From the Pen of Paul

The obligation we have as Christians to "study to show thyself approved unto God" (II Tim. 2:15) is often quoted and stressed. We must be able to "handle aright the word of truth" (ASV) and make the proper application of God's truth to our lives. We are aware of the responsibility to "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (I Pet. 2:2), and to "search the Scriptures daily" in order that we may be able to determine "whether these things are so" (Acts 17:11). Peter teaches us that "His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness"; he then informs us that "all things" are given "through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Pet. 1:3). Then Peter lists knowledge as the second of the seven "graces" or stairsteps of Christian growth (II Pet. 1:5). Peter closes his second epistle with the admonition: "But grow in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (II Pet. 3:18). This knowledge is something that we must work at attaining throughout all of our lives as Christians. We never "arrive" at knowledge to the extent that we never need to study again or to the extent that we know all that there is to know.

Jesus tells us that we can "know the truth" (John 8:32); and if we can know the truth we can also know that we know the truth. However, the fact that we can know the truth does not eliminate the possibility that we can be mistaken about the truth. It would be the height of arrogance to suggest that we could not ever possibly be wrong about some conclusion we have reached in our study. We sometimes quote great Christian scholars from the past and/or present to substantiate our conclusions; however, great men and great scholars of the past have been wrong on certain issues and certain conclusions.

What preacher has never had to change or adjust his thinking on a particular issue, and especially those issues that are much more difficult and which require a great amount of study? Who has never adjusted and changed his thinking and understanding about the Holy Spirit, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the "measures of the Holy Spirit," etc.? I certainly have and will continue to do so when I come to a conclusion that I have missed the truth on some issue or subject. Instead of apologizing for that, I believe that it is a sign of wisdom! When someone states, "I have never changed my position" then he is probably still wrong about a number of things! Most all of us, as younger preachers, thought that we knew a lot more than we did; the older I get and the more I study, the more I realize just how little I actually know. None of us has all the answers figured out; thus, we must be slow to criticize those who continue to study diligently while trying to come to the truth; that is true even though we are sure that we have reached the right conclusion on the matter under review. Only the man who is filled with pride or is dishonest will refuse to reexamine and reevaluate his conclusions on any scripture. Brethren, we must remember that truth will bear investigation; it is not a challenge to truth to rethink, reexamine, and reevaluate our understanding of that truth!

We are living in an era, where the church is so splintered into little political groups; some give allegiance to men, some to schools, some to papers/publications, or projects. All who do not go along with their "pet project" are marked as suspect at the best and a liberal or false teacher at the worst. Brethren, where is our love, our concern, our quest for knowledge, our desire to get it right even if we must adjust our thinking and change our position?

Before we label a fellow proclaimer of the gospel as a heretic or as a false teacher, let's be fair; let's take another look at the subject; let's be sure that we are right before we reject something that we have never seen or understood before.

Doesn't fairness and being Christlike demand such of us?
—Paul Wilmoth