Titus 1:14
14 Not [me] giving heed [prosecho] to Jewish [Ioudaikos]
fables [muthos], and [kai] commandments [entole] of
men [anthropos], that turn from [apostrepho] the truth [aletheia]. KJV-Interlinear
14 not paying attention to Jewish
myths and commandments of men who turn away from the truth. NASB
Here are several verses
that shed some light on this subject.
1 Tim. 1:4
4 nor to pay attention
to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather
than furthering the administration of God which is by faith. NASB
2 Tim. 4:4
4 and will turn away
their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths. NASB
1 Tim. 4:7
7 But have nothing to
do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline
yourself for the purpose of godliness; NASB
Col. 2:22
22 (which all refer to
things destined to perish with the using) in accordance with the commandments
and teachings of men? NASB
In every generation of
human history, there are beliefs that find their origins in myths, fables, and
imagination.They are never based on
fact, and certainly not on anything in reality, but they come up and are
repeated so much so, that people take them as real and truthful.
It is often said, that
if something is mentioned often enough, then it will become an accepted truth.
The world was believed
to have been flat for many, many centuries. The earth was thought to have been
the center of the universe. There was
an accepted view of witches and how to deal with them.
And today when we
consider the absurdities of these ideas, we still have our own contemporary
fables and myths.We just happen to be a
little more sophisticated in our false beliefs.
We can list many topics,
and even though you my think that you maintain an open mind, we will sooner or
later mention a topic that will push your button.
Today the controversial
topics are religion, abortion, environmentalism, liberalism, government
participation in anything, socialism, war, how to deal with people who live on
the opposite side of the tracks from where you live, immigration, inter-racial
relationships, and so forth.
If you are alive and
breathing, then you have an opinion, one way or another, on each of these
topics.And even if you have no opinion,
that is still a position of sorts.
So Paul warns us here
and now, that maintaining beliefs, without doctrinal support, is dangerous.
Why?Because doctrine is the mechanism
for teaching you to be objective, and more than that, it is the foundation for
your discernment in life.
Most of life is
irrelevant.Ooops, did I say irrelevant? Perhaps you have forgotten Solomon s words All
is vanity.
And as you grow up, you
will realize, that if you pursue your spiritual life objectively, that nearly
everything in life, everything that we tend to make important, really isn t.
And by the way,
controversies do not have to be earth shattering topics only. They can certainly be little things that get
under your skin, of which there is probably a list a mile long that could
easily be mentioned.
This does not discount
responsibility, honesty, integrity, due process and such things. But your spiritual life depends on your learning
Bible doctrine, not on your participation in human defined norms and standards.
The Bible is the
beginning of learning legitimate norms and standards. Human standards do not define the Bible.
The Bible lays the
foundation for all truth.Your beliefs
do not lay the foundation for the Bible.
How many of these other
topics help in determining your salvation, your spiritual growth, in your
ability to discern truth?None of them.
In fact, when your life
is absent doctrine, then your views on life will be subject to your own
personal interpretation, and throughout the world, mans interpretation is the
basis for justifying anything and everything.
The beginning of wisdom
starts with your respect and recognition of Gods truth. That is what fear of God means. And until you get rid of your preconceived
ideas and rigid attitudes, then you will have a very difficult time in growing
up to your fullest potential in your spiritual life.
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