Two men disagree with the preacher. They have both been taught that they are not just to “swallow” everything the preacher says; that they are to think for themselves. They are to be commended, therefore, for their careful evaluation of what is taught.
The key words with the first man, however, are, “It seems to me.” All teaching is judged according to his own thinking, as to whether or not it makes sense to him.
The key words with the second man are, “What does God say about it?” He desires truth and knows that truth can only be found in God’s word (John 17:17). If he disagrees with the preacher, he does so because he is convinced the preacher has misused a passage of scripture or has failed to consider a scripture that might affect his conclusion. He comes with an open Bible and an open mind, prepared to defend his position or to yield if he sees that it is indefensible.
The first man exalts self. He places too much confidence in his own thinking. He may do so unconsciously, but in reality he makes his own intellect and experience his god. His thinking is reflected in the words of Naaman, “Behold, I thought,” words that would have taken Naaman to a leper’s grave had it not been for the admonition of his servants (2 Kings 5:1-14).
The second man exalts God. His confidence is in what God says in the scriptures. He recognizes that his own intellect and experience fade into nothingness when placed in the brightness of the light of truth. A “thus saith the Lord” ends all controversy with him. His thinking is reflected in that of the Bereans who “were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they… searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so ” (Acts 17:11).
Unless the first man changes his attitude he is hopeless. He is susceptible to all manner of false ideas. He cannot come to know God and His truth through his own wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:21). He must throw his own wisdom, intellect, and experience aside; he must become poor in spirit, meek before God, mourning, hungering and thirsting for righteousness; he must bow in submission to the Lord and to His word. He must say with Paul, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! For who has known the mind of the LORD? Or who has become His counselor?'” (Romans 11:33-34).
The second man is a blessed and fortunate man in-deed, for he will learn the truth that will make him free (John8:32). Unfortunately, he is a rare man in the twentieth century. But he does exist—and he can exist even in the man who is presently reading this article. What a challenge to each of us! After all, it is one thing to disagree with a preacher, but quite another thing to disagree with Almighty God!
– by Bill Hall