Have you ever had someone tell you, “It doesn’t matter what you believe, just so long as you are sincere.”? That statement has been made many times by lots of different people. Another popular saying/belief is, “All religions lead to heaven so it doesn’t matter which one you take, as long as you are sincere.”
In Christianity sincerity is absolutely necessary. But sincerity can also be a very dangerous thing. It can be dangerous for at least two reasons. First, a person can be absolutely certain and sincere in their beliefs and practices and still be absolutely wrong. An excellent example is Saul of Tarsus (later known as the apostle Paul). Notice what he said about himself as he stood trial for his actions. “Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, “Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day” (Acts 23:1). Saul sincerely believed that he was taking appropriate action against the followers of Christ. “For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers” (Galatians 1:13, 14). But he was sincerely wrong. When a person clings to a wrong belief, no matter how sincere, they are putting themselves and those who follow them in eternal danger.
Second, sincerely held wrong beliefs are difficult to change. Because a person is so sincere in their belief they are reluctant, and often absolutely refuse, to change. Again, look to Saul of Tarsus as an example. It took a blinding experience and conversation with Jesus of Nazareth to convince Saul to change his beliefs (Acts 9:1-19). Of course, Jesus had another reason for visiting Saul at that time. He was qualifying Saul to be one of His apostles. But since the age of miracles has past (cf. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13), while some people may still need a shocking experience to convince them of the error of their ways, we should not expect Jesus to appear to someone as He did to Saul in order to convince that person to become a disciple of Him. Because of the deep sincerity with which some hold their erroneous beliefs and, sometimes, because of family or friendship ties, they refuse to abandon those beliefs and practices in order to follow truth. Remember, it is truth that makes us free (John 8:32), not the sincerity of an erroneous belief.
As stated earlier, while sincerity can be a dangerous thing it is also a necessary thing. Thirteen times in the New Testament some form of the word is used urging us to be sincere in our beliefs and actions. Our love for God and for one another must be sincere, not fake (2 Corinthians 6:6; 8:8; Philippians 1:10; 1 Peter 1:22). Our obedience, whether to God or to those in this life whom we must obey, must be sincere (Ephesians 6:5; Colossians 3:22). Above all, our faith must be sincere (1 Corinthians 5:8; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Timothy 1:5). Other passages could be added to this list, but suffice it to say that God is capable of recognizing an insincere faith. If our commitment to Him is anything less than wholehearted we might as well make no commitment at all.
Sincerely commit your life to following the truth of Jesus. Not only will you be blessed in this life. You will also be rewarded in the life to come.
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