Much of Today’s Theological Error Is Being Driven by Fear

by Stuart DiNenno

I am convinced, because of numerous discussions I have had on social media over the last several years, that there is a great deal of heresy being advocated today which is being driven by defeatism, cowardice, and effeminacy. Of course, doctrinal error is always misrepresented as truth obtained as a result of a sincere and unbiased examination of the Scriptures but I believe that the real impetus behind the embracing of many false doctrines today is a desire to be inoffensive to the ungodly, to not come into conflict with the world, and to continue living a safe and comfortable life that requires no sacrifices. Much of it is merely spineless infidelity expressed through conveniently twisted theology and backed up by a lot of exegetical hogwash that is not worth repeating. It is only necessary to know the real reasons behind the assertions made by the heretics pushing their poison.

Some examples:

“We cannot pray for God to destroy our enemies because the Bible teaches blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…”

Real Reason: Today’s so-called Christians have been made effeminate and are uncomfortable with any concept of destroying their enemies or even asking God to do so, as David did in the Psalms. Christians have to be nice to everyone now, and try to fit in and get along with those who hate God.


“We cannot insist that civil laws be based on biblical laws because the Bible teaches blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…”

Real Reason: Biblical principles of law and justice are diametrically opposed to those of modern society and insisting that they be implemented would bring strong condemnation and opposition. Also, many of today’s so-called Christians are lawless in their own congregations and personal lives, and so any thought of law, which implies obedience, is repugnant to them.


“We cannot expect victory in this world because the Bible teaches blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…”

Real Reason: Victory necessitates fighting and they do not have the backbone for it, so they latch on to defeatist eschatological beliefs that make fighting for victory futile.


“We cannot work toward another reformation of the church because the Bible teaches blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…”

Real Reason: Similar to the last objection. They hold to an eschatology which tells them that we are near the end of the world and that it is too late to accomplish anything, so that they have an excuse for not doing anything that would necessitate making sacrifices.


“We cannot insist that Christianity hold sway over the public sphere because the Bible teaches blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…”

Real Reason: It is much easier to retreat into a little religious bubble than to assert the demands of God’s law and insist on the necessity of conforming our societies to that law, which would bring them into conflict with the ungodly powers.


“We cannot be loyal to those of our own race or ethnic group because the Bible teaches blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…”

Real Reason: The people in the apostate society in which we live have been indoctrinated into the belief that all races are equal and that any form of racial or ethnic loyalty is the evil of racism — but only if you are white — and because the so-called churches do not want to stand against the world, they have adopted the same anti-biblical moral concepts.


“We cannot resist the government powers no matter how evil they become because the Bible teaches blah, blah, blah, blah, blah…”

Real Reason: They want to avoid conflict in the hope that they can live out the rest of their days in peace and comfort, and they have no stomach for resistance, so they read a doctrine of unlimited submission into biblical passages that speak of civil government authority, such as in Romans 13.