Is it?

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2000

Answers

Ask the prophet from Judah (1 Kings 13).

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2000

Brother Matheny:

Amen and Amen! In fact, I am convinced that it is more dangerous to BELEIVE a lie than to tell one. For if one tells a lie he generally knows that he has done so and can repent but those who believe lies may never know that they have been deceived and will lose their souls for having done so.

The scriptures have some very frightening language in on this subject. We are warned by the apostle Paul, And then shall be revealed the lawless one, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of his mouth, and bring to naught with the manifestation of His coming. Even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power, and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceit of unrighteousness of them that perish; because they received not the LOVE OF THE TRUTH that they might be saved. And for this cause GOD SENDETH THEM A WORKING OF ERROR, that they should BELIEVE A LIE: That they all might be judged who believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess. 2: 8- 12).

Then we are told, Beloved believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1). It is one of the functions of the Elders to protect us from false teachers. For we are told that the Elders are to, Hold to the faithful word, which is according to the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in the SOUND DOCTRINE, and to convict the gainsayers. For there are many UNRULY MEN, vain talkers and DECEIVERS, specially they of the circumcision, whose mouths MUST BE STOPPED; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which THEY OUGHT NOT for filthy lucres sake. One of themselves, a prophet of their own, said, Cretans are always LIARS, evil beast, idle gluttons. This testimony is true. For this causes REPROVE THEM SHARPLY, that they may be SOUND IN THE FAITH, not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men who TURN AWAY FROM THE TRUTH. (Titus 1:9-14).

There are many more passages that make it evident that believing a lie is dangerous to our spiritual well being and that we must watch and protect ourselves from these things. Paul said to the elders at Ephesus, I know that after my departing GREVIOUS WOLVES shall enter in among you, NOT SPARING THE FLOCK; and from AMONG YOUR OWN SELVES shall men arise speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20: 29). And he gave a solution when he said, And now Brethren, I commend you to God and the WORD OF HIS GRACE which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified. (Acts 20:32).

How could it be morally right to do something that is so spiritually damning? If believing a lie will cause us to be condemned, as it surely will (2 Thess. 2:8-11), then how on earth could it be morally right or acceptable to believe a lie concerning matters that affect our eternal destiny? And, even if it were morally right to believe something that would cause you to be condemned such moral righteousness would not prevent one from being condemned, now would it? This very question ignores the simple fact that choices have consequences regardless of whether there is anything moral about them. It may be morally right for me to go sky diving without a working parachute but that morality will not save me when I hit the ground at speeds greater than 125 miles per hour. I may be perfectly sincere in thinking that my chute is in good working order because I trusted someone who told me that it was so. But if I do not take appropriate measures to ensure that it is working and carry a reserve chute in case it fails because someone has erred in packing it or has deliberately tampered with it. Then, I will learn in mid air that I have not been told the truth. And whether this was done through a genuine honest error or a deliberate attempt on my life will not matter. My genuine sincerity in believing that all was well cannot function as well as a working parachute to save me from certain death. So the question should not be, is it morally right to believe a lie but rather we should ask are there unavoidable consequences to my eternal soul for believing lie? The answer to that question is a resounding YES according to the scriptures mentioned above and numerous others not mentioned.

Your Brother in Christ,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, September 14, 2000

Not always.

It isn't a sin to believe 4 + 4 is 10. It may not be too bright, but it is not a sin. But there are some wrong beleifs that are sinful or cause people to sin.

So the answer is, it depends.

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2000

Link,

If I may return to the original question (which is almost redundant), "Is it morally wrong to believe error?" I understand, without wanting to split hairs, but to observe proper distinctions, that an error is different than a wrong belief. Error inherently leads one astray from the truth which saves. Perhaps your example was merely to serve an illustrative purpose, but I understood the question to also refer to religious error and not wrong beliefs in general. So the math equation was not helpful to me in this instance.

Still, your point has some merit. But I am not ready to let down my guard because I may conclude that some error may not be eternally dangerous. That conclusion may be the one that ultimately gets me into trouble!

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2000

Duane,

First, I see I missed a closing html code. So much for getting it right.

Then, I just noticed that you are also the moderator and maintainer of this list. Which leads me to ask: What was the purpose behind your question?

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2000

The purpose behind my question was to solicit the thoughts of others.

