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COMMENT: If we were to say those at Berea were noble because they
checked what the Apostle said to them against the Old Testament Scrip-
tures, most would agree. It is safe to say that very few people are objec-
tive. It is also safe to say that few religious church-goers thoroughly
check what is taught to them -- and that most of them do not do this
daily.

From history we must agree that people are capable of believing anything,
and it is more common for people to believe just what they want to believe.
Sometimes they believe and act out of fear or emotionalism; there are
many motives for belief. There is culture, indoctrination, peer pressure, and
such things, but as far as the Bible is concerned, possibly the worst thing
is tradition, because of its pre-conditioning.

3. Did the Scribes and Pharisees make the Word of YEHOVAH God of no
effect because of their tradition? Matthew 15:3; 6; 7-9.

COMMENT: We have traditional teachings today and, as well, we have
such things as charismatic leaders; they go about trying to persuade peo-
ple, just as Jim Jones or Hitler did.

So, we can see just why we are told to judge all things. By what standard
do we make these judgments? We are to examine the Word to see if these
things be so and to believe them accordingly. We are to dig deep, to seek
and to search. This indicates the necessity of doing research, of comparing
Scripture with Scripture, and checking translations if necessary. Every
growing Christian will be taught about YEHOVAH God during these activi-
ties. He will be refining his beliefs continually, and sometimes he will freely
admit that at times he has been wrong -- mainly because of what he has
been led to believe.

4. How did Solomon approach this question? Ecclesiastes 1:13.

COMMENT: This shows the attitude that is needed.

The problem with many teachers is that they become too proud to ever
back-track. Back-tracking is very rare indeed and through pride they are
brought to a place where they can never be taught themselves. So, they
keep on plugging the same old line and say, We cannot see it any other
way. The Truth of YEHOVAH God has always been, but none of us know it
all. Today, some teachers could be likened to surgeons who were still
bloodletting in the same way it was done in earlier years and who would not

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