How to avoid becoming a "Kkon-dae" trapped in confirmation bias
2/24/2026 (Tue)
John 7:37-52, How to avoid becoming a “Kkon-dae” trapped in confirmation bias
People are divided into two groups because of the truth proclaimed by Jesus. There were people who reacted without prejudice after hearing Jesus’ words. These people recognized Jesus as a prophet or the Christ (verses 40, 41). Furthermore, the temple guards who had received orders to arrest Jesus could not follow the arrest command after hearing His words. When questioned by the chief priests, they answered, “No one ever spoke the way this man does” (verse 46). They did not know who Jesus was, and they lacked the theological knowledge to judge the veracity of His words, but they honestly confessed that they were overwhelmed by the authority of His words.
However, in contrast, there were people who were so caught up in prejudice and preconception that they unconditionally rejected whatever Jesus said. These were the Pharisees, who boasted that they knew the Scriptures and the truth. They certainly knew the Scriptures better than others. Therefore, they also knew the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The problem was that they believed the partial facts they knew were everything and fell into confirmation bias. They did not know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, even though He lived in Nazareth. Yet, they believed that what they knew was the whole truth, and therefore, they firmly believed they could never be wrong. This is confirmation bias. Falling into such confirmation bias clouds one’s sound judgment. No matter how much Jesus speaks the truth, they cannot hear properly. Because they already judge the words by their own standards, they miss the opportunity to place themselves before the Word to be judged. They become stubbornly unyielding, and such people are professionally referred to as a “Kkon-dae.”
Nicodemus stands between the two divided groups of people. Nicodemus argues that one must listen to Jesus’ words and examine His actions before making a judgment. Nicodemus was the person who sought out Jesus in the middle of the night because he wanted to know Him. He knew the Scriptures, but he did not think that what he knew was everything. He probably guessed that there was a deeper truth he did not know. He must have thought that he, too, could be wrong. That is why he sought out Jesus. Nicodemus thought that sound faith could be reached only when the truth he heard and understood directly from Jesus was added to his existing theological foundation. Such an attitude is necessary to break free from the “Kkon-dae” syndrome. And ultimately, as Jesus said, one will reach the correct truth only with the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit, who makes rivers of living water flow (verse 38).
There are too many “Kkon-dae” Christians in the world today. It will not be easy for the Holy Spirit to move a “Kkon-dae.” I am already of considerable age, but I must at least avoid becoming a “Kkon-dae.”
Lord, allow me to stand before Your Word without prejudice, and to place myself under the judgment of the Word before I judge the Word. And please let me always possess the spiritual purity to obey the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Amen.