Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/1867

1867 Intellectual arrogance reason for rejection....

March 29, 1941: Book 28

The resistance that people often put up to the divine word is the result of a certain spiritual arrogance. Only the person who believes himself to be knowledgeable rebels against accepting a different knowledge. He does not want to separate himself from his previous view, but this does not correspond to the word of God imparted to man by knowing powers. The more distant a person is from God, the more he rejects it and the more this word deviates from his view, and he is not easily prepared to give it up and receive the divine word. So for the time being there is a lack of will.... On serious examination the human being would probably recognize that his knowledge is still incomplete and therefore could not withstand the spiritual transmissions. However, where the will to seriously scrutinize is lacking, clear evidence is also inappropriate and pointless. What is completely understandable and clear appears incomprehensible to him, for the strength of the divine word only communicates itself to the person who also has the will to accept God's gift. This power makes it possible for every word to touch the human heart, so that the human being feels God Himself in every writing, in the word that God Himself gives to people who are devoted to Him. Resistance, however, renders the human heart incapable of judgement. Although the human being uses his intellect to help him, this alone will not come to the right conclusion. Thus, if he himself is incapable of accepting what he has heard as truth, he should ask God Himself for enlightenment and that which previously seemed unacceptable to him will be revealed to him as clear as day, for God gives knowledge to everyone who asks Him for it. Most of the time, however, people presume to be able to judge for themselves, and this is a certain spiritual arrogance, for man cannot actually do anything, he cannot do anything without having asked for God's help. He sets human knowledge and human experience against the pure word of God, which are more or less erroneous depending on his attitude towards God. He perceives every correction as a personal attack and confronts it in a fighting mood, he now eagerly defends his opinion but pays almost no attention to the opposing opinion.... And consequently, the power of the divine word cannot take effect and enlighten his spirit.... So he remains in the dark, even though the light is brought to him.... For the knowledge of pure truth is light.... But he who closes his eyes when light is offered to him cannot be given enlightenment, he remains in rejection and can only be convinced of the truth of what is offered to him when he himself has the will and the desire for the truth....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers