What If You’re (or I’m) Wrong?
Serious question: How do you know that what you know is the truth? Very earlier on, I remember watching a YouTube video of a Christian apologist. This was a long time ago and I don’t remember exactly who it was. He was asked something along this line: “What if you’re wrong? How do you know that your worldview or theological system is the correct one?” I didn’t and still don’t like the answer he gave, because it shows that he’s uncertain, and also it’s something anyone can say. Muslims can make the same claim about their book.
That stuck with me. For years, on and off, I imagined in my mind the same question asked of me. I couldn’t articulate it, and didn’t know a biblical way to answer it. Why even bother when I know in my heart that I’m in the right, right? But doesn’t everyone believe that they’re in the right, and that they’re wise in their own eyes? Only recently did I start to think more about this, and in today’s post I’ll share some of my thoughts and you’ll understand why I hold to a reformed view of Soteriology.
Holy Books?
Which one are you going to trust? There are those who have already made up their minds and won’t be convinced no matter what argument you come up. For those that take the question above seriously and try to look at things objectively, what is the reason(s) for trusting the Bible? On this, David Catchpoole wrote an excellent article at creation.com,
While we are here on earth, it’s hard for us to test what each “holy book” says about heavenly things. But where books make claims about earthly things … aha! Here’s something we can test. Which book best explains the earth’s geology: why we find mountainous layers upon layers of sediments that look like they were pushed up and folded while still wet, and with dead animals and plants buried in them, all over the world? The Bible! Which book best explains biology: why plants and animals reproduce “after their kind”, why we have male and female, why women have pain in childbearing, why we have an ever-increasing number of mutations and genetic disorders—as if the creation is in “bondage to decay” [Romans 8:20–22]? The Bible!
And what about the number and distribution of humans around the world—calculating backwards using standard population growth rates gives us a handful of ancestors around 4,500 years ago, somewhere in the Middle East—doesn’t that fit with what the Bible says?3 Doesn’t it explain why scientists now say “race” is biologically meaningless, as if we are of “one blood” [Acts 17:26, KJV]?
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So, if in things that we can test, the Bible wins hands down, which “holy book” are you going to trust?[1]
Which Theological System?
When it comes to Roman Catholicism and the many sects, cults and denominations out there, how do you know that you’re not in the wrong and that you’re not deceived? I’m often out and about and see a lot of Jehovah Witnesses with their carts. I can assure you that they don’t believe they’re deceived. I have observed others online who frequently bash and attack Calvinism with a passion, with full conviction, and I can assure you that they don’t believe they’re deceived. In fact, everyone else is deceived, except them. I can go on, but you get the point.
Consider what Paul says here:
2 Timothy 3:13 (KJ21)
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
Paul didn’t realize he was deceived, believing his persecution of Christ’s church served God. Similarly, Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and other groups are confident in their beliefs, so much so that Muslims would blow themselves up for their god. Everyone is wise in their own eyes, just as the Bible says. How do we ensure we’re not deceived? By what standard do you use? We can’t all be right, but we all can be wrong! And in our wrongness, we can still see a common theme if we were to be honest with ourselves.
We’re told by Catholics/Orthodox that without them, we Protestants wouldn’t have the Scripture.
However, Scripture tells us that having or possessing the Scripture and truly understanding or comprehending it are two different things. According to Romans 3:1-2, the Jews were entrusted with the Scripture, but Paul, a man of great learning, understood it not. Nicodemus, a master/teacher of Israel had no clue what Jesus was teaching. On top of this, God uses unbelievers to carry out His purposes. This means that in God’s sovereignty, He could have used the Catholics to preserve the Scripture (cf. see here), just like He did with the Jews for the Old Testament, if you want to use the argument that the Catholic gives us the Bible.
You might say that we can know the truth if we study church history, know the original language etc…
According to Paul, even the Jewish scholars don’t understand the things of God unless they have received the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:11-16). Nicodemus and Paul read the original language and both were spiritually blind. Maps and historical backgrounds can give us some understanding, but ultimately, spiritual truth is what we’re after here. Men can read the Bible with Jewish background and knowledge and understand certain things, but unless the Spirit reveal the spiritual truth behind what he’s reading, he will understand nothing. Jesus’ Jewish disciples didn’t understand until Christ opened and expounded the Scripture to them (Luke 24:32,27,45). 2 Timothy 2:7 states, “Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.” It is the Lord who ultimately gives us understanding. Not the “Jewish scholars” or any “scholar.”
You might say the Lord appeared to you in a dream, or spoke to you audibly and gave divine revelation.
Scripture tells us that God tests us, by allowing false prophets to infiltrate our minds. A lying spirit deceived Ahab’s prophets and they had absolutely no idea. In fact, they believed that they’re speaking what God revealed to them. How can you be sure that that isn’t the case with you?
You might say that you know intuitively, and that your heart tells you you’re in the right.
Scripture tells us the heart is deceitful, and we’re not to lean on our own understanding.
You might say that the church fathers got things right. Surely, they all can’t be wrong right?
Scripture says, “…let God be true but every man a liar.” Not some men, but every man, including church fathers. This does not mean that the church fathers were wrong on everything, and neither were the reformers right on everything. All I’m saying is that the consensus of early believers is not the measuring stick.
It appears that no matter what argument you can come up for your view, there’s a Scripture to counter it. I’ll come back and update this post with more as they come to mind.
The fact that there are many sects and denominations out there does not disprove Reformed Soteriology. Rather, it gives credence and points to the T of TULIP. The doctrine of Total Depravity gets right to the heart of all this chaos and confusion. Even if I’m wrong, I can still acknowledge that we’re all wise in our own eyes, and that everyone believes they’re right, and that in and of itself points me to the T of TULIP. Nothing best describes and explains the reasons for all the sects and denominations out there than Total Depravity.
And if you really want to get to the bottom of all this, then follow my series On Total Depravity here.