Why Many Take that Position: Forced to Decide by Circumstances.
Many people I have known over the years have made decisions about Biblical concepts such as baptism, fellowship, Faith only, marriage, divorce, adultery, elder’s qualifications, mechanical music, institutional practices, Herald of Truth operations, and etc. I have seen some good brethren and sisters publicly sweat as they listened to Biblical teaching on some concepts that they were considering. Indeed, the ability to make choices that we possess is often a great burden, most of the time we make the right decisions but those rare times when outside and close ties are at stake [i.e. family, money, fame, position, etc.] we may stumble while making the choice between truth and error. This thought I have presented is absolutely true, many good men and women that I have known have given up the sound position [i.e. the truth] for error because of extenuating circumstance or family ties or some other pressure that was just too great.
The Bible is full of examples that show God’s people have made wrong choices many times in past history also.
Actually our first parents [i.e. Adam and Eve], had to make a choice between following God’s instructions or not. They choose to reject God’s instruction for selfish reasons. Eve wanted to know, wanted to be pleased, apparently longed for more than “PARADISE” — I have often wondered where the phrase, “Paradise Lost” came from, I think I know after considering Eve’s fall from good relationship with God and leading her husband into sin too. Then there is Aaron, who while Moses was upon Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments he fashioned a golden calf for the Israelites to worship instead of Jehovah. Now Aaron had a choice but the people pressured him and he gave in to the pressure.
How sad is this person who turns from the truth to a false way especially later when he/she comes to their senses and weeps bitterly over their failure. The human ties that we possess may undo a lifetime of faithful service to God because it is just too devastating. Man is often influenced too greatly by friends, loved ones, or desires to hold on, he gives in to sin and then seeks to justify his sin through human reason. We must be faithful even when it is inconvenient, even when our family objects, even when we know that it will sever relationships that we have with other people; yes we must hold on to the truth — 1 Cor 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful , who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.”