Where is "cognitive dissonance" in the Bible?
Where is "cognitive dissonance" in the Bible?
John 6:59-60 "These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. 60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?"
The context of this verse was after Jesus had performed the miracle of the 5 loaves and 2 fishes, and the great multitude that were with him saw how he was able to feed the 5,000 men excluding women and children with them, and yet they murmured at his sayings.
They murmured: "This is an hard saying; who can hear it?"
When people with cognitive dissonance are challenged with evidences that contradict their core beliefs, it creates an immense psychological stress in them. And because it is so important to protect that core belief, they will rationalize, ignore or even willfully deny the facts in order to protect their core beliefs.
To these people who denied the words of the Lord, Jesus answered:
John 6:61 "When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?"
Indeed, it was something that they could not accept that offended them, and because it is so important to protect their core beliefs, this was what they did:
John 6:66 "¶ From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him."
They rather walk away from the truth, than to accept the truth for what it says, and allow the truth to modify their beliefs. Bear in mind that those were "disciples" of Jesus Christ. They saw him in person, and they heard his teachings in person, yet they chose to deny his words and walk no more with him.
Proverbs 13:13 "Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded."
These disciples in essence "despiseth the word," and according to this verse, it shall not be well with them.
Proverbs 29:1 "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."
Again, we read in this verse that he being often reproved "hardeneth his neck" shall be suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy. That is to say that, there will be no help from the LORD. Why?
Isaiah 66:4 "I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not."
Isaiah tells us that "because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear..." And because of that, the LORD will also choose their delusions so that they should continued to be deceived. Paul further tells us in:
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
Notice the words "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved..." Those disciples of Jesus Christ who chose to walk not more with him because the truth does not gel with their core beliefs have not the "love of the truth" in them, and for this cause, God has sent them "strong delusion" that they should believe in a lie, so that their end would be to perish i.e. they shall be suddenly destroyed, and that without remedy.
Project the above to the year AD 2022. How many churches have chosen to forsake the truth and walk not more with the Lord? How many churches have forsaken "the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6) for the false doctrines (dispensationalism, decisionism, textual criticism, statism, etc) that they love?
Matthew 7:13-14 "¶ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."
Jesus tells us in these verses that "wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and MANY there be which go in thereat..." Only very few will find the way that leadeth to life.
There is a massive "cognitive dissonance" happening in churches across the globe, and many are on the broad way that leadeth to destruction, all the while being given the assurance that they are right with the LORD, when in fact, they are on "the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death." (Proverbs 7:27)