-- Anonymous, September 15, 2000

I believe we are all 'in process' in our understanding. I think we all have some wrong ideas about doctrine. I may not understand every point of eschatology. I think there are some non-core beliefs. Some error may not lead to sin, error on peripherial issues.

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2000

Duane, may I respectfully suggest that when such questions are posted to solicit responses that they be so designated, so that responders may distinguish them from questions asked by those in doubt as to a subject. Such a qualification will provide information helpful to the nature of the discussion. Perhaps your intent was obvious to others, especially the older and more frequent participants; it was not so evident to me. I confess feeling chagrined when I noticed the question had been posed by the moderator. Certainly within propriety, I don't question that at all, but some indication of it would have been helpful to me. Others may have a different perspective. . .

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2000

Randall, you wrote:

Duane, may I respectfully suggest that when such questions are posted to solicit responses that they be so designated, so that responders may distinguish them from questions asked by those in doubt as to a subject.

Why?

Such a qualification will provide information helpful to the nature of the discussion.

How so?

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2000

Study to show thyself approved unto God, A workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. II Tim, 2;18-19

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2000

If one defines error as a belief that causes him to lose salvation, that changes the whole issue. I suppose there is probably such a technical definition of error.

I believe it is possible to have a wrong idea about a verse in the Bible and still be saved. For example, one man may believe that the Leviathan Job wrote of was a dinasaur. Another may believe it was an Egyptian crocodile. Still another may see the Leviathan as the mythological Leviathan/Lotan of Canaanite mythology.

If three men holding to these beliefs, who had been regenerated and were walking in the Lord's grace, got hit by a truck at the same time, at the judgement, I don't believe they would be cast into the Lake of Fire for believing any of these things.

On the other hand, holding to one wrong belief could effect the way one interprets the Bible, and cause trouble over time. I don't believe one has to understand everything in the Bible perfectly correctly in order to be saved.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2000

Hi, Duane, it is helpful because I usually respond to people whom i think I can be helpful as they search for understanding of the Scriptures. I usually don't respond to questions that are posted to generate discussion. Seems they tend to generate more heat than light. Just my opinion.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2000

Brother Link:

You have said:

On the other hand, holding to one wrong belief could effect the way one interprets the Bible, and cause trouble over time. I don't believe one has to understand everything in the Bible perfectly correctly in order to be saved.

Yes, this is true, Brother Link and since one who is in error does not know that he is in error he is not likely to know if that error is one of those which will put him in this awful position. Positions that will cause him trouble over time in his interpretation of the scriptures, which may very well cause him to be ultimately lost. Though it may certainly be true that one may not have to perfectly understand all that is in the scriptures to be saved, it is not true that one should therefore have little or no concern for such a matter. He is wise who will use diligence and maintain vigilance to seek every day of his life to know and understand the truth that he might be saved. It is foolish for one to think that he can determine which errors are of little consequence in relation to his eternal well being when he cannot even know that he is in error unless he is ever searching for the truth. If he discovers an error in his beliefs and determines after discovering it that it had little consequence in relation to his salvation does it justify him in continuing to maintain such an error? Error is dangerous because we are not aware of them and cannot therefore know just what consequences may come upon us in believing them. Let us be wise to seek the truth always and remove all error from our lives and pray that God will help us to find the truth.

You worldly illustration is not an example that fits the subject under discussion in this tread but lets consider it. You said:

Not always. It isn't a sin to believe 4 + 4 is 10. It may not be too bright, but it is not a sin. But there are some wrong beleifsbeliefs that are sinful or cause people to sin. So the answer is, it depends.

