Two-Sided Berean Coin Discovered!
 | Hot off the press! Incredible discovery! Grocery store tabloids ain't got nothin' on us!Okay, it does look an awful lot like a Canadian two-dollar coin, but indulge me here, just a little? |
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true." (Acts 17:11)It is up to all of us, as discerning people, to evaluate what we’re being taught by others. But we need to remember that there are two sides to the Berean coin, although we often only focus on one:
- They listened with great eagerness.
This means that they were open to the possibility of expanding their theological understanding, and had a teachable spirit. We would do well to stay teachable, and not confuse discernment with a critical, nit-picking attitude. - They searched the Scriptures, just to be sure that what Paul was teaching lined up with Scripture.
Yes, they had teachable attitudes, but that didn’t mean that they were gullible and naively swallowed whatever they heard. They were willing to expand their understanding, but not to go beyond the boundaries of Scripture.
posted by Robbymac at
5:24 PM
4 Comments:
That is THE stand-out verse that describes my entire Brethren experience. Although I must admit, I think I saw much more empasis on the second part.
Cindy-lu
Hi Rob,
I couldn't resist sending you this slant from a look at the Galatian church. It is an excerpt from something that I was thinking about and working on just yesterday. Note how subtly error was available to potentially divert them from the true Gospel. They were definitely unlike the Berean's practice of checking things with the Scripture. See what you think.
The Book of Galatians provides us with an insight into how the Apostle Paul came to grips with theological deviations and attacks on the integrity of the truth of the Gospel. The lack of spiritual discernment on the part of the churches in Galatia, even though founded by the Apostle Paul, himself, demonstrates that believers can be sideswiped by error and not pick up on that fact. Believers can be lulled into a feeling that what is being presented is biblical and orthodox yet be gently or blatantly beguiled. Being beguiled either subtly or blatantly still brings people into a state of clearly being beguiled.
They were plainly unaware and needed someone to arouse their spiritual senses to recognize how certain error had been artfully blended with the truth. These churches were not alert to the inroads of the corrosive and contaminating influences among them.
This epistle should demonstrate to believers today that they need to be forewarned and forearmed to the fact that biblical error and its devastating effects can happen almost anywhere. It is therefore important that Christian communities be alerted and vigilant to this very real possibility.
The danger that we perceive from the Galatian letter is that this teaching came among them virtually without question. It was easy to believe, simple to follow, culturally acceptable, and socially comfortable. There was no intentional critique or critical assessment of the belief. It was just simply assumed as acceptable and was just as easily added into the currently understood Christian message. Paul put a quick end to that possible outcome!
Just some thoughts from over here at Barb's place.
Robbymac said
"2. They searched the Scriptures, just to be sure that what Paul was teaching lined up with Scripture."
I think there is a subtle and very essential part of what Paul said about their searching the scriptures you didn't mention:
"they ... examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
I think that the difference between this verse bringing life or bringing great damage to both the reader and the Body at large is whether one searches to see if what is being taught is true, or to see if it is false.
This is a lot more than a semantic issue.
Seeking to see if it is true seeks truth, and seeks to confirm the teaching and affirm the teacher as a gift from God.
On the other hand, seeking to prove it false seeks evidence of falseness; it seeks untruth. The search is for evidence to discredit the teaching, the teacher, and dismisses the gift (s)he represents.
Jesus said, "seek, and you will find". It's far too easy to find a reason to reject what we are uncomfortable hearing and construct "support" for what is familiar that wasn't intended by God when gave us a particular word.
I think that his attitude of the heart defines your first point, of being teachable.
...not to mention that they used canadian currency too - good taste all round :)
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