Introduction. In the midst of any Bible discussion disagreements will arise. When two hold convictions and a love for truth, the discussion can even become heated. Even the inspired “Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate” when speaking of differences of opinion over Scripture (Acts 15:2). In days gone by, debates were common. Subjects were parsed, broken down, and studied as each sought to “be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” (2Tim. 2:15-16). This is as it should be. No one knows everything and no one has reached a perfect knowledge on every Bible subject. This is why the Bereans were “more noble” as they “received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
- Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1Cor. 1:10-11)
For centuries people have been willing to die for their convictions. Stephen stood firm even as they stoned him to death, as did Jesus as He was crucified. Convictions are the essence of persecution, truth we are willing to suffer and even die for. God expected persecution to be universal as the light of truth clashed with the darkness of error. Jesus revealed that this world “hated Me before it hated you” (Jn. 15:18) because “everyone who does evil hates the light” (Jn. 3:20). Hence, “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake ... for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Mt. 5:12). “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2Tim. 3:12).
Yet for many today, convictions are a thing of the past seen as the product of an age of “narrow minded bigotry.” A new catchphrase that identifies this “spirit of stupor:” “it doesn’t matter what you believe if you are sincere.”
This proverb explains why regardless of what a church teaches about good and evil, the work and worship of the church, or the means of salvation, none of it really matters any more. Billy Graham used to say, “accept Christ as your personal Savior and join the church of your choice.” Those who accepted that message believed any church, no matter what it taught was acceptable to God. This idea has now grown to the point where sincerity and personal choice ("I know God wants me to be happy") are more important than truth or the revealed will of God. In such a climate, convictions dissipate and vanish.
Yet even an elementary knowledge of Scripture reveals that this is another lie. Eve was convinced the forbidden fruit was good for food, a delight to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise! She believed it with all her heart. Did her sincerity change the outcome? Did her sincerity spare her from the consequences of doing what God had plainly told her not to do? Why should it be a different answer today?
Try this proverb in medicine, the courts, physics or chemistry and it is obviously false. If sincerity removed the need for truth, why do people suffer so many things for making mistakes? Jesus spoke of road maps and destinations. Every one knows sincerity has no impact here. We can sincerely believe we are going the right way, but if we are going north when we should be going south, we will never get where we want to go.
Does this apply to Scripture as well? Jesus said it did! “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mt. 7:13-16). There is only one gate to enter and one path to walk upon. Sincerity can’t change the facts and the truth.
The paradox of sincerity in Scripture: we must first be right before we can be sincere. Sincerity only matters when one is right. If one is wrong, sincerity only becomes a hindrance. If we sincerely believe we entered the right gate, but we did not, we have to be convinced we are wrong. Those who replace conviction with sincerity will remain unconvinced no matter what passage is read or what evidence is given.
Jesus spoke of the sincerity of those he told “I never knew you.” They were so sincere they sought to prove Jesus was wrong, but they failed: “then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Mt. 7:21-23)! Misdirected sincerity leads to blindness. For since when “the blind lead the blind both will fall into the ditch,” sincerity made no difference (Mt 15:14). Only truth can set us free (Jn 8:31-32).
We now stand at the crossroads. Instead of seeking to change the convictions of others we now find ourselves seeking to convince others they ought to have convictions. We must resist the temptation to leave the path of strong conviction based upon truth for the warm comfort of sincerity.
Conclusion. Though sincerity has made many warm and comfortable with vain worship (Mt 15:8-9), immorality, or ungodliness, it is a false sense of security. Only through humble submission to God’s will can we do the things pleasing in his sight. Never forget sincerity will not protect us from any violation of truth or Scripture.
Yet for many today, convictions are a thing of the past seen as the product of an age of “narrow minded bigotry.” A new catchphrase that identifies this “spirit of stupor:” “it doesn’t matter what you believe if you are sincere.”
This proverb explains why regardless of what a church teaches about good and evil, the work and worship of the church, or the means of salvation, none of it really matters any more. Billy Graham used to say, “accept Christ as your personal Savior and join the church of your choice.” Those who accepted that message believed any church, no matter what it taught was acceptable to God. This idea has now grown to the point where sincerity and personal choice ("I know God wants me to be happy") are more important than truth or the revealed will of God. In such a climate, convictions dissipate and vanish.
Yet even an elementary knowledge of Scripture reveals that this is another lie. Eve was convinced the forbidden fruit was good for food, a delight to the eyes, and desirable to make one wise! She believed it with all her heart. Did her sincerity change the outcome? Did her sincerity spare her from the consequences of doing what God had plainly told her not to do? Why should it be a different answer today?
Try this proverb in medicine, the courts, physics or chemistry and it is obviously false. If sincerity removed the need for truth, why do people suffer so many things for making mistakes? Jesus spoke of road maps and destinations. Every one knows sincerity has no impact here. We can sincerely believe we are going the right way, but if we are going north when we should be going south, we will never get where we want to go.
Does this apply to Scripture as well? Jesus said it did! “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Mt. 7:13-16). There is only one gate to enter and one path to walk upon. Sincerity can’t change the facts and the truth.
The paradox of sincerity in Scripture: we must first be right before we can be sincere. Sincerity only matters when one is right. If one is wrong, sincerity only becomes a hindrance. If we sincerely believe we entered the right gate, but we did not, we have to be convinced we are wrong. Those who replace conviction with sincerity will remain unconvinced no matter what passage is read or what evidence is given.
Jesus spoke of the sincerity of those he told “I never knew you.” They were so sincere they sought to prove Jesus was wrong, but they failed: “then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Mt. 7:21-23)! Misdirected sincerity leads to blindness. For since when “the blind lead the blind both will fall into the ditch,” sincerity made no difference (Mt 15:14). Only truth can set us free (Jn 8:31-32).
We now stand at the crossroads. Instead of seeking to change the convictions of others we now find ourselves seeking to convince others they ought to have convictions. We must resist the temptation to leave the path of strong conviction based upon truth for the warm comfort of sincerity.
Conclusion. Though sincerity has made many warm and comfortable with vain worship (Mt 15:8-9), immorality, or ungodliness, it is a false sense of security. Only through humble submission to God’s will can we do the things pleasing in his sight. Never forget sincerity will not protect us from any violation of truth or Scripture.
- Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (2Tim 4:2-4)
- Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God; the one who abides in the teaching, he has both the Father and the Son. (2Jn. 9-10)
- But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. (2Pet. 2:1-3)