Do You Believe . . .

. . . what that graphic says? This past month should have taught every American that it is true. There were false headlines read, copied, shared, commented up – and were blatant lies. Their publishers ended up making money – I wish I knew how much – when we clicked on the pages to see what they meant. Yes, I clicked and they made money off of me, once. I ended up blocking so many sites that claimed to be “satire” that my Facebook newsfeed is miniscule now.

More fool me, right? Not really, the first time. The first time around – not having information to tell me otherwise – it was my responsibility to discern accuracy. It is necessary to be aware before determining truth or lie. So, how do we do that? By acting as the Bereans:

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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. (Acts 17:10-11)

It doesn’t matter if we doubt. It does matter if we accept without researching the source, the truth, whether it be politics or religion. We must search whether those things were so.

It would lead to lengthy marriages, fewer divorces, if we did so in our love life, too. Too often people choose a spouse without that search. Or, opt for a partnership without a long-term commitment. Christians who married without that research ended up unequally yoked and added to divorce statistics, didn’t they? And gave truth to the cries of “Hypocrite!”, from the non-believing world that turned marriage into a secular contract instead of a spiritual covenant.

Yes – I can point to that mote in Christians’ eye based on 55 years of marriage to the man I met through a church’s visitation program. I see that point in many 50+-years marriages in our small church, too.

But that’s not nearly as important as what the Berean’s studied. My choice will last a lifetime – theirs (and ours) will last eternity.

Thomas doubted at least once. We’re told he was ready to die for Christ:

Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellowdisciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him. (John 11:16)

He understood the death, but not the resurrection and set his standard for belief:

The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. (John 20:25)

Read the whole scene in John 20:19-28 where Thomas ends with:

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (John 20:28)

Are you willing to do the research necessary to live your life with truth? Whether it be with family, church, community, country – or eternity – are you willing not only to state what you believe, but why and how you reached that conclusion? Are you willing to stand at the end of this life, having lived by this verse – whether you believe in God or not?

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)