Page 34 - Foundations

Many people come to the Lord through the evangelistic efforts of Christians who are members of
churches that have long ago fallen away from an understanding of truth. People tend to trust those
who led them to the Lord. Those who are babes in Christ often lack discrimination in that which they
are imbibing. They lap up whatever Biblical instruction is given to them, not suspecting that it is
tainted.

Some years ago I read a tragic story of a newborn baby who died in a hospital when a nurse
mistakenly grabbed a container of saline water thinking it was nursing formula. Any adult who tasted
the saline water would have recognized what it was at once, and would have rejected it. The baby,
however, did not have its sense of taste developed and eagerly devoured the solution. The small
infant died as a result of saline poisoning, an excess of salt in the body.

What I have found to be true in my life, and that of a great many other sons and daughters of God,
is that once we began to mature spiritually we started to test the things that were being fed to us by
our pastor, Sunday School teacher, parents, or other individuals who acted as teachers. Having
personally been brought up in church from the time I was a young child, I innocently imbibed many
doctrines that I never suspected contained error. I trusted the adults in my life. I had no reason to
suspect that they were teaching me things about God, the world, and Yahweh’s kingdom that were
not true.

Consequently, I spent many years of my later life testing what had been delivered to me in my
physical youth and spiritual immaturity. I found that a great many things, including some important
foundational doctrines, had been delivered to me in a highly adulterated state. As I began to be taught
of God, and to apply myself to a pursuit of truth, I was at times shocked by the great disparity
between what I was taught in my youth and what God was teaching me as an adult.

Many people stumble at this point. If their hunger for truth, and a desire to stand approved before
God, does not exceed their regard for the people around them, the traditions that are dear to them,
and the continued fellowship of men and women in the church, they will often balk when they
encounter teachings that contradict what they first received. Additionally, if a person has a pride of
knowledge, they will be hindered from casting off their errant beliefs. It requires humility to be
corrected. The proud do not like to receive instruction, or to admit that they once held to error.

As a Bible teacher with an Internet audience, I frequently encounter people who disagree with the
things I am teaching. Quite often their beliefs are traceable back to their upbringing in a particular
church, or denomination. People frequently form strong emotional bonds to doctrines. They associate
their beliefs with a respected minister, or beloved saint. They may remember their experiences in a
particular church with much fondness. Some view it as an attack when another Christian calls into
question any of the doctrines that were imparted to them.

Many times I observe people getting quite emotional when they express their disagreement with
something I am teaching. One might think I had insulted their parents, a beloved pastor, or their best
friend. Christians need to recognize that even the best intentioned and sincere individuals can, and
often do, pass along false doctrines to others. The motive of the person teaching error need not be
malicious. I suspect most do so in ignorance, and often with great fervor of conviction. It is quite