Truth vs. Error by D. M. Canright

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Sep 12, 1865

Truth vs. Error.

By D. M. Canright

"NO MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE, IF YOU ARE ONLY SINCERE."

TRUTH is the opposite of error. It is fact as opposed to fiction. Jesus gave it the general definition of being the word of God: "Thy word is truth." Closer still, it is defined to be the law of God: "Thy law is the truth."

God is the great author of all truth, and all his laws and actions are founded on its eternal principles. On the other hand, Satan is the author of all error and falsehood. "He is a liar, and the father of it." It has ever been his great work to oppose and darken God's truth by his falsehoods. It is no matter by what means this is done, if he can only accomplish his object. Whatever, therefore, tends to darken, to cover up, to suppress truth; whatever tends to depreciate its value; whatever strengthens error, or countenances falsehoods; so far builds up the kingdom of Satan, and opposes the kingdom of God. Hence we can readily see that it must make a vast difference whether a man believes and teaches truth or error.

Of late, many are taking the position that it makes no difference what a man believes, if he is only honest in his belief. But we can see that this is just the way that Satan himself would argue; for, if he can get men to value truth no higher than they do error, they will care but little which they do receive. He can then lead them captive at his will. Hence, we may set it down as an invariable rule, that the man who teaches this doctrine is doing the work of Satan, and opposing the work of God. Truth has not the least fellowship with error. Every word spoken in favor of error, every act that countenances it, and every neglect to expose it, is so much done in favor of Satan, and against God.

In the conflict between the North and the South, every man who spoke in favor of the rebellion, or did anything to uphold it, or even pretended to be "neutral," was counted an enemy to the Union, and justly so, too. The government was in deadly conflict with its enemies. It needed all the strength and resources which it could command. In such a time, whoever did, or said, anything favoring the South, so far weakened the Union, opposed the government, and strengthened the South.

So in the case before us: Satan and this world are in rebellion against God. Error and falsehood are the mightiest weapons that they are using against his government. Whoever, therefore, whether knowingly or ignorantly, countenances error, either by word or deed, or silent consent, is doing so much to strengthen the enemies of God and oppose his government.

"But," says one, "it does not make any particular difference what we believe, if we are only honest and sincere in our faith. It is the devotion of an honest heart that pleases God, no matter how the devotion is shown." This reasoning is generally used as an excuse for disobeying some plain command of God which cannot be evaded in any other way. The proposition, when fairly analyzed, assumes that it would be just as well for a person to firmly believe a lie as it would to believe the truth. But will this reasoning hold good, when applied to natural laws? We will test it: A man firmly believes that fire will not burn him. Now, if he puts his hand into the fire, will he not be burned? Certainly he will. He disbelieved evidence which was sufficient to teach him better, deceived himself, and had to suffer the consequences. Thus we see that the laws of nature will not vary to suit any man's belief, however honest he may be.

But does God carry out the same principle in his moral governments? If a man is only honest and sincere in his belief, will God punish him if that belief should happen to lead him wrong? "Oh no," say a host of modern professors, "God will not punish him, because he was sincere in his belief." So says the wisdom of this world.

But what says the word of God? Are men at liberty to believe or disbelieve what God has said, and still be innocent? The case of Eve will illustrate this point exactly. God placed Adam and Eve in the garden, and said to them, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof, thou shalt surely die." Gen. ii, 16, 17.

This command of God was plain, positive, and unequivocal. But soon the tempter comes to Eve, and begins to reason with her. He tells her that the fruit is good, that it will make her wise, and that it will not result in her death as God had said. At length Eve is persuaded that the tempter has told her the truth, and that, after all, the fruit will do her no harm, although God had said that she must not touch it. She now sincerely believes that she can eat the fruit with impunity. Of this transaction, Paul says: "And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." 1 Tim. ii, 14. Yes, Eve was really deceived; therefore she was sincere in believing that she could just as well eat of the fruit as not. As people generally act just as they believe, so did Eve. She put forth her hand and took of the fruit and ate it. Now comes the test. Will God regard her belief, or will he not? She could plead in all truth, "Lord, I was sincere in what I did. I verily believed that the serpent told me the truth, and that you had lied to me." What a plea that was to offer before the great God! To charge him to his face with deception and falsehood!! Did the Lord accept this excuse? No; he immediately drove them from the garden, and pronounced the penalty of death against them.

