Preconceived notions!

V23 n9

2Tim 4:3 For a time is coming when they will not tolerate wholesome instruction, but, wanting to have their ears tickled, they will find a multitude of teachers to satisfy their own fancies; 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and will turn aside to fables. (Weymouth translation)

From the moment a person arrives or enters this world (John 3:3-8), the process of learning or developing begins immediately. What one learns, and how they develop, is determined by the people or family that is around them. So, what one learns, is greatly influenced by those that are around them. And later in life, by the people that one associates with on a continual basis. (Amos 3:3, 1Cor 15:33).

As a person begins to develop in this life, they are seldom aware of how much they have learned, as well as what they have learned. They have very little comprehension of what they have learned of the ways of life, by the influence of those that have been around them, or whether what they have learned is good or bad. And, since a trust and confidence was placed in those people that were around us, one took or received all that was said, the examples that were set, the truth as to how one should live their life, as well as how they should conduct themselves in and among society.

Preconceived: to form before hand; as an opinion.

Notion: a general mental conception; and inclination; a desire or whim.

Whim: a fancy; a notion, often unreasonable.

Before Christ came into one’s life, (for those that have accepted Jesus Christ into their life as Lord and savior), one held onto many preconceived notions. These covered areas in one’s life of how they should live, what kind of moral or ethical values one should have, and in some instances even of some kind of relationship with God. (One must also remember, that most were born into a religion, and did not make that choice for themselves, in the beginning). Most often these instructions in life would come in the forms of traditions, cultural customs, rituals, man made doctrines, or whatever other premise that they may have been presented as. In most instances, these formed one’s pattern of thought, as well as how they would respond to any given situation that would arise in one’s life.

Col 2:8 Take care lest there be some one who leads you away as prisoners by means of his philosophy and idle fancies, following human traditions and the world's crude notions instead of following Christ. (Weymouth translation).

Few of us had parents that trained us up in the way for the Lord, and in accordance and agreement with His Word. For many, they were taught and influenced by television and movies, rather then by their parents. This continued as one went to school, and were taught and instructed in the philosophies and traditions of man. Little (if any) of what one was taught and instructed in, pointed them into a closer relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

For many, they grew up under the premise that mouse’s, ducks, chickens, rabbits and such, could talk and think as man is able to. Others, made their heroes to be fictional characters with super powers or strengths. And yet others, learned that witchcraft was okay, if it was portrayed to be used for good. How foolish were, and are these ideas and notions? And yet, even today among religious circles, people use talking vegetables and such, to try to portray and proclaim the kingdom of God. Where exactly in God’s Word, do they find the authority to do these things? Could this be vain imaginations?

The blind leading the blind! This is the best way to describe this sort of people. People seem to be quicker to follow people, then they are to be followers of Christ, and to hear and obey His Word. People even set up three wise men at a manger scene, and claim or purport this to be the Word of God. This causes me to wonder what Bible they are reading, as well as what kind of teachers they have become seduced by. (Matt 2:11).

Rom 1:21 For when they had come to know God, they did not give Him glory as God nor render Him thanks, but they became absorbed in useless discussions, and their senseless minds were darkened. 22 While boasting of their wisdom they became utter fools, 23 and, instead of worshipping the imperishable God, they worshipped images resembling perishable man or resembling birds or beasts or reptiles. 24 For this reason, in accordance with their own depraved cravings, God gave them up to uncleanness, allowing them to dishonour their bodies among themselves with impurity. 25 For they had bartered the reality of God for what is unreal, and had offered divine honours and religious service to created things, rather than to the Creator--He who is for ever blessed. Amen. (Weymouth translation)

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, v. 22. This looks black upon the philosophers, the pretenders to wisdom and professors of it. Those that had the most luxuriant fancy, in framing to themselves the idea of a God, fell into the most gross and absurd conceits: and it was the just punishment of their pride and self-conceitedness. It has been observed that the most refined nations, that made the greatest show of wisdom, were the arrantest (notorious) fools in religion. The barbarians adored the sun and moon, which of all others was the most specious idolatry; while the learned Egyptians worshipped an ox and an onion. The Grecians, who excelled them in wisdom, adored diseases and human passions. The Romans, the wisest of all, worshipped the furies. And at this day the poor Americans worship the thunder; while the ingenious Chinese adore the devil. Thus the world by wisdom knew not God, <1 Cor. 1:21>. As a profession of wisdom is an aggravation of folly, so a proud conceit of wisdom is the cause of a great deal of folly. Hence we read of few philosophers who were converted to Christianity; and Paul's preaching was no where so laughed at and ridiculed as among the learned Athenians, <Acts 17:18-32>. The plain truth of the being of God would not content them; they thought themselves above that, and so fell into the greatest errors. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

Making images of God (v. 23), by which, as much as in them lay, they changed the glory of the incorruptible God. Compare <Ps. 106:20; Jer. 2:11>. They ascribed a deity to the most contemptible creatures, and by them represented God. It was the greatest honour God did to man that he made man in the image of God; but it is the greatest dishonour man has done to God that he has made God in the image of man. This was what God so strictly warned the Jews against, <Deut. 4:15>, etc. This the apostle shows the folly of in his sermon at Athens, <Acts 17:29. See Isa. 40:18>, etc.; 44:10, etc. This is called (v. 25) changing the truth of God into a lie. As it did dishonour his glory, so it did misrepresent his being. Idols are called lies, for they belie God, as if he had a body, whereas he is a Spirit, <Jer. 23:14; Hos. 7:1>. Teachers of lies, <Hab. 2:18>. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

Hab 2:18-20, 18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols? 19 Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake; to the dumb stone, Arise, it shall teach! Behold, it is laid over with gold and silver, and there is no breath at all in the midst of it. 20 But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. (KJV)

Isa 44:9-10, 9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. 10Whohath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? (KJV)

The conduct they were under: Carried away to these dumb idols, even as you were led. They were hurried upon the grossest idolatry, the worship even of stocks and stones, through the force of a vain imagination, and the fraud of their priests practicing on their ignorance, for, whatever were the sentiments of their philosophers, this was the practice of the herd. The body of the people paid their homage and worship to dumb idols, that had ears but could not hear, and mouths but could not speak, <Ps. 115:5-6>. Miserable abjectness of mind! And those who despised these gross conceptions of the vulgar yet countenanced them by their practice. O dismal state of Gentilism! Could the Spirit of God be among such stupid idolators, or they be influenced by it? How did the prince of this world triumph in the blindness of mankind! How thick a mist had he cast over their minds! (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

They did own a supreme Numen in their profession, but they did in effect disown him by the worship they paid to the creature; for God will be all or none. Or, above the Creator, paying more devout respect to their inferior deities, stars, heroes, demons, thinking the supreme God inaccessible, or above their worship. The sin itself was their worshipping the creature at all; but this is mentioned as an aggravation of the sin, that they worshipped the creature more than the Creator. This was the general wickedness of the Gentile world, and became twisted in with their laws and government; in compliance with which even the wise men among them, who knew and owned a supreme God and were convinced of the nonsense and absurdity of their polytheism and idolatry, yet did as the rest of their neighbours did. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)

The true God was known among those primitive inhabitants of the earth; those who first became idolaters literally changed the truth of God into a lie: they did know the true God, but they put idols in his place. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)

This day, who is the God that you serve?

That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ.

Larry Gazelka