If this person, who thinks sincerely that 4+4=10, is maintaining the aircraft for a major airlines and tolerances must be exact his seemingly small and sinless error could cost the lives of hundreds human beings, including men women, children, the elderly etc. Thus his negligence in failing to know and understand the truth concerning this matter becomes urgent. If he is not constantly seeking to know the truth about these matters he is a serious danger to all that fly in the aircraft that he is maintaining. And no Christian can think that such foolish negligence that causes him to have this error that could bring such severe consequences upon his fellowman is not sinful! Nor could one imagine that if he held a position making change for customers in a business that his error would not put him in the position of inadvertently cheating either his employer or the customers of his employer. Such lack of diligence and desire to know the truth is inexcusable for one who serves the Lord Jesus Christ. Now it may be true that this person who is so ignorant of math may never find the opportunity to suffer from his ignorance. Or to cause anyone else to suffer from his ignorance but if he is a Christian he must seek to do his best at all things for Christ sake. Your illustration may fit someone out there but I do not think that it is sufficient to draw the general conclusion that errors are sinless and without consequence. But I know that you are seeking to find an exception to the rule. Though I do not know of one I will readily grant that there are such exceptions but we cannot live our lives according to the exceptions. The general rule is that errors are dangerous to our spiritual well being. And in the realm of math errors are unmerciful in their consequences to our lives consequences that may or ma not effect the eternal destiny of either our fellowmen or us. We have heard enough of this effort to make us feel that errors are acceptable and may not affect us. When we are in error we are not aware of it and therefore cannot know just when or how those errors may affect those around us or ourselves either in this life or the life to come. The wise thing is to be constantly and with great vigilance seek out our errors and pursue the truth so that we can avoid the unknown consequences of unknown errors!

Then you try to give another example:

I believe it is possible to have a wrong idea about a verse in the Bible and still be saved. For example, one man may believe that the Leviathan Job wrote of was a dinasaur. Another may believe it was an Egyptian crocodile. Still another may see the Leviathan as the mythological Leviathan/Lotan of Canaanite mythology.

If you think that one who draws the conclusion that anything in the scriptures is a myth is not a dangerous error you are woefully mistaken. This idea is one that could most certainly cause one to misunderstand the word of God and even to not believe it at all. But you appear just here to be defending ERROR as if it is of little concern if it is small and insignificant but when you describe what you think is insignificant we find that you think that the belief that portions of the Bible are myths is harmless. I do not agree but even if I did agree it is not you that will decide which errors are going to cause us to be lost. I doubt very seriously if either you or I could do such a thing. You do not know which error will lead to yet another error and yet another until the culmination is complete error until one has finally erred from the faith entirely.

The problem with error is the knowing that you are in error. If I am in error on a certain subject it is very likely that I am completely unaware of such error. For, it is surely sinful to knowingly hold to and support error. But if I do not know that I am in error how am I to be able to judge, as Brother Link would have us do, that my particular error is one that will not cause me to be lost? He admits that there are errors that will cause us to be lost. Yet he seems to be telling us not to worry about error. So maybe he could give us a list of errors that will cause us to be lost and those, which will not so that we can be sure that we do not fall into any of those errors and then we do not need to worry about the rest. But then we would have to trust that Brother Link is not in error in drawing up that list. This is just pure nonsense. Error is dangerous even if every error will not ultimately lead to our eternal damnation. We are not told to take such a lax attitude toward error. We are taught to seek the truth. We are told that we can know the truth. Let us not relax about error but rather let us follow the divine guidance of the inspired scriptures. Paul said, See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time for the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but UNDERSTANDING what the will of the Lord is. (Eph. 5:15-18). Let us follow the advice of Peter who spoke by inspiration of the Holy Spirit saying, Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the Devil, as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8). The Hebrew writer by inspiration admonishes us, Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not strong meat. For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have THEIR SENSES EXERSIZED to discern both good and evil. (Heb 5:12-14). Jesus told the Sadducees who doubted the resurrection, ye do err, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God. This error was a simple one based upon their human hypothetical situation that cased them to claim that a resurrection would be absurd because a woman married to seven different men who died be fore her would be confused in a resurrection as to whose wife she would be. One could have easily remarked that an error concerning this matter of women and marriage in the after life would have no affect upon their salvation. But this belief caused them to doubt the resurrection, which caused them to doubt Christ, which caused them to be lost if they did not correct the error. Notice that they erred because they did not know the scriptures.

Then let us remember the words of James who by inspiration said, Do not err, my beloved brethren (James 1:16). Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know, that he which converteththeth a sinner from the error of his way shall SAVE A SOUL FROM DEATH, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (James 5:19,20).

The Prophets struggled with this problem of error. Isaiah said, As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee causeth thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths. (Isa. 3:12). For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall He have mercy on their fatherless and widows: For everyone is a hypocrite and an evil doer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. (Isa. 9:16,17). And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: The wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. (Isa. 35:8).

The Psalmist by inspiration spoke of those who erred as follows, Forty years long have I grieved with this generation, and said, it is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest. (Ps. 95:10). And again, Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments. (Ps. 119:21).