Then did God unjustly punish Eve when she had simply acted out her firm belief? But what did she believe? Why, she firmly believed that God had lied, and that Satan had told the truth! Strange faith this! No; it was absolute unbelief. A wicked disbelief of what God had told them. Could the Lord now accept this as obedience to his commands, as sincere devotion to him? Certainly not. Simply disbelief of his word deserved the severest punishment, even though they had not carried that unbelief into practice.

Of unbelief, Paul says, "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Rom. xiv, 23. Faith is a firm belief of what God has said. Unbelief is the disbelieving of what God has declared. This he has declared to be a sin punishable with the second death. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Rev. xxi, 8.

This is neither unreasonable nor unjust; for God first gives men sufficient evidence, or facts, upon which to found their faith, and then requires them to believe him. Now, if they do not believe, they despise God and bring upon themselves his wrath. There are many illustrations of this in the Scriptures. Paul says of himself, "I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth." Acts xxvi, 8.

He was sincere in his belief that Jesus was an impostor, and that the Christians were heretics, and that he was doing right in persecuting them. But upon what did he base his belief? Nothing, except his blind prejudice. Doubtless he had heard of the miracles of Jesus, and of the proofs of his mission, but did not believe them. At least, he had listened to the inspired sermon of Stephen, and had seen the glory of God resting upon him. Yet this was not sufficient evidence to convince him. He still believed just as he did before. Now he could plead that he was sincere in his belief. "I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth."

Now the question is, Was his belief acceptable with God? or did the Lord hold him responsible for what he believed? In short, was the doctrine true, that it makes no difference what a man believes, if he is only sincere? Let Paul himself answer. Speaking of himself, he says: "Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious, but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in UNBELIEF." 1 Tim. i, 13.

This forever cuts off the plea of sincere belief when one has closed his eyes to the evidence of God's truth. It is no more belief, but absolute unbelief; and all unbelief is sin. Does Paul say that he was a child of God when he was in this state of ignorant unbelief? No; he says that he was a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious. By this, it is very evident that it makes a vast difference whether we believe the truth, or an error.

This subject is put beyond all dispute in 2 Thess. ii, 7-13. "For the mystery of iniquity doth already work; only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

God sends out his light and truth backed up by sufficient evidence to convince men that it is his truth. Then if they will not be convinced, if they close their eyes to the light which God has sent them, and if they

believe not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness, God leaves them to their own ways to believe a lie, that they may be damned. This proves beyond dispute, that after a man has heard and rejected the truth, however firmly he may believe in an error, it will do him no good, but will only make his damnation sure.

It is dangerous to trifle with God and his word. When he speaks, we must obey. When he sends a message to the world, he chooses his own agents to deliver it. We cannot dictate to God, nor can we reject his truth without impunity. Jesus says to his ministers, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." God sent Noah to preach to the Antediluvians, but they did not believe him, and hence were all damned. They sincerely believed that Noah was a fanatic; but their sincerity did not save them. So it was with the Sodomites and the Jews. And so it is now. God is sending a message to the world, but men will not believe it. When all other excuses fail them, they calmly fold their arms, settle back upon their dignity, and say, "Well, if I am only sincere in my belief (?), that is all that God will require of me." But what is it that you are believing so firmly with which God must be so well pleased? Why, simply this: You believe that God's message is of the Devil, and that his truth is a lie! This is belief is it? No; it is absolute unbelief. Eve could plead such a faith as that, and so could every infidel who has ever despised the word of the Lord and rejected his counsel.

Dear friend, if you are standing upon such a sandy foundation as this, we would advise you to examine it again before risking eternal life upon it. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

D. M. CANRIGHT.