Many Christians are habitually refusing to admit error

One of the strangest phenomena of modern Christendom is that many Christians refuse to admit it when they are in error, and their errors are pointed out to them. They refuse to say “I am sorry, I was clearly mistaken, and I need to depart from that error, and hold on to the truth”. This would apply to either doctrine or practice, especially today, when so many false beliefs are floating around and being promoted.

This reflects the Bible truth that they are “wise in their own eyes”. But God is not impressed, since that is an evidence of evil: Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (Proverbs 3:7).

What I have noticed is that just like the evil Democrats in the USA, who always double down on their lies and mischief, many Christians simply double down on their erroneous beliefs, and try to give rebuttals to the truth, instead of acknowledging it, and welcoming it with open arms.

What this really shows is (a) underlying pride and (2) a refusal to submit to the written Word of God. Which means a refusal to submit to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That is a very serious matter: Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.(Acts 7:51) This was a problem for the unbelieving Jews, but it is also a problem for stiff-necked Christians.

All Christians should understand that when Bible truth is presented with supporting Scriptures (quoted in proper context), that it is God’s truth which has been presented. Not someone’s mere opinion. Which means that the response must be appropriate within a heart and soul which has been surrender to God and Christ.

So when someone simply refuses to embrace the truth, and perversely chooses to insist on a lie, it means that the flesh is in control, possibly Satan is in control, but the Holy Spirit is not in control. Which means that the fear of the LORD is absent (as seen in Proverbs 3:7).

This should be regarded as a very serious problem, if the shoe fits. Every person should be asking themselves some very sharp and pointed questions before they express their beliefs, or insist on maintaining their errors:

1. Am I truly saved, and have I surrendered my heart, mind, soul, and will to God completely? If a person is not really saved, then the Holy Spirit is not really their divine Teacher.

2. Am I a novice in the understanding of Scripture, and I am simply learning the truth at this point? Those who are sincerely learning will not insist on false beliefs.

3. Do I really know – from the Bible itself -- what is the truth concerning this subject? Unless one has diligently and carefully studied the Word (without allowing the opinions or doctrines of men to take control) one can easily go into error.

4. Is my belief about a certain matter consistent with (1) the character of God and Christ, (2) all Gospel truth, and (3) all Bible truth? The Bible never contradicts itself, and every doctrine is consistent with every other doctrine. God never contradicts Himself.

5. Am I honest enough (with myself and others) to honestly admit when I am mistaken, and then reject what is inconsistent with the Word of God? This is where the rubber meets the road, and unless we are totally committed to honesty and Bible truth, we will always try to justify our false beliefs. And ultimately become unteachable, and spiritually blind. And that is called “wilful blindness” (for which there is no remedy).

All of us perceive and interpret scripture differently, based on what we were taught when we were young.

To each of us, that particular interpretation is the "truth", and if we find others disagreeing with it, we will naturally think they are in error.

Just learn to agree to disagree politely and don't be a jerk while sharing your own interpretation.

One earns the right to correct another.

For instance, my aunt corrected me as a young man about drinking too much on a few occasions. She said, don't you know that I love you and I don't want anything to happen to you?

At that point, I stopped drinking excessively. At that point, I was looking for meaning in life, and someone told me I was too serious and didn't party enough. I realized that this person didn't know what they were talking about. Eventually I turned my life over to Christ.

Anyways, my aunt showed through her love that she had the right to correct me. I listened to her.

Regarding doctrinal issues, a person would need to prove by their sound thinking and reasoning from the Scriptures that they are worthy of serious consideration. Also, they would need to prove by their lifestyle that they are worthy of serious consideration because the truth has worked itself through their lives. For instance, an older believer who has been faithful to his wife for 50 years would be credible with regards to marriage.

One must also consider that forum personalities could be anything. They could be some three-time divorced person, or someone who beats their children, or someone who holds kooky beliefs. I personally would not put much stock in that person in real life, so why would I attribute it to a forum personality?

I remember someone on a forum telling me that I needed to listen to the forum elders. They didn't like my opinion on something. Apparently they were suffering from the delusion that the forum was a church fellowship of some type. It is not, and there are no elders on a forum. They haven't went through a membership voting process that recognized their godly character like elders or deacons in real churches do. They don't have a face-to-face relationship.

