But the party spirit is very deceptive. Those who boast the loudest about their freedom from it are often the tragic victims of its poison. We suggest a few indications of its presence. Symptoms of Party Spirit 1. A reluctance to admit the truths held by others .
Truth is truth, regardless of who holds it.
The partisan is afraid to acknowledge truth held by those outside of his group for fear it will reflect favorably upon them. If he does admit truth on the part of another, he must hasten to speak deprecatingly of the person or some other position he holds. If questioned as to how much Graham gets for his radio service, the partisan cannot tell you. He does not know, but he seeks to offset the fact that truth was spoken by creating suspicion against the man and his motives. No one in the group to which the partisan belongs ever preaches for money, but every person who is a member of another religious party and who speaks any truth, does so insincerely, because he knows better, and his sole object is to inflate his pride and secure filthy lucre.