Study (Discovery) Guides
A Simple Approach To Discovering Truth
Page 3
How do we go about discovering truth?
On previous pages we looked at reasons why we should discover what the Bible says about us, about the purpose of life and about what God expects of us. We also looked at discovering the answers to life's most difficult questions, and discovering joy, peace and freedom.
How do we go about doing all this?
Perhaps we should first look at some popular ways that don't work for everyone.
1. The "Dumb Sheep" or "Deaf" method: Accept without question, what someone else says.
Advantages: Requires very little effort and no thought.
Requires no questioning, discussion or proof.
Produces no disagreement or arguments with the speaker.
Requires least amount of time, leaving more for other interests.
Can remain "spiritually" asleep and comfortable (in the absence of thought).Disadvantages: Must avoid almost all thinking as it may produce confusion.
Any questioning may start a discussion which some may wish to avoid.
Repeated questions may result in hostility or even condemnation.
Leaves opening for indoctrination by weird or dangerous cults.
Allows indoctrination by popular but conflicting mainstream religions.
Salvation depends upon someone else's opinion.Closely related to this method is the "Sheared Sheep" method in which one pays another to think for him. While the sheep is being fleeced, the wool is pulled over the eyes, at least temporarily blinding the sheep.
2. The "Dumber Sheep" or "Deaf, Dumb and Blind" method: Accept without question, what everyone else says.
Advantages: Requires the least amount of effort and no thought.
Requires no questioning, discussion or proof.
Produces no disagreement or arguments with any speaker.
Requires less time, leaving more for other interests.
Can remain "spiritually" asleep and comfortable (in the absence of thought).Disadvantages: Must avoid all thinking as it will produce confusion.
Any questioning will start discussions which some may wish to avoid.
Repeated questions may result in hostility or even condemnation.
Leaves opening for indoctrination by weird or dangerous cults.
Allows indoctrination by popular but conflicting mainstream religions.
Believing everything conflicts with those who believe only one thing.
Believing everything is essentially the same as believing nothing.
3. The "Buffet" or "Feel Good" method: Accept whatever "sounds" good, right or appealing.
Advantages: Allows construction of a "religion" that fits any current lifestyle.
Allows for rejection of everything that makes one uncomfortable.
Flexibility allows for changing beliefs as morals decline.
Allows for worship of any thing, in any way.
Is readily accepted by the world.
Is accepted to some degree by most or all "religious" organizations.Disadvantages: No effort equals no growth.
By example, children would be taught to worship candy and toys.
History shows societies eventually seek lowest common denominator.
(Rome declined and fell. America is declining.)
If any of these methods worked, the world would be full of truth instead of confusion. "Organized religions" would be bringing people joy, happiness, peace, and contentment instead of unanswered questions, confusion, disappointment and disillusionment.
So, What does work?
1. Believe God, not men.
The simple [minded] believe every word [that he hears]: but the prudent man looks well to his going." (Pro 14:15).
What if it appears that many or all men seem to be lying?
"For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
God forbid: yes, let God be true, but every man a liar; . . ." (Rom. 3:3-4).King David should have been surrounded by believers. Instead, he wrote of his difficulties in uniting the kingdom and restoring peace while in fear for his life:
"For you [God] have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
I said in my haste [fleeing in fear], All men are liars." (Psa. 116:8, 11).The church of God at Ephesus was praised for questioning the credibility of religious "leaders".
"I [God] know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil: and you have tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and have found them liars:" (Rev. 2:2)."Into your hand I commit my spirit: you have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth." (Psa 31:5).
"For the Lord gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding." (Pro 2:6).
2. Believe God's word, the Bible, not men.
"Sanctify them through your truth: your word is truth." (Jhn 17:17).
Paul praised the Bereans for proving the truth rather than just taking his word for it.
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." (Act 17:11)
He had to instruct the Thessalonians to question religious teachers and their doctrines.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Ths. 5:21).
