Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

The Danger of Pride in Belief

If you think, “I could never be deceived,” you reveal that you think far too highly of yourself and far too little of the warnings God gives in Scripture. Pride whispers, “I could never.”

If we believe we could never be misled, we will not test anything against God’s Word to see where we are in error. Instead of seeking correction, we may look for what confirms us. Some even go so far as to pervert the truth to defend a lie. Some embrace heresy and defend it with fervor.

John Owen wrote:

“The heart that trusts in itself is the most deceitful, and the soul that thinks it cannot err is already enslaved to pride and deception.”

Humility and the Pursuit of Truth

Humility embraces the truth. It acknowledges that we are constantly learning and that our hearts and minds are being shaped by God’s Word. As we study Scripture, we defend the truth as God has revealed it, allowing it to transform us.

J. C. Ryle observed:

“We are not to love our opinions more than the Word of God, for the mind that refuses to be corrected by Scripture is in rebellion against God Himself.”

The Danger of Subjective Experience

If we approach Scripture to defend what we feel or believe because we feel strongly about it, because of subjective experiences, “prophetic words”, or our own biases, then we do not care what the text actually says or means.

In such cases, we reveal that we do not desire truth. We use God’s Word to defend what we really love—and it is not the truth as God has revealed it.

James 1:22 warns:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Are We Teachable?

Friend, do we desire truth, or do we stubbornly defend our beliefs even when Scripture clearly shows we are wrong? Are we correctable? Are we teachable? Are our experiences and feelings more authoritative than God’s Word?

Just because we strongly believe or feel something does not make it true. We must test all things according to Scripture. Our cherished beliefs may be challenged, but what we gain—alignment with God’s truth—is infinitely more valuable.

R. C. Sproul reminds us:

“It is far better to lose our cherished ideas than to lose our souls. Truth is what frees, not what comforts.”

Do we truly desire truth?

Grace and Peace, y’all

Soli Deo Gloria

April J. Buchanan