Unteachable
This side of heaven, we may not know precisely the doctrine of the Nicolaitans referenced in Revelation 2:15. But one thing we can all be assured of is that the One who declared that He was the Way, the Life, and the Truth hates false doctrine and lies.
Why does God hate false teaching? Because all false teaching works evil and produces harm in the universe. This is the exact opposite of what God wills or prefers. False doctrine will send many to hell. Yes, there is a real place where the ungodly go if they do not repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ.
The devil and those whom he has inspired tell lies to deceive, if possible, even the elect of God. The devil is seeking those whom he can devour and send to hell. False doctrine is his primary method. The God of truth hates what is false, especially as it pertains to Himself and His plan of salvation. Some false beliefs may not cause harm, but others cause much damage and lead to damnation. I recommend that you read the book “Are Men Born Sinners? The Myth of Original Sin” by Alfred T. Overstreet. Much of this material comes from his book, which in turn draws on the teaching of other teachers of the Word of God.
Is it possible that in our day, we still believe false doctrines? Not every contradictory opinion about doctrine, faith, and practice is valid. One or all might be wrong.
As a new believer, I assumed that what I was being taught was the truth. It took me a few years to discover that was not the case, despite my teachers’ good intentions. I had to reject much of what I was taught as a new believer. It was tough. Why is it so hard to get those who profess faith in Christ to consider a new-to-them Biblically based interpretation of scripture?
Below are some of the reasons why “Christians” are often unteachable.
- A new believer eagerly wants to learn and is very open to what they are told. They are not likely to doubt religious authority. This flexible attitude makes them open to ideas they might later reject upon reflection. Even if what they are learning seems illogical, they accept it because they feel inadequate, not because the information is flawed. Godly people never intentionally mislead others, or so they believe.
- False doctrine is often supported by evidence. It always includes biblical proof texts that seem to endorse the false teaching. A new believer often lacks knowledge of the Bible and deeply trusts those who teach him. This trust increases when biblical proof texts are used to justify the false doctrine.
- Once a new believer is taught a belief, it is nearly impossible to change it. Most Christians become unteachable. I am a case in point. It was almost harder for me to give up the false teachings I was given as a new believer than to get right with God in the first place. What a battle that was. Only God the Holy Spirit can overturn these religious prejudices. In this way, false teaching persists from generation to generation.
- Sometimes false doctrine persists simply because it has lasted so long. People perceive safety in numbers and generally dislike standing alone. Peer pressure or the fear of man significantly sustains false doctrine. For example, how many centuries did the church cling to the false belief that the earth was the center of the universe rather than the sun? For how many centuries has mankind worshiped idols alongside or instead of Jehovah God or the worship of God Almighty?
- Christian leaders and ministers spread error among Christians because of their own shortcomings and ignorance. In this way, they safeguard their positions by convincing people they must turn to them to understand God’s Word. How many prideful ministers believe that their education makes them more knowledgeable than laypeople? They also become unteachable. How many Pharisees in Jesus’ day were open to teaching and correction? Very few.
- God allows false doctrine to persist as long as people value it more than the Word of God. Our unbelief sustains false doctrine. For example, Martin Luther eventually reached his breaking point with the Roman Catholic Church’s false teachings and finally spoke out against practices and beliefs that had persisted for centuries and were unbiblical.
Let these following quotes sink in deeply. They speak to our attitude and our commitment to knowing the truth, no matter the cost. Only the truth will set us free, according to Jesus.
“The known and willful support or perpetuation of an error or false doctrine is a crime against humanity and a sin against Him who is Truth. To cling to error or defend error when one has reason to suspect it may be error reveals a heart that does not fully love the truth for the sake of the truth.
We are supposed to be children of light, and to be afraid to shine light upon what we believe shows a love still for darkness.
To persist in a belief against evidence, to refuse evidence, or avoid proof…..shows insincerity and a lack of moral integrity.
Slavish adherence to inherited traditions, merely on the ground of their wide acceptance and long continuance, would forbid the overthrow of error and the acceptance of redeeming truth”.[i]
Consider the following words written by Charles G. Finney. He is talking about the instructions new converts to Christ should receive immediately. “But the proper time to do this is when they are first brought in, when their minds are soft and tender, and easily yield to the truth. Then they may be led with a hair, if they believe it is the truth of God. And whatever notions of Christianity they get then, they are likely to forever cling to afterwards. It is almost impossible to get a person away from the notions he acquires when he is a young convert. You may reason with him, but he clings to them. It is often the case that when people have been taught certain things when first converted, if they afterwards get a new minister who teaches somewhat differently, they will rise up against him as if he were going to subvert the faith, carry away the church into error, and throw everything into confusion.”
Finney makes the point well that new believers must be taught correctly right from the start. If the initial instruction is deficient, it makes it exceedingly difficult to correct. Have you ever noticed how sheepish Christians are? They long for someone to tell them what to think and what to do? Many do not have the pure love for God and the truth that energizes them to think for themselves. If the blind follow the blind, both will fall into the pit.
Are you teachable? If you are, then you are an exception to the rule. It shows that you have integrity and a strong desire to know the truth. Lastly, it indicates that the Spirit of God is leading you. The Spirit of God is not leading the unteachable. And we know that only those who the Spirit of God is leading are children of God.
[i] Randolf Sinks Foster Studies in Theology, 1890. He lived from about 1820 to 1903. He was a bishop in the Methodist Episcopal Church and a President of Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois among a few of his appointments. Most of this appendix was taken from a book by Alfred T. Overstreet copywrite 1995, Are Men Born Sinners?
