How We Learn Is as Important as What We Learn
The internet is a vast source of information. We can learn much from it. Not all of it, however, is good information. Too much is misleading, and some is outright wrong.
If we’re using the internet as our source of information about God, we need to be careful. Very careful.
Online Sources
Does your online information about God come from a reliable source? One you can trust and depend on to not lead you in the wrong direction?
Yes, some online content comes from trusted voices, but other ideas originate from questionable sources who spout opinion instead of truth.
Then there are the computer bots, pretending to be real people, who just go about spinning lies for no reason other than to cause a reaction. These bots rile up people and cause problems.
Then there’s information generated by AI (artificial intelligence). Sometimes it’s correct, other times it’s biased, and sometimes it’s wrong. That’s why it’s best to look at the source behind the AI generated answers.
This is why it’s critical to verify what we encounter online. In this regard, we should be like the Bereans, who verified what they heard to make sure it aligned with Scripture (Acts 17:10-11).
Popular Views
Another source of information about God can come from society. The world we live in is awash with ideas, much of which are toxic and must be avoided.
Too often these perspectives are not based on what the Bible says. Instead they stem from contemporary thought and popular opinion, which promotes progressive ideas that are of human origin; these steer us away from God and biblical truth.
This is none other than secular humanism. And we’re surrounded by it.
We must scrutinize this as well. In general, if it’s popular, it’s probably not godly. We must evaluate popular views through the lens of Scripture.
Preachers and Churches
Learning from ministers and church leaders should be a good source of information about God.
Too often, however, it’s popular opinion or secular humanism wrapped in a religious package. It may have a nice bow on it, but that doesn’t mean we should open it without question.
Again, we need to scrutinize what we hear at church as well. Does what the preacher says align with the word of God?
The Bible
As we considered online sources, popular viewpoints, and ministers as our source of information about God, the recurring theme was to see if it agreed with Scripture or if it opposed biblical truth.
There are many truly Bible believing churches in our world today, but there are other churches who ignore what Scripture says or twist it into saying something its authors—and God—didn’t intend for it to mean. They also ignore the parts they don’t like.
We must remember that all Scripture comes from God and is intended to teach us, correct us, and train us in God’s ways (2 Timothy 3:16).
The Holy Spirit
Last, we have the Holy Spirit as a source of information about God.
Jesus said he would send his followers the Holy Spirit to teach them about all things and remind them what he had said (John 14:26). As Jesus’s followers today, we have that same Holy Spirit within us to teach us and remind us what Jesus said.
When Paul tells us to put on the armor of God, one item is the sword of the Spirit, which he confirms is the word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17).
Since the New Testament of the Bible didn’t exist when Paul wrote his letter, he couldn’t be referring to it. In this regard, the word of God can’t refer to his written word. Instead, it may be his spoken word, as revealed by the Holy Spirit.
Not All That’s Spiritual Is Good
Yet we must be careful in this area. Paul warns about people who abandon their faith and follow deceiving spirits (1 Timothy 4:1). These are demons, and even Satan himself who “masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14).
We must take care to discern what is right (Philippians 1:9-11). The Holy Spirit can help us do so (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Guiding Principle
As a practical guide to evaluating the legitimacy of supernatural proclamations, know that the Holy Spirit will never contradict what the Bible says.
That’s why it’s critical that we study the Bible and know what Scripture says. The Bible is the standard—the only reliable resource—for us to determine what is godly truth and what constitutes worldly lies.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront a status quo faith and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.
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