The Lighted Way

Part 5: Can the Relgious Majority Be Wrong?
How can so many good Christian people be wrong about the day God wants them to keep holy? Surely, they can't be unwittingly disobeying God?

Already in the first four studies, we are beginning to see that the Bible stresses Seventh-day Sabbath observance. You may still be allowing for the possibility that there is a Bible text somewhere that tells us Sunday has replaced Sabbath.

But, you must also allow for the probability that such a text does NOT exist. After all, we've already touched on the fact that Mark still called Saturday the Sabbath long after Jesus had left.

So, how can we account for the fact that Sunday is THE day in modern Christendom? Actually, there is a study to come which will address how Saturday became Sunday. And it didn't happen Biblically at all. But, as usual, we don't want you to take our word for it. So lets take it step by step. First regarding the majority of the Christian world, you must honestly ask yourself, "Is TRUTH a democratic thing?" Does popular vote determine what is TRUTH?

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Before we get into a deep historical examination of the majority and truth - let's take some quick historical snapshots:

1) The majority of the scientific world once believed the world was flat.

2) Democracy and individual freedom must be WRONG because only a minority of mankind enjoy it.

3) The majority of the religious world, in Jesus' day, put Him to death on the cross as a CRIMINAL (but that made Him no less their Savior).

It seems that popular opinion has very little to do with truth. But, now lets look a little deeper. Here are some poignant Bible examples of courageous people who stood in the minority.

1) If we stand on God's side - for TRUTH - do we have to worry about an opposing side? ( Romans 8:31 & 38-39)

A memorable Bible example of majority opinion is found in the story of Noah. Read Genesis chapters 6 and 7. Now ask yourself, out of a world that many historians believe was AS POPULATED as our world is today, how many people were truly following God? Only EIGHT!

2) What will it be like in the end of time - are the majority more enlightened now? ( Matthew 24:37)

God is not limited by small numbers. In the story of Gideon, ONLY 300 men followed him to obey the Lord's command. Yet with God with them, they vanquished tens of thousands of men in the opposing army. (see Judges 6:11-8:10)

Elijah stood alone on Mount Carmel. He alone was telling the Israelites that God in Heaven was the only Deity. There were many prophets of Baal. The King and Queen were against him.

3) Who was on God's side that day? Elijah or everyone else? ( 1 Kings 18:20-22)

What about the three Hebrews known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego? They were told that, if they didn't bow down and worship the golden image of Babylon's king like everyone else, they would be thrown in a furnace of fire!

Did they surrender to the treats and bow down? (see Daniel chapter 3).

4) What happened to the three Hebrews because they stood alone?

Christ Himself, our Living Example, was in the minority. The religious leaders of His day were so offended by His strange doctrines that they put Him to death.

Perhaps John Locke (the Christian philosopher who inspired the Declaration of Independence) sums it up best:

"An error is not the better for being common,
nor truth the worse for having lain neglected:
and if it were put to the vote anywhere in the world,
I doubt... whether truth would have the majority."

An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Book IV, chapter III, p. 465.

5) What did John Locke think about the majority and truth?

We have talked about Jesus being our Example, after Whom we are to pattern our lives. So, lets study to learn what day Jesus kept holy? This will be the topic of our next study.

Do you have any further questions at this time?