The dangers of being unteachable

 

The quote "There are no solutions. There are only trade-offs." is attributed to *Thomas Sowell* in his book "A Conflict of Visions: Ideological Origins of Political Struggles”. Sowell is an American economist, and social theorist, who emphasizes that in the realm of politics, perfect solutions are elusive, and decisions often involve making difficult trade-offs between competing interests. Rather than seeking ideal solutions, we must navigate the complexities by finding compromises that balance various needs and priorities. This perspective acknowledges the inherent limitations and complexities of political decision-making.

The forward for Sowell’s book reads, “Controversies in politics arise from many sources, but the conflicts that endure for generations or centuries show a remarkably consistent pattern. In this classic work, Thomas Sowell analyzes this pattern. He describes the two competing visions that shape our debates about the nature of reason, justice, equality, and power: the "constrained" vision, which sees human nature as unchanging and selfish, and the "unconstrained" vision, in which human nature is malleable and perfectible. A Conflict of Visions offers a convincing case that ethical and policy disputes circle around the disparity between both outlooks.”

“A generation of the unteachable is hanging upon us like a necklace of corpses.” ― George Orwell

And that is exactly where this will lead to, corpses, or should I say yet more corpses, since this type of unteachability has already led to the loss of life. Stupid people may frighten me, especially when their idiocy is manifested collectively by an entire group of unteachable fools who subscribe to the same flawed thinking. But more frightening yet are intelligent people who similarly reject the use of reason while collectively using their rejection of Godly wisdom to control others. This class of educated fool Paul referred to in 2nd Timothy 3:7, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

There are several scriptures that highlight the dangers of having an unteachable spirit:

1. **Proverbs 16:18** states, "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a great fall"¹. This suggests that an unteachable spirit, often a sign of pride, can lead to destruction and failure.

2. **1 John 4:6** says, "We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood"². This implies that those who refuse to listen, or are unteachable, are not from God.

3. **Proverbs 26:12** (Amplified Bible) reads, "Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit? There is more hope for a fool than for him"³⁵. This scripture warns of the dangers of being unteachable and full of self-conceit.

4. **Colossians 3:12** says, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility gentleness, and patience"⁴. This scripture speaks to the need for humility, which is the opposite of an unteachable spirit.

These scriptures emphasize the importance of being teachable and humble, and warn of the dangers and consequences of being unteachable. It's important to remain open to learning and growth in our spiritual journey.

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2024-02-26

(1) Having A Teachable Spirit - LTM. https://ltmorlando.org/unbelief-having-a-teachable-spirit/.

(2) Spirit of Error - Unteachable Part 1 - Faith is the Evidence. https://www.faiththeevidence.com/fte-blog/spirit-of-error-unteachable-part-1.

(3) Proverbs 26:12 AMP - Do you see a man [who is unteachable - Bible Gateway. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs%2026%3A12&version=AMP.

(4) The Sin of an Unteachable Spirit - CultureWatch. https://billmuehlenberg.com/2018/05/03/the-sin-of-an-unteachable-spirit/.

(5) Appendix: The Plight of Being Unteachable | Bible.org. https://bible.org/seriespage/appendix-plight-being-unteachable.

Today I am witnessing an unteachable Church that is weak, broken, and divided making it ill equipped to counter the leading false teachings of our time. In fact, I find most fellowships entirely disinterested in even mentioning how Postmodernism and Critical Theory have combined in an unholy union to create the prevailing fad of WOKE ideas infecting our children’s minds. The loss of Classical education and a clear understanding of the importance of Christianity to our legal systems and government has left society engaged in the single greatest act of pride and hubris, namely attempting to create our own value structure.

Nietzsche predicted that the rejection of God would lead to all of the totalitarian conflicts of the 20th Century when he wrote, “God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?” ― Friedrich Nietzsche

I can state with absolute assurance that the ridiculous nature of our Postmodern Zeitgeist combined with the power of technology powered by AI will soon create a species of hell on earth we are incapable of imagining if we do not repent and find our way back to God through Christ. God will not be mocked by the hubris of the fools who are authoring this totalizing enterprise of valueless values which are literally based upon a complete rejection of reality!