Therefore, they are not qualified to administer correction. They haven't demonstrated love that shows they are concerned with the person. In fact, often they are venting hatred or animosity on some peripheral issue. So, what credibility do they have?

Have you ever not?

I have always provided Scripture for any position I have taken.

You are right in this.

But after being on this site for... 6 years? I really couldn't care less if someone agrees with my understanding or not.

"That's sounds awful; I wonder what it's like to have errors?"

I disagree on some stuff, God can use the three time divorced person, I have not read many accounts of God using people who where perfect in their ways.

I agree the three-time divorced person could be used in some ways, but notice that the context of my remarks is marriage. I would not ask that person for marital advice. I would not expect people to ask my advice on losing weight and being physically fit, since I am overweight.

At the very least, such a person would show poor discernment in marital partners.

And, notice that I mentioned a three-time divorced person. Not someone who was divorced once, or even twice. I mentioned three times. This reveals a pattern.

I have always provided Scripture for any position I have taken.

That’s because you only look at the fact that they have been divorce three times and not the reasons why they are divorced three times. And those reasons may help others to not make the same mistakes.

Some people can’t help being overweight they might have a condition since birth but that doesn’t mean they can’t be a fitness trainer

The pattern suggests a problem. Did Christ take divorce seriously? I think he did...in fact, Scripture only has a few exceptions in regards to divorce. One is abandonment by an unbeliever, and the other is sexual immorality.

If I am having marital problems, am I going to seek advice from an elder who has been married to his wife over 50 years, or am I going to seek advice from a man who has been divorced multiple times? Who is the faithful one who has endured his marriage, and hasn't bailed out during hardships?

This isn't brain surgery. I'm going to go to the guy who has been faithful, not the one who bailed multiple times. In fact, I don't think that person is qualified to be an elder, unless the previous marriage occurred as an unbeliever or some extraordinary circumstance, so what does that tell you?

The elder reflects God's character in some ways, and God doesn't bail out on those he is in covenant with. That is why adultery and divorce is serious. A primary attribute of God is his chesed, or covenant faithfulness. This word is tattooed on my left arm, to remind myself that God has steadfast love for me, and I should strive to exhibit the same steadfast love toward Him and others. I fail at that constantly, but I would likely fail more if I didn't understand God's chesed.

I also agree that a person can be an example by being a bad example. For instance, Samson is a negative example, regarding his sexual immorality.

Providing Scripture does not necessarily support a position. Scripture can be quoted out of context. I belonged to a cult that used Scripture profusely, but their hermeneutics were messed up. As a result, they were applying Scripture out of context, and filtered through their presuppositions.

Unfortunately their teachings involved central issues, not peripheral issues like many of the discussions here.

I don't think I'd get much business People who are trainers are modeling their own commitments, and their body should reflect the value of their approach.

The pattern suggests a problem. Did Christ take divorce seriously? I think he did...in fact, Scripture only has a few exceptions in regards to divorce. One is abandonment by an unbeliever, and the other is sexual immorality.

If I am having marital problems, am I going to seek advice from an elder who has been married to his wife over 50 years, or am I going to seek advice from a man who has been divorced multiple times? Who is the faithful one who has endured his marriage, and hasn't bailed out during hardships?

This isn't brain surgery. I'm going to go to the guy who has been faithful, not the one who bailed multiple times. In fact, I don't think that person is qualified to be an elder, unless the previous marriage occurred as an unbeliever or some extraordinary circumstance, so what does that tell you?

The elder reflects God's character in some ways, and God doesn't bail out on those he is in covenant with. That is why adultery and divorce is serious. A primary attribute of God is his chesed, or covenant faithfulness. This word is tattooed on my left arm, to remind myself that God has steadfast love for me, and I should strive to exhibit the same steadfast love toward Him and others. I fail at that constantly, but I would likely fail more if I didn't understand God's chesed.

I also agree that a person can be an example by being a bad example. For instance, Samson is a negative example, regarding his sexual immorality.