IN TODAY's popular norms, there's a commonly accepted advice that says, “It doesn’t matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere.” This type of thinking assumes that ANY faith is acceptable for as long as you follow sincerely and if it doesn't harm anyone. But this is dangerously untrue. Let me explain.
It’s important to understand that sincerity is not a stand-alone virtue in and of itself. A person can be sincerely wrong, after all. A person must be sincere in believing and doing the RIGHT thing.
Just because someone sincerely believes that the earth is flat doesn't mean that the earth will no longer rotates on its axis. And just because someone is sincere in his belief that Baal, Janus, or Krishna are 'gods' does not affect the truth. It’s only when sincerity is applied to our search for God and His truth that pleases Him (Matt. 6:33; Jer. 29:13). Jesus was instructive to a Samaritan woman seeking for truth:
Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; WE KNOW WHAT WE WORSHIP, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him MUST worship in spirit AND truth.” (John 4:21-24)
Personal conviction and sincerity can be good motivator for your quest for truth but it is not an all-sufficient guide. Yes, a person can be sincere, but he/she can be sincerely wrong.
Let's learn from the words of a noted preacher, to wit:
"If you sincerely drink poison, it will kill you: if you sincerely cut your throat, you will die. If you sincerely believe a lie, you will suffer the consequences. You must not only be sincere, but you must be right."--Charles Spurgeon
| RDH
Comments