Isaiah 29:24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

I have been reading the works of a doctor of divinity that has been labeled a heretic by the Catholic Church. I will concede that their attack on the man’s writings were with cause. Heresy I did not find. What I did find was an error in spirit in how he approached his feelings about the Catholic Church.

An open attack upon a man’s religion invites hostility and does not make for peace. His error in spirit put millions of people at risk of never discovering the blessings of insight into many a difficult position in scripture.

Was everything he wrote perfect? No of course not, he was an academic. His writings are full of beautiful convincing words. His intellect was evident in every expression. He was not right in every aspect. Should I ignore all the good in favor of self-protection? I choose not to do that. Can others?

Truth comes in the form of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

The Spirit of Truth which is in you and instructs you in all things in the Lord, will show you error, and show you how to deal with it, if you will but listen and obey.

Going about labelling people because they err does not correct their behavior nor their doctrine. It will disconnect you from any good that they might do in the name of the Lord.

A great mystery of God is His ability to use flawed people to bless flawed people. 

Acts 18:28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.

John 8:9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Convinced vs conviction, this is what Con V Con was meant to say. I say there is a very big difference between the two, but that is only my opinion. Therein lies the real difference between the two.

The Jews of Paul’s time held an opinion as to what the scriptures meant. Paul could reason with them out of the scriptures and convince them that their opinions were flawed. Did Paul convince them unto salvation?

Jesus looked into the heart of each man and wrote out their sins in the dust as they came to stone a woman caught in adultery. Now the law demanded her death, but Jesus pointed out that they too were worthy of death. Their conscience caused a conviction that led to a turning away. This is repentance. Did their conviction save them?

In both cases my opinion is no. It is my opinion from my perspective because I can only look at the outward expression. I have no idea what went on in each man’s heart, nor what they did next. Opinions are but a momentary thing. They can be changed and should always give way to revealed truth.

We are called to be in fellowship with one another. We are meant to have more than a momentary glimpse into each other’s lives. Of what value are conversations which are so shallow and meaningless that they do not touch the heart of a matter?

Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Ephesians 4:25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.