The Tale Of Two Cities

As Christians we need to be more like the Bereans, but unfortunately we’re more like the Thessalonians. And while we need to think critically, we shouldn’t enter into our conversations with others with our minds already made up.

I find this quite often, especially when I am asked to examine doctrine with others. What happens most of the time is that these people are more interested in being heard and having it their way than they are at making an honest and open evaluation.

What I get when I bring up Scriptures that speak about it differently that their position they say, “Well, the clear teaching of Scriptures say,” or “The majority of the Scriptures speak to my position,” and when I say, “Well if these others Scriptures speak against it, then what is the balance, and what would God want us to know.” But such a presentation, what I have found is that it falls upon deaf ears. It’s either their way or it’s no way.

And one last point before I move on is that being open to listen and hear is not the same thing as being gullible. It must line up with Scriptures, that is, the whole of God’s word and not that portion we like.

2. Examination

“And searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so”

Why do we need to search the Scriptures? I think the Apostle Paul said it best to Timothy.

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:15-17 NKJV)

And so, when we hear a bible teaching, we need to make sure that any teaching has a solid foundation in the Bible. But at the same time we need to acknowledge that there are some things that we will never know, that is, there exist divine mysteries.

Back in Deuteronomy 29:29, it says that “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29 NIV)

And through the prophet Isaiah the Lord says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways…For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9 NKV)

And so, we need to examine what we are told and make sure it lines up with God’s word so that we can be equipped to fulfill God’s plans and purposes for our lives, for His church, and for this world that is lost and floundering.

3. Daily

“Searched the Scriptures daily”

To be like the Bereans, we need to search what the Bible has to say on a daily basis.

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2 NKJV)

Why, what’s the end result? It is to find out more about Jesus whom we’ve come to believe in, and so we can be more like Him, more like Christ. This was Paul’s goal, when He said that he are to be imitators of him, as he was an imitator of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1), that is he lived his life like Jesus lived His. He even said that for him to live is to be like Christ (Philippians 1:21), and thus he could do all things through Christ who gives him the strength (Philippians 4:13).