Where are the voices crying out in the wilderness opposing this false and Godless ideology? I hear little about this from our Church leaders who continue to feed their flocks pablum instead of the real revelatory meat of the Word of God which is the only antidote for WOKE ideological possession!

The importance of the Word of God to the development of the Anglo-sphere:

The King James Version (KJV), also known as the King James Version Bible (KJVB) and the Authorized Version (AV) is an Early Modern English translation of the Christian Bible for the Church of England, which was commissioned in 1604 and published in 1611, under sponsorship of the King who was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until his death in 1625. Although he long tried to get both countries to adopt a closer political union, the kingdoms of Scotland and England remained individual sovereign states, with their own parliaments, judiciaries, and laws, both ruled by James in personal union. He was the longest-reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Scotland. The 80 books of the King James Version include 39 books of the Old Testament, 14 books of Apocrypha, and the 27 books of the New Testament.

The King James Version is noted for its "majesty of style" and has been described as one of the most important books in English culture and a driving force in the shaping of the English-speaking world. The King James Version remains the preferred translation of many Christian fundamentalists and religious movements, and it is also considered to be one of the important literary accomplishments of early modern England.

Background for the KJV translation:

Given the perceived need for a new authorized translation, James was quick to appreciate the broader value of the proposal and at once made the project his own. By June 30, 1604, James had approved a list of 54 revisers, although extant records show that 47 scholars actually participated. They were organized into six companies, two each working separately at Westminster, Oxford, and Cambridge on sections of the Bible assigned to them. Richard Bancroft (1544–1610), archbishop of Canterbury, served as overseer and established doctrinal conventions for the translators. The new Bible was published in 1611.

The Epistle Dedicatory and what it has to teach us about how its translators used it to put an end to the totalising enterprise of their day:

Allow me to read but two short excerpts, “And this their contentment doth not diminish or decay, but every day increaseth and taketh strength, when they observe, that the zeal of Your Majesty toward the house of God doth not slack or go backward, but is more and more kindled, manifesting itself abroad in the farthest parts of Christendom, by writing in defence of the Truth, (which hath given such a blow unto that man of sin, as will not be healed,)”

“And now at last, by the mercy of God, and the continuance of our labours, it being brought unto such a conclusion, as that we have great hopes that the Church of England shall reap good fruit thereby; we hold it our duty to offer it to Your Majesty, not only as to our King and Sovereign, but as to the principal Mover and Author of the work: humbly craving of Your most Sacred Majesty, that since things of this quality have ever been subject to the censures of illmeaning and discontented persons, it may receive approbation and patronage from so learned and judicious a Prince as Your Highness is, whose allowance and acceptance of our labours shall more honour and encourage us, than all the calumniations and hard interpretations of other men shall dismay us. So that if, on the one side, we shall be traduced by Popish Persons at home or abroad, who therefore will malign us, because we are poor instruments to make God’s holy Truth to be yet more and more known unto the people, whom they desire still to keep in ignorance and darkness; or if, on the other side, we shall be maligned by self-conceited Brethren, who run their own ways, and give liking unto nothing, but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil; we may rest secure, supported within by truth and innocency of a good conscience, having walked the ways of simplicity and integrity, as before the Lord; and sustained without by the powerful protection of Your Majesty’s grace and favour, which will ever give countenance to honest and christian endeavours against bitter censures and uncharitable imputations.”

The Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire were the totalizing enterprises of their day with the Pope claiming to have the keys to control heaven, earth, and hell along with the authority to forgive sin which obviously belongs to Christ and Christ alone. And now an even more insidious world order is emerging that is utterly godless which makes no reference to Christ. The first demon may have been cast out but seven more which are far worse evils have taken its place!

Matthew 12:43-45 King James Version

43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none.

44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.