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It’s interesting to me to see how, for some false doctrines, “evidences” which have already been proven false are still being widely taught as proof of the doctrine. And people believe them, even though true data would not be hard to find. An example of this is what could be labeled the “doctrine of crowns,” which states that ungodly people can reach heaven (provided they believe a few necessary facts); however, they will receive fewer “crowns,” which are given to the saints to cast at the feet of Jesus. So really, the doctrine states that when a believer isn’t godly, Jesus loses praises, but the person escapes without any damage. In some circles this doctrine is held so widely that someone who wishes to mention it hardly has to mention more than the word crowns, and most, if not all, of his listeners will understand his meaning.

Given the widespread acceptance for this doctrine, one might expect to find it enunciated rather clearly in the pages of Scripture, or at least hinted at. However, a survey of the twenty-one New Testament verses containing either crown or crowns (Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2, John 19:5, I Corinthians 9:25, Philippians 4:1, I Thessalonians 2:19, II Timothy 4:8, James 1:12, I Peter 5:4, Revelation 2:10, 3:11, 4:4, 4:10, 6:2, 9:7, 12:1, 12:3, 13:1, 14:14, and 19:12) shows no evidence at all for the idea of crowns as special, variable rewards for holiness. The only mention of casting crowns down is found in Revelation 4, where it refers to “four and twenty elders” who cast down their crowns and praise God.

Matthew 20 records one of Christ’s parables which casts doubt on the idea of crowns:

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,  Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee.  Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Matthew 20:1-16)

This parable definitely gives no support to the idea that God “pays” His servants a “salary” based on how much they served Him. We can’t give God anything that He couldn’t get without us, and it is only His mercy that we aren’t consumed despite our best efforts. “So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” (Luke 17:10) So obedience is not something that we give to God as a special service; rather, it is our duty. “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” (Titus 1:16) Many more verses could be cited, some of which have been mentioned in other articles on this site. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

Despite the strong evidence to the contrary, many people still believe in this “doctrine of crowns.” Some have been taught it for years and are unable to break their pre-conceived ideas. But for others, the primary reason to believe this doctrine is its convenience. It’s much easier to believe that if I am evil, I will still be able to go to heaven, than to believe that wickedness will make me go to eternal torment. So we try to fit our ideas into the Bible, rather than allowing the Bible to shape our viewpoint. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44)

It’s easy to ignore the truth, despite the evidence, because truth tends to be harder to follow than error. John 18:38 describes how Pilate, under conviction, sought to evade the truth: “Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.”

For many years, apologists have sought to defend the Bible using logic, archeology, and other such evidences. However, when someone is unwilling to follow God, evidence will not sway him. God has already given enough evidence for a truly seeking soul to find Him. A portion of Psalm 19 explains God’s manifestations:

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. (Psalms 19:1-6 KJV)

Romans 1:20-21 powerfully expands this:

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

It’s important to realize that trying to “prove” God’s existence, or the truth of the Bible, is different from proving doctrines from the Bible, because, as we’ve seen, God has given enough evidence for His existence to every seeking soul. But true faith comes by hearing the Word of God, so it is important for us to be spreading that Word. When we spend our time “proving” the Scripture instead of teaching it, we may miss the opportunity to actually bring someone to faith in God. Instead of focusing on convincing someone’s intellect, we need to focus on helping him submit his will to God’s. “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” (John 7:17)

As it is fairly useless to try to convince someone’s intellect to follow Christianity, rather than their heart, because God has already shone a light in the heart of man, so there comes a point where someone who hardens his heart against God’s truth will no longer be moved by the Scripture. “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” (Hebrews 6:4-6) If someone refuses to submit to God, and hardens his heart, there comes a point when his soul can no longer be moved to follow God. “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” (Proverbs 29:1)