Research is your friend, if you want to know the truth. Those who have an agenda view the truth as an enemy to fight. Many don't even know they are in a spiritual battle for truth. The devil twists and hide truth to keep people from salvation. Make sure what you believe is the truth. 2 Corinthians 13:5, Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves...
I've read articles that will use Bible verses to support a point they are making. If the verse is just listed and not quoted, I will look it up. I don't know how many times I have done this and the verse does not support their point. I know sometimes I have accidently typed numbers wrong when writing down a verse, and I will give leniency to authors for mistakes. When I notice it's done multiple times and they take the verse out of context to prove their point, I know I can no longer trust that source. Unfortunately, many people are too trusting. They believe the research was done and an accurate conclusion by the author, scientist, priest, was reached. I don't want someone else interpreting the Bible for me. That is the Holy Spirit's job as I read His Word. 1 John 2:27, But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie just as it has taught you, abide in him.
The reason for my post today is because I was reading an article on a popular Catholic website. They included a quote from a founding church father. A red flag went off and I played detective. It took some research and I finally found the quote. I noticed it was only a partial quote that was used in the article and the full quote completely changes the meaning. This was done more than once in that article. People want to be right so bad, they hide the truth. Most would have read that article and trusted what the author said, causing them to possibly be talked out of believing the truth. This upset me because it seemed like an intentional deception. You do not want to trust people with your salvation. The Bible warns us so many times that people will lead us astray. We are responsible for what we believe and our own salvation. Philippians 2:12, ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
My goal is to point you in the direction of truth and then have you take off running in it. I don't want you depending on any person or church for your spiritual growth. I only want you to depend on God and be led by the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:17, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. John 17:17, Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
Any doctrine you believe in should have it's foundation in the Word of God. Have you ever heard the phrase "be a Berean"? They were praised and called noble. This was because the Berean Jews researched in the Bible the message they heard from the apostle Paul to make sure he was speaking truth. Acts 17:11, Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.
Proverbs 25:2, It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.
