Every Nut In The Land--
When the front page article was finished I reread it aloud, checking for errors and "effect. I said to myself, "Every nut in the land could use that to justify (?) their peculiar division over some bizarre interpretation." There are those who are convinced that smallness, opposition, or being called a "nut'' are proofs of their scripturalness. Nothing I can write will help that attitude. They only quote those portions of PLAIN TALK that they think serve their purposes. None of this changes what I believe to be the truth on page one. When we urge people to study and think for themselves, we should know we are "asking for" hasty conclusions, drawn out of context or colored with one or more of the fallacies of illogical reasoning to which all are subject. Correction will be viewed as an attack upon the person — their pride will be hurt. Sometimes we could "see ourselves" in the reaction — if we would but look. But the alternative to individual study and convictions — although the easier and more popular course — is even worse. It produces "Party" followers, and sets the stage for future digressions.
On the other hand, we also "ask' and get those ''few" who can think for themselves without becoming "heady;" without thinking they are a cut above "ordinary" exegetes, or are great reformers who must lead the world to understand all mysteries. We get true students, dedicated, thorough, as happy to learn as they are to share what they know with others. And above all, we get men and women who act with intelligent conviction.
There have been hundreds, or thousands, who have imagined themselves great reformers or restorers of the whole truth, to every one whose work actually accomplished something along this line. One reason for this is that the blind follow the blind, and the movement" falls into a theological ditch. Nuts attract nuts, and then a squirrel comes along.
If we would forget our striving for a place in the sun, and become more interested in how we look to the Son, it would humble us. Patience and longsuffering with others is not the same as sharing their views; nor does it allow promotion or encouragement of false teaching. Patience and consideration for the weaker brother is greatly enhanced by self-confidence: born of studied convictions. And genuine Bible knowledge develops the humility needed to temper that self-confidence — we learn there is so much we do not know. So — we stick with our plea for independent study, and pray for wise application.