Articles
A Cautionary Tale on Personal Responsibility
A former Olympic champion, World Cup winner and seven-time world champion in cross-country skiing, Therese Johaug is now barred from racing until mid-April. The 29-year-old star of Norway’s powerhouse squad testing positive for an anabolic agent listed in the contents of a treatment for sunburn, and a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) panel said on Tuesday an 18-month ban was ‘appropriate’” (USAToday online 8/22/17). This decision will bar her from the 2018 Olympics.
“‘I feel I did everything right. I went to an expert who gave me this ointment and I asked him if the cream was on a doping list. The answer I got was no,’ said Johaug. The three CAS judges did not agree she was blameless. ‘The panel noted that Ms. Johaug failed to conduct a basic check of the packaging, which not only listed a prohibited substance as an ingredient but also included (a) clear doping cautionary warning,’ the court said in a statement, noting her case was ‘inconsistent with her otherwise clean anti-doping record’” (ibid).
There is an obvious spiritual metaphor here.
Scripture is often not kind to those who purport to be religious leaders. Jeremiah complains, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place’” (Jer 14:13). This message was completely contradictory to the true prophecy of Jeremiah, which is verified in the next verse: “And the Lord said to me, ‘The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart. Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, “Sword and famine shall not be in this land” – By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed’” (Jer 14:14-15).
In the most scathing rebuke recorded in the gospels, Jesus says to the scribes and Pharisees: “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence … Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness … Serpents and brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?” (Mt 23:25, 27-28, 33).
Malpractice does not only occur among medical doctors; it can be found among “doctors” of God’s law; i.e., theologians, teachers, preachers and authors. Paul warned Timothy of those “desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm” (1 Tim 1:7). It is folly to place one’s spiritual welfare in the hands of men, yet it is a common occurrence among religious people. Why?
It seems safe. After all, they are the “experts.” They’ve studied theology at high levels and learned from accredited institutions. This viewpoint idealizes higher education and assumes much that is not true. Theologians do not go to universities to learn definitive Biblical truth. Seminaries are all over the doctrinal map, and even within a particular denominational discipline there is often a wide variety of views. I have several “systematic theology” books that contain highly divergent viewpoints on what is supposedly basic Bible doctrine. People tend to follow their “favorite” writer or speaker because he appeals to them according to some likeability factor. They do not cross-check their articles or sermons against Scripture.
What they say makes sense. Yes, it is true that theologians and authors write things that are sensible and helpful. I for one have benefited from many things spoken or written by others. But one should not assume that they cannot be mistaken on grave issues. When the Sadducees challenged Jesus on the question of marriage in the afterlife, He responded to these “experts”: “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Mt 22:29). Anyone following the Sadducees’ doctrine about the afterlife was headed down the wrong path (cf. Acts 23:8). Before his conversion Paul was studious, conscientious and well-versed in the Law of Moses but wrong about the Messiah. His scholarship was influenced by the conventional wisdom of his culture. He not only misled people but violently opposed those who were actually correct on the matter.
It (falsely) relieves one of personal responsibility. Reread Therese Johaug’s self-defense: “I went to an expert …”. But she didn’t read the label on the bottle that was clearly noted in plain language, not in some medical gobbledygook that was over the head of the average person. She was either deliberately negligent (setting the stage for plausible deniability) or just plain careless. Johaug tearfully complained about the judgment against her, “I am heart-broken ... I feel I was unfairly treated.” Regardless, the court didn’t consider her explanation sufficient to exonerate her.
In the religious world there are beliefs and practices that ignore or flat out contradict plain Bible teaching. It is not a matter of being a theologian; a simple, honest reading of the Scripture should tell you that something is amiss. For example, Catholics have concocted an elaborate system of veneration of Mary and teaching about her that has absolutely no basis in Scripture. Also, the practice of baptizing babies is contradictory to all of the Scriptural examples and precepts that define what baptism is. Yet it has been practiced for centuries, plain truth notwithstanding. Read. Think. Question. Don’t be afraid to say, “That doesn’t add up.
The bottom line is that we are each responsible for our own souls. That means seeking to learn the will of God as He has expressed it and not entrusting that duty to others. When it comes to our eternal welfare we must present our conscience directly to God for His approval. This does not mean that others cannot help us in this endeavor, for we are commanded to edify one another via teaching (1 Tim 4:1-8, 11-16; 2 Tim 2:2; etc.). But even then we must grow in our thinking so that we can evaluate what we hear and determine its truthfulness for ourselves.
The remorse of missing the Olympics is one thing. We do not want to experience the tragedy of missing heaven by being misled (Mt 7:21-23).
