This week the analysis continues of the lead article of Leroy Garrett’s Last Time Around from October, 1995. A woman had written him a letter which he published. Much of his article responds to this sentence: “All these years I have been able to ignore this ‘in error’ applied to others but not ourselves.”
The reader can tell that the editor is delighted with this sentence since it affords him the opportunity to launch into one of his favorite themes. Garrett writes: “As for this ‘in error’ mentality, it is a judgment that one will find only in Churches of Christ. I am not sure how or why it got started. It is a dubious construct, reflective of our inability to see ourselves as others see us. Even when we refer to others in the Movement who have been baptized, we refer to them as ‘brothers in error.’ If there are Christians in other churches, which we often question, they too are ‘brothers in error.’ I have never in all these years heard anyone among us refer to ourselves as ‘in error.’ It is always others who are ‘in error,’ not ourselves.”
Is it true that the “in error” mentality is found only in Churches of Christ? One wonders if Leroy has ever heard of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He may be unaware of it, but there are some fairly staunch Calvinists who would not hesitate to say that those who subscribe to the opposite doctrine (in this case, the Truth) are “in error.”
Anyway, the point should not be how many groups would say such a thing; the question is, “What does the Bible say?” So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen…” (2 Chron. 33:9). The people were in error–spiritual and moral error.
Consider these two statements in Isaiah: “O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths” (3:12b); “For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed” (9: 16). Jeremiah 23:13 states: “And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.”
Would Leroy like to convince God that this “in error” mentality is of dubious construct? When people embrace lies in place of the truth, they are “in error.” It’s that simple.
“Thus saith the Lord; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the Lord, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked” (Amos 2:4). Just as people can walk in the truth (3 John 3), so can they walk in error, according to the Scriptures.
The reason that people are “in error” is that they are like the Sadducees, not knowing the Scriptures (Matt. 22:29). Jesus warned the disciples, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Saducees” (Matt. 16:6). Later, they understood that he referred to their teaching (Matt. 16:12). They were “in error” on their teaching!
What else could Jesus mean when He refers to them as “blind leaders of the blind” (Matt. 15:14) except that, like many religious leaders of today, they are in error and teaching error. James says that brethren who wander from the truth must be turned back; those outside of truth must be brought back from the error of their ways (and are even called “sinners” instead of brethren). Peter speaks of those who “live in error” (2 Peter 2: 18) and warns against being led away with “the error of the wicked” (2 Peter 3:17). Hopefully, these few passages will serve to provide Mr. Garrett the origin of the concept.
“As Others See Us”Leroy seems concerned about how others see us. It is always nice to be well-liked, well-thought-of. But whatever men think must take second place behind what God thinks? Elijah, Jeremiah, and Amos were not highly regarded in the community. Jesus was hated by the religious leaders of His day. In teaching the truth, He offended them (Matt. 15: 12). “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Likewise, we must teach truth regardless of how those “in error” feel about it.
“The Movement”Many people are baptized for the remission of their sins, including Mormons. Why does Garrett choose to use this phrase? And whom does he include in it? Wouldn’t it be better to use Scriptural terminology so that we all might understand what he means?
ARE WE “IN ERROR”?Garrett seems surprised that we do not refer to ourselves as “in error.” Is this phenomenon really a mystery? The Bible says, “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God…” (1 Peter 4:11). Would it not be the height of folly to tell someone, “I don’t know the truth; I am in error. But come and let me teach you anyway”?
“Buy the truth and sell it not,” Proverbs 23:23 advises, and the New Testament likewise emphasizes this sentiment. “Sanctify them through thy truth,” the Lord prayed, and added, “Thy word is truth. “Others may not care about Truth, but members of the Lord’s church do. For such reasons we study carefully and are willing to test our beliefs in public debate. Liberals seem unwilling to do so, and we can’t help wondering why. We sincerely believe we are teaching and practicing the truth, but if someone thinks we are “in error,” let him point out the error and be willing to discuss it rather than hide behind vague innuendoes.
Nonsense Versus God’s SenseLeroy further pontificates: “It is nonsense because no such distinction can be drawn between those ‘in error’ and those who are not. We are all in error about some things, unless we presume that both our knowledge and behavior are perfect…” Anyone who is not absolutely stupefied by the preceding statements needs to read them again. Garrett believes that one cannot distinguish between those “in error” and those not. No wonder he can fellowship anyone!
Fortunately, the Word of God teaches no such foolishness. “You reject all those who stray [err, KJV] from Your statutes: for their deceit is falsehood” (Ps. 119:118, NKJ). Notice that: (1) God can distinguish between those in error and those not; (2) He rejects those who do err; and (3) There must be some who do not err from God’s statutes, or there would not have been a psalmist left to record this verse!
Certainly, God knew that all are imperfect, especially in behavior. And He knows that all of us may hold a peculiar view or two, but even so, it is still possible to determine that someone has gone “onward” (2 John 9-11) into “error.”