“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
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The cable television provider to which I subscribe currently carries several 24-hour news channels. One can turn on his TV and instantly catch the ‘breaking news’ of the hour.
We’ve come a long way with national news programs. Thirty years ago one had to turn on his TV at a set time each night (6:30 on the east coast) if he wanted to watch any national or international news whatsoever. The three American networks (there were only three at that time) made no other allowance. But now one can watch any time of day.
Have you noticed, though, that these news channels never seem to have enough time to fully and intelligently discuss an issue (political or otherwise)? That’s somewhat ironic, isn’t it? With 1,440 minutes for them to fill each day, one would think just the opposite would be true. Yet each hour is chopped into headlines and sound-bites. Interviews and debates with ‘experts’ are shortened to on-the-surface ‘scratch and sniff’ rhetoric. “What do you think about this issue, Bill?… OK… Now, for another perspective, what do you think about the matter, Bob?… Well, alright… Thanks for your time, gentlemen… We’ve got to go to a commercial break now.” Nothing is fully debated, leaving the viewer wondering which side (if any) is correct -- or, rather, wondering if perhaps both sides (though polar opposites) have valid points that can be accepted. Worse yet, the viewer might be left to decide about a matter based on which side more eloquently tore apart their opponent’s position in the 180-second dispute. This writer is quite certain some make such snap decisions.
We wonder, though, if there aren’t many today who treat religious matters in much the same fashion. Undoubtedly some have done this with the Bible. Perhaps they’ve read the Bible a little and have read its claims to be inspired of God. They have friends who believe in the power of the Bible. But they also have other friends who are genuine in their rejection of it. “And there are other books out there,“ they say. “How do we know the Koran isn’t from God? And what about the Da Vinci Code? And what about the Gospel of Judas that I recently heard was discovered?“ They hear a little from ‘this side’ and then a little from ‘that side’ and either make a faulty decision or decide that no decision needs to be made. They have never ‘dug deep’ to fully consider and weigh the Bible’s distinctive claims and its evidence versus these others.
We wonder as well about many Christians and the conclusions they come to concerning a particular doctrine. Too many today are themselves unwilling to discuss or listen to a discussion about a point of contention -- at least for very long. They might ask a Bible question (thus showing some interest), but if the answer to such can’t be proven in two minutes or less, their interest wanes. They scratch at the scriptures, rather than fully “searching” them (Acts 17:11; John 5:39). Consequently, many of these have reached faulty conclusions. Some have even reached the point of concluding that both sides (though polar opposites) on a particular issue might be valid and acceptable.
Jesus said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Dear reader, is this the type of judgment you utilize? Contrary to the cultural leanings of our day, we can know about the Bible, Jesus, and His teachings. We CAN “know the truth” (John 8:32). But the truth won’t be found by merely searching the ‘headlines’ or in listening to 3-minute debates.
Are YOU ‘searching the scriptures daily’ to see what things are ‘so’? Are YOU a ‘righteous judge’? Or as the Bible puts it yet another way, are you “handling accurately the word of truth”? (2 Timothy 2:15, NASB)
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The cable television provider to which I subscribe currently carries several 24-hour news channels. One can turn on his TV and instantly catch the ‘breaking news’ of the hour.
We’ve come a long way with national news programs. Thirty years ago one had to turn on his TV at a set time each night (6:30 on the east coast) if he wanted to watch any national or international news whatsoever. The three American networks (there were only three at that time) made no other allowance. But now one can watch any time of day.
Have you noticed, though, that these news channels never seem to have enough time to fully and intelligently discuss an issue (political or otherwise)? That’s somewhat ironic, isn’t it? With 1,440 minutes for them to fill each day, one would think just the opposite would be true. Yet each hour is chopped into headlines and sound-bites. Interviews and debates with ‘experts’ are shortened to on-the-surface ‘scratch and sniff’ rhetoric. “What do you think about this issue, Bill?… OK… Now, for another perspective, what do you think about the matter, Bob?… Well, alright… Thanks for your time, gentlemen… We’ve got to go to a commercial break now.” Nothing is fully debated, leaving the viewer wondering which side (if any) is correct -- or, rather, wondering if perhaps both sides (though polar opposites) have valid points that can be accepted. Worse yet, the viewer might be left to decide about a matter based on which side more eloquently tore apart their opponent’s position in the 180-second dispute. This writer is quite certain some make such snap decisions.
We wonder, though, if there aren’t many today who treat religious matters in much the same fashion. Undoubtedly some have done this with the Bible. Perhaps they’ve read the Bible a little and have read its claims to be inspired of God. They have friends who believe in the power of the Bible. But they also have other friends who are genuine in their rejection of it. “And there are other books out there,“ they say. “How do we know the Koran isn’t from God? And what about the Da Vinci Code? And what about the Gospel of Judas that I recently heard was discovered?“ They hear a little from ‘this side’ and then a little from ‘that side’ and either make a faulty decision or decide that no decision needs to be made. They have never ‘dug deep’ to fully consider and weigh the Bible’s distinctive claims and its evidence versus these others.
We wonder as well about many Christians and the conclusions they come to concerning a particular doctrine. Too many today are themselves unwilling to discuss or listen to a discussion about a point of contention -- at least for very long. They might ask a Bible question (thus showing some interest), but if the answer to such can’t be proven in two minutes or less, their interest wanes. They scratch at the scriptures, rather than fully “searching” them (Acts 17:11; John 5:39). Consequently, many of these have reached faulty conclusions. Some have even reached the point of concluding that both sides (though polar opposites) on a particular issue might be valid and acceptable.
Jesus said, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Dear reader, is this the type of judgment you utilize? Contrary to the cultural leanings of our day, we can know about the Bible, Jesus, and His teachings. We CAN “know the truth” (John 8:32). But the truth won’t be found by merely searching the ‘headlines’ or in listening to 3-minute debates.
Are YOU ‘searching the scriptures daily’ to see what things are ‘so’? Are YOU a ‘righteous judge’? Or as the Bible puts it yet another way, are you “handling accurately the word of truth”? (2 Timothy 2:15, NASB)
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