Returning to the New Testament we find the Hebrew writer telling us that under the Old Law the priest offered sacrifices for the errors of the people. But into the second went the high priest alone every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the errors of the people. (Heb. 9:7). Notice that it was for the errors of the people. Certainly there is some problem with errors that would cause any wise and prudent person to seek to avoid them rather than consoling himself with the notion that some errors, though he does not know which, are without serious consequences and are not to be feared. This may explain why the palmist says, Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also form presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: Then shall I be UPRIGHT and I shall be INNOCENT FROM THE GREAT TRANSGRESSION. (Ps. 19:12). Even errors that do not carry serious consequences carry within them the seeds that produce serious errors that may lead to the great transgression. Let us be as was the psalmist. Let us avoid error and pray to be delivered from even the smallest error so that we can avoid the great transgression:

We are told, For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Tim. 6:10). Can anyone imagine that this error began full-grown? Then Paul warns Timothy of other possible errors, O Timothy keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science so-called: Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. (1 Tim. 6:20,21). Then Peter warns us, These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with tempest, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever. For they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through lust of the flesh, through much wantonness; those that were clean escaped from them who LIVE IN ERROR. While they promise them LIBERTY, they themselves are servants of corruption: for whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought into bondage. (2Peter 3:17-19).

Listen to Brother John the apostle, We are of God: He that knoweth God hearth us; he that is not of God hearth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:6).

Let us hear the apostles of Christ who were chosen by him and inspired by the Holy Spirit with all the truth (John 16:13; 14:26). Let us seek the truth and pursue it and constantly seek to remove error from our lives for we know not what error will lead us to destruction.

Your Brother in Christ,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2000

Brethren:

This is just another observation on the danger of errors. Be sure that you do not fail to keep your promises to God and do not think that you will escape responsibility to keep them by claiming that you made an error and that such error will be acceptable excuse to God.

Solomon wrote by inspiration, Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. Be not rash with thy mouth and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou art upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fools voice is known by a multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better it is that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an ERROR: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands. (Eccl. 5:1-6).

There is no doubt that one should not make this error, is there? There is no doubt that even if one were to err in this way it would not save him to simply admit that he made a mistake and promised something to God that he should not have promised. It says nothing about just what this promise would be, only that it should either not be made or if made it should be surely kept. This applies to any promise. It matters not if the error was a harmless rambling of a fool. This error, even if it were an error honestly made, will not keep God from being angry and punishing the offender. So, make sure that you do not err when making promises or vows to God. If one thinks about this one will find that there are many ways to easily err in these things and these errors though apparently harmless on the surface have grave consequences.

We are told by Paul, Whatsoever things were written before time were written for our learning that we through the patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4). Let us learn this lesson from the preacher in Ecclesiastes. Let us notice how our mouths can cause us to sin and who has not in some way allowed his tongue to lead him to sin? Do not think to excuse yourself on the grounds of human error for that excuse will not work with God.

Please, Brethren, beware of errors when you come to the house of the Lord and make vows to him!

Then beware of the dangers of the simple errors that we often make with our tongues. Hear the word of God spoken by James. He warns us concerning these errors of the tongue, My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though [they be] so great, and [are] driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet [water] and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so [can] no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. (James 3:1-18).

Just here is a place where we err often and it is condemned by James in scorching language calculated to be clear but not cruel. We cannot take the errors we speak with our mouths lightly. For this very reason, jesting is extremely dangerous and we are not careful about jesting, now are we? But often we err in these things and think that God would not punish us for them. We see such errors as harmless. But errors in these matters are sinful. I urge all of us to avoid them with vigilance and diligence and a deep concern that we not be led with our lips to sin against God. Notice that James begins his discussion of this matter with a warning to those who would teach us.

Your Brother in Christ,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2000

Lee,

Does 'Ha!' signal that someone is jesting?

On the issue of whether or not it is a sin to believe error, think about people with weak consciences. Those who would not eat meat and who honored one day above another in Rome were probably- some of them anyway- doing so because of a lack of knowledge, perhaps even understanding that was in error. But within their limited range of belief, they could live without sin, if they did not sin against God- either by breaking his commands or by sinning against their consciences.

Of course, this might not fit into some of your definitions of error. Must we define terms?

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2000

Brother Link:

You have asked:

Lee, Does 'Ha!' signal that someone is jesting?

