Something I brought up with my in-person Bible study group, that I feel I should promote here with my online Bible study group (and I'll try to phrase it much the same way).
Without commenting: How many watch videos by 119 Ministries or TorahFamily (I am sure there are others, but these two I know for sure)?
What is the challenge they say at the end of each video? Test what they are saying. Go back and look at Scripture, don't just take their word for it.
Without commenting: How many of you do that?
If you aren't checking and testing the people that do tell you to verify them, are you testing and checking the people that don't tell you?
We need to validate everything that we hear with Scripture. There are many people out there that can tell a good story, make things sound like it is possible, say things with confidence, but couldn't be further from the truth.
Recently, I found myself being one of those people. We were playing a family game and I gave an answer to a question. I explained my reasoning. My family tells me once we find out I am wrong, that I said it with such confidence, they questioned their answers. I didn't realize I was doing this, but it is now something I have to watch for.
We should always be on the look out and check everything. Don't just take something on because it sounds good, or is presented by someone "smarter than you", or has a degree, or whatever.
Rhy Bezuidenhout
We have grown up in a sociaty where we are trained to listen to and comply to the person in the "white jacket at the front of the class". We don't check that what they are saying is truthful. As long as they just say it with enough conviction then it must be the truth. Right?
When I started with Torah, I was totally in the dark and decided to take an approach of listening to the opinions of both the left and the right hand side; believers and non-believers alike. I then trust to be lead by the Spirit in truth.
Do I change my views as I grow? For certain! But in doing so I am not tossed in a storm like a boat without rudder. I am still standing firm in my beliefs while I further study the topic at hand.
Scriptural validation is key. There are however quite a few places where the message is in the "eye of the beholder" as Scripture isn't crystal clear on all subjects. For instance, "you will not murder" and "you will not kindle a fire" are polar opposites in my view. The former is very clear, but the latter not.
The more unclear a Biblical subject is the more opinions there will be and those are the ones we need to be even more sensitive on what the message is that is being given.
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