QUESTION:
A man who visits my website ministry recently asked my why so many preachers
disagree on various doctrinal matters, when they are all indwelt by the SAME
Holy Spirit. Good question!
MY RESPONSE:
Hey An*****,
I see what you are asking. Keep in mind that God has given to humanity a freewill. We all have the privilege and ability to make out own decisions. God never forces anyone to be saved. Obviously the earth cannot be young and old. Only one is true. One is a theory, the other is fact. I am fully convinced of an old earth. We have scientific evidence of an old earth. Dinosaurs, according to science, lived millions of years ago. The Bible even says in Psalms 102:25, "Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands." Dr. John R. Rice believed in a young earth, who founded the Sword of the Lord. His successor, Dr. Curtis Hutson, believed in an old earth. Both men cannot be right! I agree with Curtis Hutson. I think Dr. Rice was wrong, respectfully.
One of the reasons why such doctrinal matters are debated over is because the Bible does not explicitly tell us that the rapture will be before the Tribulation. The Bible does not explicitly say that there was a place in the Old Testament called "Paradise." Yet, Jesus told the repentant thief on the cross that they would, that very day, be together in "Paradise." However, Jesus said the Father would not leave His soul in "hell." The Bible says Jesus spent three days and nights in the heart of the earth. Therefore, I can only conclude that Hades (Hell) is compartmentalized, with the place of Torment on one side and the place of Paradise on the other, which is what Luke 16:19-31 teaches. I love Pastor Steven Anderson, but he denies a place called Paradise. He teaches that Jesus burned in Hell for three days! I totally disagree. I can understand your sincere frustration. The reason for the discrepancies is that men have a freewill, and we are often MISLED by preconceived ideas set forth by other theologians, or preachers, prejudices, or plain ole ignorance. The Holy Spirit is 100% perfect, holy and blameless! But we as humans are flawed, corruptible and weak.
Also, I have learned that everyone is on a different place on the path, or journey, to truth. When web visitors tell me off, spewing hate, I love them and am very patient with them, because I know that the truth offends people at first. However, once that seed of truth is planted, it will begin to be used of God to work on that person's soul. I have received countless letters from people who said they hated me 5 years ago, and thought I was a nut, after seeing my websites, but the seed of truth had been planted and over time led to their salvation, and now they love me and agree with much of what I say (but few people ever say they agree with everything I say, which is fine with me). My goal has never been to get people to agree with me; but rather, to do their own homework and make their own conclusions. I don't think it is okay to just believe whatever you want. But I know it is important for people to know WHY they believe what they believe. I don't ever want someone to merely follow me, because I could be wrong. We all must give account before God one day as INDIVIDUALS (Romans 14:10-12). So following others can be a dangerous thing, if they are headed over a cliff.
I agree with you An*****. You would think that all Bible-believers, since we all share the SAME indwelling Holy Spirit, would come to the same conclusions. And this is true. Keep this in mind. EVERY born-again believer WILL agree on the deity of Jesus, the Godhead (Trinity), the sinless perfection of Christ, Jesus' vicarious (substitutionary) death on the cross, Jesus' burial, His bodily resurrection three days later, the necessity of the literal blood sprinkled on the heavenly Mercy Seat, the virgin birth of Jesus, and that the Holy Bible is God's Word). These are 100%, rock solid, irrefutable, fundamental Bible doctrines! Where many men of God differ is on the non-essential doctrines; such as, an Old Testament place called Paradise (this is not the Catholic fraud of Purgatory), the timing of the Rapture, the age of the earth, Zionism, Dispensationalism, marriage and divorce and remarriage, storehouse tithing, church authority, when the Church began, speaking in tongues, et cetera. So we must differentiate between every believer agreeing on the fundamentals of the Christian faith, verses the same believers disagreeing on non-essential doctrines. I think this is a good way to look at things.
I hope that helps a bit.
Have a good day,
