One tourist exploring adventure tourism reached a remote village in a deep forest. There were a few boys who were wearing T-shirts with strange slogans. One slogan: Go, Hang yourself! Others were advertisements for alcoholic drinks and cigarettes. When he enquired about the writings on their T-shirts, they were not aware as they did not know the English language. Some even tried to give their interpretations. However, those who know English when they read those messages would be misled and misguided.
Ignorance: They were carrying a message, out of ignorance. Yet, if someone reads the message: ‘Go, Hang Yourself,’ and hangs himself, it will be a murder. Ignorance cannot be an excuse for the murder. Sadly, many religions are like the boys, who spread messages out of ignorance and do not know the truth. Instead of searching for truth, most prefer to live in ignorance and propagate ignorance and superstitions.
Misinterpretation: Some boys thought that the tourist also did not know the language, hence gave some explanation. In the same way, many religions will claim secret knowledge or key to wisdom or sacred language, and only some priests can interpret that, and common people are misled.
Free: Out of necessity, when they needed to dress, they got those T-shirts free from a social welfare organization. It helped them in their context, but inadvertently, they were spreading a message, they would not have liked to. Satan also used many people including religious leaders as instruments of unrighteousness, bringing suffering, loss, and even eternal death. (Romans 6:13)
Benefactor: Some realized the messages were not right and good. Yet, they wanted to be loyal to the benefactors. Loyalty to those who helped them was a primary value and not the truth. It is no wonder when we see many people wish to be loyal to their ancestors, culture, and traditions, and reject the truth of the gospel. They even state a person worth his salt should be loyal to their ancestors and follow their way of life.
Am I walking in truth and interpreting the truth to others?