Often, we deem ourselves as stable in God’s truth when we can remember the ten articles of faith of True Jesus Church, or the five basic doctrines we can comfortably recite in order without referring to the back of our hymn book. 

However, is this truly sufficient to ensure that we can stay strongly grounded in God’s truth, amid the rolling winds of every other false doctrine? 

Awareness of ourselves

To stay grounded in God’s truth goes beyond just knowing our articles of faith and basic doctrines. It requires us to go deeper by studying the scripture to find out God’s exact instruction and what He wants us to do. Coupled with this, we will also need humility to admit that such knowledge requires constant studying and re-visiting of the scripture. 

From my experience, sometimes telling ourselves that ‘we still don’t know enough’ serve as a motivation to study God’s scripture again and again - and each time, there can be new discovery of bible verses, or another part of the bible that helps us further solidify our knowledge and concept of a certain doctrine. In fact, it helps even more if we can find time to compile all related bible verses and instructions from God on the same topic together. 

When we do our part in learning God’s truth well, we also grow in spiritual maturity, moving from milk to solid food - which helps us to eventually know how to discern the truth from other convincing, yet false concepts (Hebrews 5:14). We can also request from God wisdom to understand His truth and God will gladly help us (James 1:5). 

Awareness of others

Apart from doing our part to gird ourselves with the Truth, part of preventing us from being carried by other winds of doctrine would be to understand what others are preaching. Through that, we can develop ways that assist us in defending God’s truth. When we take the additional step to prepare for this, it is not just strengthening our spiritual discernment, but leading others to discover the Truth too.  

It is part of a soldier’s duty to sometimes fight battles in harsh, windy conditions. Similarly, as soldiers of Christ, facing winds that have the ability to influence our understanding of the truth when we are not discerning is inevitable. However, if we do our part and seek God’s wisdom  for His truth, we can be assured that God will also help us in staying grounded amid the rolling winds.