Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 16
December 10, 1964
NUMBER 31, PAGE 2a

The Source Of Our "Knowledge"

James W. Adams

It is Will Carleton who is credited with the following bit of doggerel:

There's lots of people —

This town wouldn't hold them,

Who don't know much

Excepting what is told them.

Contained in it, despite its lack of poetic style, is a fact that is all too embarrassing, and a sad commentary upon the mentality and application of the average man. Too many of us act in matters which are extremely important to us and our fellows upon the basis of what we have been told and not what we know for ourselves by thorough investigation and study.

This is particularly true among professed Christians these days. Too many members of the church act in religion on the basis of what they have been told is the truth rather than upon what they have learned by a diligent study of the word of God to be the truth. Too many accept reports concerning other Christians and congregations and speak and act on the basis of those reports without knowing for certain that what they have heard is true.

In view of the fact that Christ at the judgment will "open the books," and we "shall be judged out of the things written in the books according to our works," it behooves each of us to know what is contained in the books and act accordingly. Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the words that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." (John 12:48).

Let us not, therefore, commit our minds to anything we do not know to be the truth. This is the only safe course. Time spent in seeking for and finding truth in any realm is never wasted. Error has never benefitted any life or cause in any realm. We would be wise to listen to the voice of him whose wisdom was sought from the ends of the earth as he said, "Buy the truth, and sell it not." Let us not say, "Tell me what you have heard." Let us say, "Teach me what is true!" (J. W. A.)

— P. O. Box 384, Henderson, Texas