Is there some truth to be learned from those who are wrong? Let’s talk about it on Deeper Waters.
My wife struggles with depression. We have a good friend who has recommended literature to us that she has made sure to tell us is not part of the Word of Faith movement. If you don’t know what I mean by that, I mean the people who are “name it, claim it” types. I still want to review any material before I share it with Allie, but I’d like to use this kind of example to illustrate a point.
The Word of Faith movement is wrong. I do not doubt that. Yet there is a way in which there is something true to what they say. It is not in the extra-mental world. You cannot say that you want to be a billionaire and lo and behold, you will wind up being a billionaire. That being said, your attitude can certainly affect whether or not you will become a billionaire. If you regularly tell yourself you have no chance of being successful in business, then you will not be likely to reach your goal.
What you declare will not change the outside world, but it will affect you. Psychologists and psychiatrists have lately been seeing tremendous value in what is called “Cognitive-behavioral therapy” and I would add in that I think it’s Scriptural, such as in “As a man thinketh in his heart, so shall he be.” Your thoughts do affect you.
Now I could write a whole post on the effects of this kind of approach, but I choose to not do that. Instead, I’d like to point out that because someone is wrong on the main issues, it does not mean that there is nothing that can be learned from them at all. For instance, we’ve had Jehovah’s Witnesses knock on our door. I do not doubt the JWs have helped many people. I find I can agree with much of their material on the reliability of Scripture. They are wrong on the main issues of course, but I will take what I can.
How about reading liberal scholars of the Bible? By all means do so. Yes. They are wrong on central issues, but they are not without their insights into the text. I have had discussions with groups where I am able to bring up points that have been made by liberal scholars and had them be helpful to the discussion.
What about reading atheists? Again, by all means. Just because someone is wrong on the big issues again does not mean there is nothing to be gained. If anything, you can gain insight into the criticisms of why you believe what you believe and by learning to address those criticisms, you can strengthen your own position. It is incredibly helpful to go into a debate and be sure of what the other side is going to say before they say it.
The Jesuits once said that the philosophers were gifts to the church. Saint Augustine said “All truth is God’s truth.” I encourage readers to be looking for truth wherever they can. Remember, to discount something immediately based on the source is a genetic fallacy. It is wrong for non-Christians to do it to us. Don’t do it to them.
In Christ,
Nick Peters
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