DEFENDING TRUTH

I was meditating on the issue of following on the narrow path and struggling again with the effect of not being narrow minded while on the narrow way. When we are convinced that we are on the right path we also have the tendency to believe that any that are not on the same path are on the wrong path. There is need to process until we come “to the knowledge of truth,” but that does not mean we have exhausted truth. No matter how much we are convinced of certain truths; there is the potential for further enlightenment. When we are satisfied with a certain “set of standards” we must be careful that we are not closed to further insights. “My way or the highway” is not only very limited and narrow, it is cultish and a narrow highway indeed.

The disciples of Jesus came to Him one day and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we commanded him to stop it, for he does not follow along with us.” The great disparity of denominationalism is the fact that others “do not follow along with us” and therefore are not following correctly. Truth rarely needs defense but practice of truth will demand and desire conformity. Some of the greatest disputes in history are over specific and meticulous practices and not over principles. Principle is easily united but practice is the source of costly disunity and division. Jesus answered the disciples, “Do not forbid such people; for whoever is not against you is for you (on your side).” In another account of this Jesus said, ‘‘Do not restrain or forbid him; for no one who does a miracle in My name will soon afterward be able to speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is for us.”

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Jesus