Discerning The Truth Regarding Matters Of Faith

Christians do not agree with each other on all matters of faith. For almost every matter, there are multiple differing, mutually exclusive views being held among Christians. Nonetheless, the fact remains that regarding any matter, there can only be one correct view: the truth. Any view which does not align with the truth is inaccurate to a certain extent. How should Christians discern the truth matters of faith?

Many Christians would say: “We must ask God for ourselves,” or, “We must rely on the Holy Spirit.” Of course, these statements are not wrong in and of themselves, since it is indeed God who gives us the correct understanding through the Holy Spirit. However, what many Christians usually mean by these statements is that God would magically put the truth into their minds, or that the Holy Spirit would give them a special experience; a personal “witness”, “testimony”, or “confirmation” regarding the correct understanding.

Is that idea biblical? Is that really how God works? What does the Bible say about how Christians should discern the truth regarding matters of faith?

Disagreements among the First Christians

It might come as a surprise to some that there were actually disagreements and differences in beliefs among the first Christians, much like there are disagreements and differences in beliefs among Christians today. The Book of Acts recounts the Council of Jerusalem, where one such disagreement was addressed:

Acts 15:1–5 ESV But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.” ₂ And after Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and debate with them, Paul and Barnabas and some of the others were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and the elders about this question. ₃ So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, describing in detail the conversion of the Gentiles, and brought great joy to all the brothers. ₄ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they declared all that God had done with them. ₅ But some believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees rose up and said, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to order them to keep the law of Moses.”

The first Christians held disagreeing views regarding whether Gentiles needed to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses in order to be saved. How did these first Christians resolve this disagreement among themselves? They did not tell each other: “Ask God for yourselves!” Rather, they came together to “consider this matter” and even had “much debate” with each other (vv. 6–7). The debate was eventually resolved, and the correct view was finally reached (vv. 19–21). However, at no time did either side tell the other side to “ask God for themselves”—not even the side which had the correct view!

Of course, these first Christians must have prayed and asked God to give them understanding and help them discern the truth. However, they still debated because they did not presume that God would settle the disagreement by giving anyone personal experiences regarding the correct view, or by speaking from heaven, “This is the correct view in which I am well pleased!”

Debates over Truth in the New Testament

Debates were the primary way by which the first Christians advanced the truth of the Gospel in opposition to false teachings. The disagreement in Acts 15 began as a false teaching originating from false teachers. The Bible records that the Christians had “no small dissension and debate” with these false teachers (v. 1).

The Bible also records several instances in which the Apostle Paul debated with others regarding matters of faith (Acts 17:2, 17; 18:4, 19). Wherever the Apostle Paul travelled, it was his “custom” to debate with the Jews when they gathered in the synagogues every Sabbath day (Acts 17:2). He would also debate with other people “in the marketplace every day with those meeting him.” (v. 17)

Paul and the first Christians debated with those who disagreed with them, and did not tell them to just “ask God for themselves.” This indicates that they did not expect God to lead people to the truth by giving them personal experiences or by magically putting the truth into their minds.

The Scriptures as the Standard of Truth

Acts 17:1–2 tells us that while he was in Thessalonica, Paul “reasoned with [the Jews] from the scriptures.” Whenever Paul and the first Christians debated matters of faith, they would always use the Scriptures as the basis of truth. This is because they shared the conviction that the Scriptures were the highest authoritative standard of truth from God regarding matters of faith.

Many Christians think that the truths of God in the Bible cannot be understood by using logic and reasoning. However, the fact that Paul “reasoned... from the scriptures” proves otherwise. Paul believed that if someone reasoned logically and honestly when reading and interpreting the Scriptures, then he will surely arrive at the correct understanding regarding the truths of God.

How did the Thessalonian Jews respond after three Sabbaths of Paul reasoning with them from the Scriptures? Some of them accepted Paul’s reasonings (v. 4). However, those who did not accept Paul’s reasonings began to cause trouble for a local Christian named Jason (vv. 5–9). Due to these disturbances, the Christian community sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. When they arrived in Berea, Paul and Silas went into the local synagogue and, just as he had done in Thessalonica, he reasoned from the Scriptures with the Jews there:

Acts 17:10–11 So the brothers immediately, by night, sent out both Paul and Silas to Berea, and having arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. But these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, examining the Scriptures each day if these things were so.

