The Security of Not Knowing Everything

Many believers, even sincere ones, feel an inner pressure to defend every theological position as if the reputation of heaven depended on their ability to win an argument. But beneath the surface of that pressure lies something deeper than doctrine — it is insecurity. For many, certainty has become a substitute for intimacy. Instead of resting in Jesus, they try to anchor their security in knowing all the answers, holding firm positions, and never allowing themselves to say, “I don’t know.  ” But the sign of a mature believer is not that he knows everything — it is that he knows Jesus. Paul said, “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” (1 Corinthians 8:1). Knowledge without love becomes a weapon. Knowledge rooted in love becomes wisdom.

The truth is that people who argue constantly about non-salvation issues — tongues, healing, spiritual gifts, end-times timelines, predestination, interpretations of secondary Scriptures — are often not defending doctrine as much as they’re defending themselves. Their identity is attached to being right. If someone disagrees, they feel personally threatened. And beneath that threat is fear: fear of being wrong, fear of not being enough, fear of losing control, fear of their whole belief system collapsing if one brick gets questioned. But this is not confidence — it is insecurity dressed in religious clothing. Mature believers do not cling to doctrine for identity. They cling to Jesus. Paul said, “I know whom I have believed” (2 Timothy 1:12). Notice he didn’t say “what, ” he said “whom.  ” His faith was not anchored in winning arguments; it was anchored in a living Person.

A man who truly knows Jesus can disagree without disconnecting. He can say, “I see it differently, ” without needing to prove superiority. He can listen without feeling threatened. He can stay in relationship even when interpretations clash. Why? Because his security is relational, not intellectual. People anchored in Christ can admit mystery. They can say, “There are things I don’t fully understand, and that’s okay.  ” But people who lack deep intimacy with Jesus grab onto certainty as a lifeline. They cannot tolerate tension or nuance. They need the world to be black and white because their relationship with Christ isn’t strong enough to hold them in gray areas.

When someone is living from fear instead of relationship, disagreement feels like an attack. So they fight. They quote. They debate. They correct. They tear down. They weaponize Scripture instead of letting Scripture shape them. But the Word of God was never meant to create spiritual bullies — it was meant to form spiritual sons. Jesus Himself said, “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Not if you win arguments. Not if you shut people down. Not if you prove your camp is right. Love — not doctrinal dominance — is the mark of true discipleship.

The tragedy is that many who cling to being right are actually the least at rest. Because when certainty becomes your security, you always need more certainty. You must defend your views, protect your position, and silence opposing voices. But when Christ becomes your security, you can breathe. You can say, “I don’t see it that way, but I love you.  ” You can stay united even when interpretations differ. You can value relationship above winning. You can major on what the Bible majors on and hold loosely what Scripture itself does not demand as salvation issues.

Humility does not mean abandoning truth — it means remembering Who truth belongs to. Jesus said, “I am the truth” (John 14:6). Truth is not a concept to defend; it is a Person to follow. And the more closely you walk with Him, the less you need to cling to your own certainty. You become anchored in His presence, not your performance. Secure believers can disagree gracefully. Insecure believers fight endlessly. And the difference between the two is not knowledge — it is maturity.

Let this become your guide: If holding your position costs you love, then something in your position — or your heart — is wrong. Scripture says, “Pursue peace with all men” (Hebrews 12:14). Peace does not mean compromise. Peace means humility. Peace means stability.  Peace means being so rooted in Christ that you don’t need to win every debate to feel spiritually safe. When Jesus Himself is your anchor, you don’t have to defend the whole ocean — you just have to stay in the boat with Him.