Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: BEGIN (01/06/22)
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TITLE: Where It All Begins | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
01/12/22 -
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But we are not too far down the road of reality before we begin to discover that this is not the case.
In modern day America, children interact with people who are atheists, followers of different (Psalms 96: 5) religious beliefs, and ungodly behavior at a very early age.
As life goes on, we learn that we are in a constant mode of physical, mental, and spiritual change. A change in any one of these three factors can impact one or more of the remaining two.
Change can be good for us.
In fact, change is required for salvation (John 3: 5). After that, ongoing changes (Romans 8: 29) are required if a born-again believer is to advance in the post salvation spiritual life of discipleship.
No one gets anywhere by standing still, but with change can come a sense of uncertainty and even consternation as to what impact a change (or a failure to make a change) will have on our eternal destiny, and the eternal destiny of family, friends, and everyone else.
The older we get, the more resistant to change many of us will become, developing a Luke 5: 39 “good enough” frame of mind.
“And no one, after drinking old wine wishes for new; for he says, 'The old is good enough (Luke 5: 39 NASB).”
The false concept of early childhood that everyone’s religious experience and convictions are the same, becomes clear when we encounter the followers the many different Psalms 96: 5 religions of the world, and among the different denominational beliefs and practices within the Christian Community.
When two or more individuals, or groups of individuals, inside or outside of the Christian Community, have opposing beliefs, they both can not be correct, even though each one believes it is they who have it all together to the exclusion of all others.
Everyone comes into this world having been given the concept of eternity (Eccl. 3:11), but no one comes into this world with a Biblically-edified soul structure (Matt. 7: 24 - 27).
No one comes into this world with the mind of Christ (1Cor. 2: 16), but by way of Biblical discipleship, this can be developed.
In fact, we come into this world with a fallen nature that is hostile (Romans 8: 7) towards such things, with a tendency to sin (Gen. 6: 5). This sin nature with its evil tendency does not go away at salvation (Romans 7: 21).
We don’t come into this world with the ability to understand the Word of God (1Cor. 2: 14), nor are we born with the enabling power (John 15: 5) to apply it.
Soul structures are like magnets. Accurate doctrine, like pieces of metal, will stick to the magnet (a Biblically-edified soul structure). But when the same magnet faces the opposing pole (false gospels and doctrine) of another magnet (source of information), it pushes back. In the same way, human viewpoint sticks to the soul of a worldly-minded soul and pushes back against divine viewpoint.
Q. But how is one to know if the magnet of our soul structure is God-oriented and the doctrine sticking to it is correct?
A. By daily examining Scripture (Acts 17: 11 NASB), conducting 2Cor.13: 5 self-examinations, and then making the necessary changes (James 1: 22).
Q. Why daily?
A. Because every day our souls are bombarded (Eph. 6: 16) with false information from the devil’s world.
Homicide detectives solve murders by working backwards in time in order to identify the motive, means, and opportunity of all possible suspects.
Likewise, by tracing back the history of when, where, and by whom the teaching, the doctrine, and the accompanying practices first began, we can find their Biblical roots, or the lack thereof! Did the changes, in doctrine or practices, come from God or Man (Acts 5: 38, 39)?
In many cases, separating oneself from false doctrines and practices will certainly generate Luke 14: 26 challenges.
False doctrine and accompanying practices come from traditions of men (Matt. 15: 9), or a misapplication or interpretation when Scripture is in view (2Pet. 3: 16).
False doctrine and practices will grow deeper and deeper roots, making them more and more difficult to remove. Difficult, but not impossible, if we identify where it all begins.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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