If you are asking what I mean when I use this term the answer is no. If it had clearly signaled jesting, you would not have asked the question, now would you? It is an interjection which is designed, as are all such expressions in English, to express of a variety of emotions depending upon the context but in my case it never signals a jest. All who know me in this forum are aware that I do not have a great sense of humor and jesting is not my sport.

I am not surprised, however, to see you supporting error. False teachers are known to do just that. You apparently want us to not worry about error. But you do not show from the scriptures that we are to have little or no concern for error. The following is the best you can do:

On the issue of whether or not it is a sin to believe error, think about people with weak consciences. Those who would not eat meat and who honored one day above another in Rome were probably- some of them anyway- doing so because of a lack of knowledge, perhaps even understanding that was in error. But within their limited range of belief, they could live without sin, if they did not sin against God- either by breaking his commands or by sinning against their consciences. Of course, this might not fit into some of your definitions of error. Must we define terms?

You seem to think that people with weak consciences do not need to fear error. But notice that you draw these conclusions because you have information that those with weak consciences did not have. They did not know that they were in error and could not therefore judge whether that error was any threat to them. That such harmless errors exist I have already admitted. But the problem is that when one is in error he does not know it and therefore he cannot know if his error is a harmless one or one that will ultimately cost him his soul at the judgement. So while you may be right in stating that there are some errors that do not effect our salvation, such information is useless because one who is in error does not know that he is in error and therefore cannot determine how his errors will affect his eternal destiny. Thus, as I have shown above, the many warnings against error found in the scripture.

We are taught to be diligent in seeking to ever know the truth and discover our errors so that we can eliminate them. Whether they are harmless or dangerous is very much beside the point because until they are discovered we cannot know how they affect us. Thus I have offered these scriptural admonitions and warnings against error. It is my hope that such will save a soul from death (James 5:19-20). It is my aim that we do not fail to win the prize because of a lax attitude that says, " it does not matter very much if I am in error". It is eminently dangerous and any intelligent person reading the scriptures can see the danger. Now if you wish to support error that is your business but you will not find one place in the scriptures where we are told that some errors are not sinful and therefore we should have little concern for error. The scriptures abound with warnings against error and the wise man will heed those warnings. The fool will not. It is your choice whether you will be wise or foolish. I chose to heed the warnings against error found in scripture and search always for the truth and examine myself daily to see that I walk in truth. If you do not like my admonitions you can ignore them. Many people do.

But you have not used any scriptures that tell us that errors are not dangerous and that most errors are not sinful. You have not even attempted to answer much of what the scriptures have to say about this matter. You are simply trying to point out that some errors do not affect our eternal destiny. A fact that everyone admits but a fact that is of absolutely no practical value because one cannot know the nature of his error when he does not even know that he is in error. So of what practical value is it for him to understand that some errors will not adversely affect him. Especially since he has no divine guidance concerning just which errors are in reality harmless. All he has from you is the mere words of a man that thinks that he is able to understand not only his own errors but also the error of others so well that he can safely tell them peace, peace, when there is no peace. False teachers have not changed since the days of the prophets. They want us to not worry or be concerned about these things. They want us to feel secure and at peace when the Devil as a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). The warnings against error fill the scriptures, brethren, and I have made that warning clear to any honest man willing to examine the teaching of the scriptures concerning the matter. None can ignore such warnings from God without sinning in doing so. Seek the truth and pursue it. Examine yourself constantly for error and remove it as soon as you find it and do not have any concern about whether it is a harmless error or not. For such information is useless since it is beyond the capability of men to understand their own error. Even though men like Brother Link try to comfort you that errors are not so dangerous and that because some will not condemn us we have no need for great vigilance and that errors are not sinful in themselves remember the command given by the Holy Spirit through James:

Do not err, my beloved brethren (James 1:16). What ever you do make sure that you do not disobey this command. This passage could also be properly translated, and is so translated in many reputable versions of the scripture as do not be deceived, my beloved Brethren. Error and deception, in this passage, are the same thing. Neither is good and none is truly harmless. If you discover that you have been deceived in something that you perceive to be harmless will you have no concern about how you will prevent deception in matters that are crucial to your eternal salvation? A wise man will be sufficiently warned. A fool will not. The choice is yours. Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Your Brother in Christ,

E. Lee Saffold

-- Anonymous, September 20, 2000