The text describes the Berean Jews in a very interesting way: “these were more noble than those in Thessalonica.” Notice that a comparison is being made between the Thessalonian Jews and the Berean Jews. In what way were the Berean Jews “more noble” than the Thessalonian Jews? The text tells us: “in that they received the word with all readiness, examining the scriptures every day if these things were so.”

The Greek word for “examining” here is anakrinō, which means to examine closely; to critically scrutinize every detail. The Berean Jews made a thorough study through the Scriptures, diligently looking out for any discrepancies between Paul’s message and what is written in the Scriptures. Moreover, they did this “each day”, signifying that it was a tedious and time-consuming effort which took them several days!

Verse 5 tells us that the Thessalonian Jews who did not accept Paul’s reasonings “became jealous”. While Paul came to them with reasoning from the Scriptures, they responded with heated emotions. The Berean Jews were different. Even though they did not agree with Paul at first, they did not let their emotions get in the way because they considered the truth of the Scriptures more important. Because of their attitude, the Bible esteems the Berean Jews as “more noble” than the Thessalonian Jews.

Are Debates Helpful?

Many Christians do not like the idea of debates and disputations among Christians because they think that they are very divisive. Ironically, however, the biggest problem with the “ask God for yourself” approach is precisely that it divides Christians faster and deeper than debates and disputations ever do. Consider the following scenario:

1. Two Christians hold disagreeing, mutually exclusive views regarding a certain non-essential matter of faith.
2. They each “ask God for themselves” regarding the matter.
3. They each receive a personal “confirmation” from God that their view is correct.

Do you see the problem here? Because there is only one true God who cannot contradict himself, then regardless of how minor the matter in disagreement really is, these two Christians must conclude that at least one of them believes in a false God, and must hence be a false believer!

Exercising Diligence in Discerning the Truths of God

How then should we discern the correct understanding regarding matters of faith? The Apostle Paul writes:

2 Timothy 2:15 Exercise diligence to show yourself approved to God a workman unashamed, correctly traversing the word of the truth.

Notice that Paul does not tell Timothy to pray and ask God to magically put the truth into his mind, or give him personal experiences regarding the correct understanding. Paul recognized that arriving at the correct understanding regarding the truths of God requires an exercise of diligence; it takes effort. In an earlier letter, Paul instructed Timothy:

1 Timothy 5:17 The elders who rule well, let them be esteemed worthy of double honour, especially those who toil in word and teaching.

The Greek word for “toil” here is the verb kopiaō, which means to work hard until one becomes worn out, exhausted and depleted. Many Christians assume that if a person toils to understand the truths of God, then he must be using his own “self-effort” and not relying on the Holy Spirit to discern the truth. However, that cannot be the case, since God considers such an elder “worthy of double honour”.

Elsewhere, Paul writes:

2 Timothy 2:7 Consider what I am saying, because God will give to you understanding in all things.

The Greek word for “consider” here is the verb noeō, which means to exercise one’s nous, “mind”, in understanding a matter. Paul did not see a contradiction between Timothy using his mind to understand a matter and God giving him understanding regarding that matter. Contrarily, he told Timothy to “consider”—use his mind—precisely because God was giving him understanding. Paul did not say to Timothy: “God will give you understanding in all things, so just trust him and do not use your own mind.” Rather, he believed that God would give Timothy understanding regarding the matter even as he uses his mind to consider that matter.

Conclusion

Of course, it is true that if God does not give us understanding, then we will surely fail to understand God’s truths. Indeed, God gives us understanding regarding matters of the faith, but not by magically putting the correct understanding into our minds without any effort on our part to understand his truths. Rather, he works supernaturally naturally—through our diligence and toil in word and teaching, through our logical and honest reasoning, and through our debates and discussions with one another.