Individualism, Sound Doctrine and the Church

Many Christians believe they trust the Bible as the word of God, but what they actually believe is their own interpretation of the Bible. And that is dangerous for many reasons.

I believe this phenomenon of trusting your own interpretation instead of the book itself is something that has always existed, but I believe it is growing in the church as we progress towards a more individualistic society.

Contrary to what many believe, an individualistic society is not necessarily a community where people live in isolation - even though it might lead to that. But it's a type of community that is "built" around the private interest of individuals, and they are part of that group as far as it's interesting to them. And not only that, but individualism is also a form of self-idolatry. And when you see yourself as the center of everything, you will start "building" an outer world that reflects your inward being.

The polarization we see today in almost every aspect of life is just a result of this more profound problem in which people make their own thoughts and ideas the standard for good living. And they cannot admit people who think and do differently in their world.

And I'm afraid that, in many ways, the church fell prey to the same malady. Many churches today, instead of being this group of disciples who strive together to know Christ and to understand and live according to God's word, have become this group of people who are together for the sake of a common interest.

Look at what the apostle Paul told Timothy in one of his letters: "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Ti 4:3).

I have yet to meet any Christian who admittedly follows unsound doctrine. Everyone believes to be following sound doctrine, but to many, "sound doctrine" is what suits their own passions. And it's in this process that they will find teachers, churches, and theological schemes that reinforce what they already want to believe. And then they put their trust in their own interpretation of the Bible, not in the Bible itself.

May God save us from being led by our own deceitful hearts.

Amen.

Nino Marques