Planning to Fail

It only makes sense. We believe we are right. I mean, why would we think what we think if we didn't think we were right? So we proceed on that premise and argue for our positions because, after all, we're right. The only problem is they also believe they're right and will fight for their positions. And since these positions in the conflict are in opposition, both cannot be right. But that's only a little problem since most of us ignore it and go on with the assumption that our side is right.

Biblically speaking, this isn't a rational position for us to take. Biblically speaking, we ought to anticipate that we're wrong. At least some of the time. Our position shouldn't be "I'm right all the time" but, rather, "I'm pretty sure I'm wrong somewhere. Where might that be?" Why do I make such a bizarre claim? Because of Scripture's dim view of our natural abilities. Way back in Noah's day God said, "The intent of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Gen 8:21). That's not an endorsement. Jeremiah said, "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" (Jer 17:9). That's not a positive statement. Paul said that due to Man's sin condition, "they became futile in their speculations" (Rom 1:21). Believing they were wise, "they became fools" (Rom 1:22). He said natural man lacks the capability to understand the things of the Spirit of God (1 Cor 2:14). Not looking good for humans. But then it gets worse. Not only does our sin condition give us diminished capacity, we have further effects from Satan. "The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving" (2 Cor 4:4). We are, mentally speaking, in real trouble.

We need help. Paul told believers "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom 12:2). That's because sin has caused us to be blind to our error. It's not hopeless, but it is a problem. We are not reliable thinkers. We need a reliable truth source. What is that reliable source? Jesus said He was Truth (John 14:6) He said God's Word is truth (John 17:17). The Bible says that Scripture is "profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" and sufficient to equip God's people "for every good work" (2 Tim 3:16). We need to expect to be wrong. We need to anticipate that some of what we believe is in error. We need to plan to fail in our understanding and thinking and learn to lay it alongside God's Word to figure out what is and isn't true. If you find that Scripture always agrees with your thinking, you can be fairly certain that you're not reading Scripture for what it says because we all need renewing of the mind and there are no exceptions.