DOUBT (POOLE) 1989

One of the major tenants of the Arminian's religion is that its adherents must believe with all their heart, and never ever doubt. To doubt, (they say) is to make God a liar; a crime of the deepest hue, and worst magnitude. This has never been fully explained to us, but that is what they say; and "take it or leave it" seems to pervade their stance. And who wants to make God a liar?

While this may not seem too ominous to the new convert, it certainly will aggrieve the woeful sinner that has been far enough down the road to experience a few things for himself. If, for instance, we feel the Word of God condemns some particular activity of ours, will we not sense some condemnation for it? And if we feel some condemnation, then is it not probable that we will be led of the Spirit to examine ourselves? To what purpose would we examine ourselves if there was not at least some little cause for doubt? If you were satisfied beyond a peradventure of your standing before the Lord could you possibly be induced to inquire of yourself as to whether your standing before the Lord was true or false? Simply put, if we sin, and we do, then we are subject to doubts and inquiries.

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" II Corinthians 13:5. That the word whether means "if" needs no proving to the honest soul. Except means "unless" in this text, again raising a question of the possibility of one not being what they once thought they were. It is important here too, to see that the Apostle broached this inquiry to those Corinthians after he had accused their assembly of failing to repent of uncleanness, fornication, and lasciviousness (loose living) II Cor 12:21. Can it be believed that we any less need such an examination in our daily lives? To refuse to examine ourselves is tantamount to saying we are fully established, live in perfect holiness at all times, and "know" we are going to heaven when we die. We cannot speak for others, but for ourselves we feel far, far too much the inward working of sin and unbelief to ignore the admonition.

On one occasion a poor sinner was recorded as saying, "Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." Mark 9:24. Had there been any of today's modern breed of Arminians there to hear him they would no doubt have rushed upon this wretched unbeliever and severely rebuked him for such a comment. "You had better get saved friend, before it is everlastingly too late. Accept the Saviour before He withdraws the Spirit. Tomorrow's sun may never rise; act now!! Repent! Turn or burn! ....etc, etc, add nauseam." Would their harangue be of any benefit to the sad bemoaner? Only to the extent that it would compel him to flee their company as soon as possible. Sooner far he had rather be alone with his doubts, fears, and unbelief than to endure their sanctimonious company. And so too had the poor little children of the Heavenly King today rather be isolated from all fellowship than to walk with the arrogant Arminians that feel God owes them heaven and happiness because they do not doubt.

J.F. Poole