Being Berean

By David Foucar

Recently, given the pace of life, I have begun to listen to audio books. When travelling long distances, listening seems like a good use of time. For longer periods, my wife and I tend to select “entertainment” oriented listening: crime fiction, murder mysteries and the like. For shorter periods, I try to choose more edifying materials: devotions, Bible studies, and commentaries.

One reason for this listening is that I am committed to continued learning. When I’m open and seeking Him, God continues to reveal new truths and perspectives to me. Even the most basic tenets take on new and deeper meaning. The seeking draws me closer to Him and, I pray, leads me to new and deeper ways to serve Him. Of course, as with everything else, it makes sense to be discerning about what we listen to. We should check what we hear and see against God’s Word and the confirmation of the Holy Spirit.

During Paul’s second missionary journey he preached to a group of Jews in Berea who give us a good example of how we should approach new learning. The Bible tells us that “…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.” (Act 17:11) One thing I find compelling is that the Berean’s began their examination by receiving Paul’s teaching with “great eagerness.”

Often, I’ve found myself looking for issues, being skeptical, or even antagonistic rather than “eager.” I can even justify to myself that this attitude is appropriate because of the negative things I’ve seen happen in the church and in the world. I simply have to watch out! And, of course, there is a place for what we might consider “healthy” skepticism. But should it be our first response? Skepticism and antagonism should not be confused with discernment. Instead, like the Berean’s, we need to be eager for God to show us something new. I have to ask myself from time to time, am I open to new learning or am I closed to it?

 Can we avoid being closed to new learning? I think so. And, guess what, it isn’t that difficult. We can start by listening to, watching, or reading different things. We might have a favorite preacher, podcast, or commentator. That’s not a bad thing but, if you think about it, sometimes what we listen to or read resonates with us because it agrees with what we already know or believe. Again, that’s not a bad thing; I don’t want you to throw the baby out with the bath water. But, maybe, just maybe, you can take a look at what you’re listening to, reading, or watching and pare it down to what is really helpful. With the extra space try some new things.

Listen to someone you’ve never listened to before. You might listen to someone from a different denominational bent, or even political background (perish the thought!). We may not agree, but at the very least, we’ll understand a different point of view a little better and, perhaps, God will teach us to address those differences in a helpful and loving way.

While being eager to learn, we need also to be cautious. There are a lot of ideas out there. Some of them are helpful and others can be downright damaging. While we need not be negative, we shouldn’t accept everything. As we seek new growth and learning, it’s a good idea to start by asking God into the process. Simply praying for God to help us see truth in all things invites the Holy Spirit to guide us in our learning. And, let’s not forget that the Berean’s weren’t just “eager” to receive a new message; they were also ready to “examine the Scriptures” in order to test Paul’s message.

Now, let’s be clear for a moment, we may have an inaccurate view of the Berean’s. You see, the Berean’s didn’t have the scripture available to them in the same way that we do. In our world, a Bible is readily available anytime and anywhere. Many of us have multiple copies and translations (even if they might not leave our shelves). “Scripture”, for the Berean’s, was the Old Testament primarily kept on scrolls in the synagogue. “Examining the Scriptures” was a serious undertaking. It wasn’t done in a vacuum alone, but together. Their “examining” was to see if Paul’s message aligned with what the Old Testament said about Messiah. And, “as a result, many of them believed.” (Act 17:12)

With this in mind, how does this apply to us? First, we, like the Berean’s, should know, and be confident, that Jesus is the foretold Messiah the Old Testament spoke of. This fact is essential to understanding who Jesus is and foundational to all other new learning. Secondly, while we need an attitude that is eager for new learning, we need to take the examination seriously and look for help in our understanding. We have multiple resources available to us that the Berean’s didn’t. Thank God, we have access to both the Old and New Testament. We have insight through commentaries, devotionals, and multiple teachers. All of these in multiple formats from books to podcasts, videos, etc. As I said before, when we receive new information, ask God into the process. Pray for His guidance. But also seek the input of others: trusted Christian friends, small groups, and pastors. And, of course, study the Scripture, your Bible. Check the references given, confirm the context. Simply, do the work.

Stretch yourself!

See how God will grow you and show you new things.

Be like a Berean.    

David Foucar has a passion for teaching God’s word and has led Sunday School, Bible Studies, and Small Groups of all ages. He has served as a supply preacher and has been a lead speaker and seminar leader at Couples Retreats, Men’s Retreats, and Family and Youth Camps. David’s first book, “What Do I Say When Asked About Jesus?” is a conversational approach to helping people answer questions about Jesus. The book provides a layman’s perspective on personal evangelism and the basics of the Christian faith. “What Do I Say When Asked about Jesus?” gives the average Christian tools to help share about Jesus while increasing confidence in their own faith. Dave has been married for thirty-six years to the love of his life, Debbie. They have three daughters, two sons-in-law, and two granddaughters. Follow Dave on Substack

Feature Image by wisconsinpictures from Pixabay