsider doctrine regardless of evidence, tradition has become their authority.
Matthew 15:6 — Tradition can make void the word of God.
9. Christians should fear false teaching more than they fear changing their mind.
Many cling to old beliefs because changing feels threatening. But remaining in error should be more frightening than admitting correction.
James 3:1 — Teachers will be judged more strictly.
10. Unity should never come at the expense of truth.
Calling for doctrinal re-examination is not “divisive” when done biblically. Truth sometimes requires uncomfortable correction.
Galatians 2:11 — Paul publicly corrected Peter when he was in error.
Closing Thought
If a belief can be shown to distort God’s justice, righteousness, or revealed character, Christians have a duty to revisit it. A believer who refuses correction is not defending truth, they may be defending tradition, pride, or comfort.
Yet instead of engaging the substance of the argument through careful scriptural reasoning, many resort to ad hominem attacks, appeals to tradition, or dismissive rhetoric. That has compelled me to write this thread.
My concern is that many believers who should be teachers by now have grown complacent, handling the Word carelessly, defending inherited traditions uncritically, and failing in the serious responsibility of representing God accurately as His ambassadors.
------------------------
1. Scripture commands believers to welcome correction, not resist it.
Proverbs 12:1 — “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”
Proverbs 9:8-9 — A wise man loves correction and becomes wiser.
If a Christian cannot tolerate doctrinal challenge, that is not maturity, it is immaturity.
2. Many older believers become entrenched in traditions they inherited rather than doctrines they personally tested.
Years of hearing the same teaching can create emotional attachment to tradition. People often defend what they were taught before they examine whether it is true.
Mark 7:8 — “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”
3. Christians are commanded to test teachings. Not blindly trust teachers.
Acts 17:11 — The Bereans were noble because they examined the Scriptures daily to verify Paul’s teaching. If even Paul’s teaching had to be tested, then so should every pastor, theologian, denomination, and tradition.
4. If a doctrine portrays God in a way inconsistent with His revealed character, it must be re-examined.
God is righteous, just, impartial, and cannot do evil.
Deuteronomy 32:4 — “All His ways are justice.”
James 1:13 — God does not tempt with evil.
Romans 2:11 — “God shows no partiality.”
A doctrine that meaningfully contradicts God’s revealed nature should be scrutinized carefully.
5. Representing God accurately is one of the believer’s highest responsibilities.
2 Corinthians 5:20 — We are ambassadors for Christ.
Ambassadors must represent their King faithfully. Misrepresenting God through bad theology is not a minor issue.
6. Pride often disguises itself as “defending truth.”
Some reject correction not because the argument is weak, but because admitting error would wound pride.
Proverbs 16:18 — Pride goes before destruction.
James 3:17 — Wisdom from above is “open to reason.”
7. Spiritual maturity includes doctrinal humility.
Mature believers understand they can still be wrong.
1 Corinthians 13:12 — “Now we know in part.”
The more mature someone is, the more willing they should be to refine their understanding.
8. Tradition can become an idol when people defend it above Scripture.
When someone refuses to reconsider doctrine regardless of evidence, tradition has become their authority.
Matthew 15:6 — Tradition can make void the word of God.
9. Christians should fear false teaching more than they fear changing their mind.
Many cling to old beliefs because changing feels threatening. But remaining in error should be more frightening than admitting correction.
James 3:1 — Teachers will be judged more strictly.
10. Unity should never come at the expense of truth.
Calling for doctrinal re-examination is not “divisive” when done biblically. Truth sometimes requires uncomfortable correction.
Galatians 2:11 — Paul publicly corrected Peter when he was in error.
Closing Thought
If a belief can be shown to distort God’s justice, righteousness, or revealed character, Christians have a duty to revisit it. A believer who refuses correction is not defending truth, they may be defending tradition, pride, or comfort.