3. Believe the whole Bible, not just the New Testament.There is no conflict. One did not replace the other or make it obsolete. The Bereans (Acts 17:11, above) were using the "Old Testament" to prove the truthfulness of the apostles' messages of Christ. [The New Testament was not "scripture" yet. Part of it wasn't even written yet.]
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2Ti 3:16).
4. Believe what the Bible says, not what men say that it says.
"Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spoke unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart." (Jer 14:14).
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." (Mat 7:15).
"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." (Mat 24:11).
"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." (Mat 24:24).
"For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." (Mar 13:22).
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (2Pe 2:1).
"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world." (1Jo 4:1).
5. Don't believe something just because "everyone else believes it".
"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." (Mat 24:11).
"Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it." (Mat 7:14).
"Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets." (Luk 6:26).
"If the world hate you, you know that it hated me before it hated you." (Jhn 15:18).Don't reject something as untrue just because "everyone else believes differently".
"We are of God: he that knows God hears us; he that is not of God hears not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (1Jo 4:6).
If truth were determined by popularity, then Christianity would lose.
6. Don't accept something as truth just because the speaker is considered famous or important.
" . . . Master, we know that you [Christ] are true, and care for no man: for you regard not the person of men, but teach the way of God in truth: . . . " (Mk. 12:14).
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:" (Acts 10:34).Christ's teachings contradicted the "spiritual leaders" of his time. If we look carefully, he is still doing that today.
7. Seek understanding from God, through his Spirit, not from men.
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." (Jhn 16:13).
"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe." (1Th 2:13).
8. Don't add anything to God's truth. Don't take anything away from it.
This includes doctrines, customs, rituals, ceremonies, costuming, or "traditions".
"You shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish ought from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you." (Deu 4:2).
"What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: you shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it." (Deu 12:32).
"For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." (Rev 22:18-19).
9. Don't accept anything less than the truth. God doesn't.
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (Jhn 4:24).
"He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." (Deu 32:4).
10. Study, or discover, or read and think, or call it whatever you like, but just do it.
"Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [correctly teaching] the word of truth." (2Ti 2:15).
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Pro 1:7).
"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding." (Pro 4:5-7).
"Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life." (Pro 4:13 )."Does not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
She stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
O you simple, understand wisdom: and, you fools, be you of an understanding heart.
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
They are all plain to him that understands, and right to them that find knowledge." (Pro 8:1-9)."Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoso finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord.
But he that sins against me wrongs his own soul: all they that hate me love death." (Pro 8:33-36).
11. Study to prove the truth, not just to prove yourself right.
" . . . to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word." (Isa. 66:2).
"Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise." (1Cr 3:18).
"Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." (1Cr 10:12).
"And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted." (Luk 18:13-14, also 10-12).
"Then Job answered the Lord, and said,
I know that you can do every thing, and that no thought can be withheld from you.
Who is he that hides counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. [I didn't really know what I was talking about.]
Hear, I beseech you, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare you unto me.
I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear: but now my eye sees you. [Now I understand.]
Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:1-6).
12. Seek God wholeheartedly, as if your life depended upon it. Because it does.
"But if from thence [idolatry, materialism, selfishness] you shall seek the Lord your God, you shall find him, if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deu 4:29).
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
"Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And you shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart." (Jer 29:11-13).
"Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart." (Psa 119:2).
" . . . know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever." (1 Chrn. 28:9)." . . . The Lord is with you, while you be with him; and if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you." (2 Chrn. 15:2).
"Yes, if you cry after knowledge, and lift up your voice [pray] for understanding;
If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures;
Then shall you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." (Pro 2:3-5).
Okay, I want the truth of God, not of men. I am truly repentant, not just feeling guilty. I am willing to learn, but not to be deceived. I am more interested in truth than in being right. I want with my whole heart to understand in order to do what is right in the sight of God, not in the sight of men. I want the truth of God just as desperately as I want my next breath.
How do I make sense of the Bible?
Perhaps the Next Page will help.
Copyright M.H. and G.H. 2002 All rights reserved.
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