God’s Word in the Real World
I remember attending North Central Bible University in Minneapolis in 1975 and hearing a professor teach something different from what Pastor Smith had taught. I couldn’t wait to leave class and tell my husband what the professor had said because I felt confused. My husband helped me understand that the professor was presenting another way of thinking about the subject. That experience reminded me of 2 Timothy 3:16–17: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
As I have continued to grow in my walk with Jesus, I’ve learned that every author writes from a particular worldview, yet Scripture remains the foundation that helps us test what we hear, receive correction, and grow in wisdom. “Test them all. Hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). That is why it is imperative to know biblical principles in order to discern what is true and right.
At the same time, balancing openness to other people’s thoughts and opinions while strictly evaluating them against Scripture is a thoughtful and disciplined approach to faith. We don’t need to fear or argue with people who see things differently. If we only stay around those who think like we do, we can create an ‘echo chamber’, which limits our ability to learn, discern, and grow. True growth requires us to listen carefully to other lines of thought, even when they challenge our own. With a solid foundation in God’s Word, we then can appreciate diverse perspectives without compromising our core biblical foundation.
As I have continued to grow in my walk with Jesus, I’ve learned that every author writes from a particular worldview, yet Scripture remains the foundation that helps us test what we hear, receive correction, and grow in wisdom. “Test them all. Hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). That is why it is imperative to know biblical principles in order to discern what is true and right.
At the same time, balancing openness to other people’s thoughts and opinions while strictly evaluating them against Scripture is a thoughtful and disciplined approach to faith. We don’t need to fear or argue with people who see things differently. If we only stay around those who think like we do, we can create an ‘echo chamber’, which limits our ability to learn, discern, and grow. True growth requires us to listen carefully to other lines of thought, even when they challenge our own. With a solid foundation in God’s Word, we then can appreciate diverse perspectives without compromising our core biblical foundation.