Apologist: a person who argues in defense or justification of truth.
Doc: Festus, why in thunder don't you learn to read so that when you want to tell something you will have read it and got the facts, and you can tell the story straight?
Festus: Doc, I've told you a hundred dozen times... when you start to read readin', how do you know that the feller that wrote the readin' wrote the readin' right? Just because a feller sit down and write some readin' don't mean that the feller wrote the readin' right.
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A few years ago I was taking some online college classes and one of the things that they stressed a lot of, was developing critical thinking skills. Critical Thinkers do not simply believe every thing they are told (or read) but are instead able to independently evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of opposing arguments. This is essential to effective learning and productive living.
The apostle Paul said in the second chapter of 1st Corinthians that Scripture cannot be understood nor interpreted by the mind of the natural man because it is foolishness to our human nature. God reveals the mystery of His word through His Spirit, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. The natural man cannot know spiritual things because spiritual things are spiritually discerned.
Isa. 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
In Acts 17 Paul and Silas came to Berea and ministered in the synagogue of the Jews. They said that these people were more fair-minded than the people of Thessalonica because they eagerly received the word and went home and searched the Scriptures everyday to find out if what Paul and Silas were preaching and teaching was biblical truth. They did not immediately accept what they were hearing but they did not immediately dismiss it either. They studied it out for themselves allowing the Holy Spirit to open the Scriptures to them.
The reason that Doc knew Festus was not telling the story correctly is because he knew the story for himself. The apostle admonished young Timothy to study diligently to present himself approved of God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).
God's word is like a gold mine... a treasure hidden in a field. Search it out and become enriched by its revelations. But don't believe everything you read and hear from bloggers and commentaries and preachers. Put the spirits to the study test like the Bereans did, and see if those things that you hear are so. Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.
After hearing a sermon once, I just kept saying to the Lord, "something about that didn't set right with me." He told me to go study it out. When I did, He revealed to me the real truth. Jesus said, "My sheep know My voice and another they will not follow." If you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you... you will have this feeling that something is not right. That's spiritual discernment!! Follow that feeling and let it lead you to the word of truth.
John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:31-32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you will know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
When you hear the truth and something in you comes alive... that is the truth setting you free.
Matt. 13:45-46 “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought that one pearl.
Seek and you will find.
Go in peace.