Asking the tough questions

[gdemoss]

Asking the tough questions:

Who decides what is a credible source?

[The_Patriot21]

That's a good question gde. And in many debates the sources do get questioned, and that's OK if you ask me at least a source was quoted. If you ask me a good source is one that can be verified by other sources, but ultimately the person making the argument should decide on what source to quote. If its not a valid source that's ok-at least then the other person can see where the argument is coming from and even refute the source if necessary

[gdemoss]

That's a good question gde. And in many debates the sources do get questioned, and that's OK if you ask me at least a source was quoted. If you ask me a good source is one that can be verified by other sources, but ultimately the person making the argument should decide on what source to quote. If its not a valid source that's ok-at least then the other person can see where the argument is coming from and even refute the source if necessary

This is part of my difficulty. Ultimately the person receiving the message decides for themselves whether or not the source is credible or not. I have a message. Jesus Christ is Lord. So one asks for my source. My source was Jim Shaffer. His source was another man. I believe that the original source was God but cannot prove it. I can show many proofs in the world today and throughout history that it is possible that the original came from God but cannot do much but build up a credible source in the eyes of the one whom I am testifying unto until he is willing to accept or decline based upon my reasoning of sources and their credibility but in the end it all boils down to the individual who is being given the testimony to decide who is a credible source. From the moment that one declares they need a credible source for information, they have declared the initial messenger to not be a credible source or they would have simply accepted that which was presented.

1Th 2:13 ¶ For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Paul was simply accepted as a credible source for the word of God.

According to the word of God, those that bring the true testimony of God have signs following to confirm them. I have witnessed this in many aspects of my ministry unto others. In one case I taught a man each week and his pastor would preach a sermon on that which I taught him the next time he went to church. God wanted him to believe me and bore me witness. In another case I explained to my daughter the exact consequences for disobedience in a certain thing and upon her disobedience God caused the consequence that I declared would happen to happen and therefore helped to train my daughter to obey my voice. I could go on but my point is simple. Those who bring the truth need not a credible source but need signs following. Those who God has taught to hear his voice through me by signs following are now having an easier time to receive the more difficult things such as biblical prophecy that I have explained to them are going to come to pass shortly. On these types of things waiting until they come to pass to see if they were correct have serious consequences.

One problem we run into when seeking a credible source is that evidence based upon what we personally deem credible is a reliance upon self and therefore prone to error. One may look at any number of religious entities in the world and say that their is a certain amount of credibility to all of them and conclude in error that there are multiple ways unto God. They can get caught up in the confusion of perceived credibility due to manifestation of personal testimony and subjective opinions of interpretation of data and end up in endless error. God caused the twisting of the tongues at the tower of Babel for at least one known reason which is found in Acts 17, that we might seek after him because of that division. God is the credible source who provides signs following unto those who bring the truth. And of course we have those who with lying signs and wonders deceive the simple and for this cause we need be cautious.

God being our source of credibility should be easy enough for us to comprehend. Each of us sits with our bibles open and seeks to discover the truth of our Father through his word. We come to certain conclusions about that which we read and put them into practical application. Upon doing so we should have signs following or we are being led astray down some rabbit trail. As we interact with others sharing our testimony of God and his word, God will always provide evidence for the truth we share. When a man came to me preaching Jesus and I sent him on his way agreeing to disagree, the Holy Spirit remained behind convincing me of my sin, righteousness and the judgment to come until I fell to my knees acknowledging the truth two days later.

These are a few of my thoughts on the matter. I need to stop writing or I will end up with a book. May God give the increase to each of us as we seek to obey him in truth. Thanks for the discussion brother as it has been fruitful for me to examine the topic of the OP.

[The_Patriot21]

If the original source was God then you should be able to find it in the Bible. But to me if you can back up your argument-be it with scripture, reasoning, or a third party source, or preferably, a combination of the above, it at least shows that one has put some thought into the argument presented. And furthermore you can actually apply these same principles and questions to find out if the source is credible or not.

My point of this post isn't to attack, nor to define exactly what information is good-or define what side is right or wrong-but to teach how to think out their arguments, and those of others, to encourage healthy debate and discussion.

[gdemoss]

If the original source was God then you should be able to find it in the Bible.

How do you conclude this?

[The_Patriot21]

Gods word is in the Bible, God will never tell us anything that is in addition to, or contrary, to what the Bible says (revelation 22:19)-so if Its something that God is saying, then at the very least, the principles, are found Biblically. But, lets explore this. You are debating whether this source was originally from God, ask these questions about the source.

Who made the comment in question. Who is the source.

What is the source, what is question being asked, in essence. What are you, or the source, trying to prove.

Where did you come across this information.

When did the person who you got the source, come across the informatiom.

why do you think it is from God.

How does the message apply to our lives, and how does it fit with scripture.

So you see, these questions, can be applied, to verify sources, as well. In a debate if you want to quote Jim shaffer, thats fine. I am re-emphasizing this here-the point of this wasnt to start a debate, or even define what "is" and "isnt" a reputable source. Like you said, what is a reputable source is often dependent on the individual people, whether they accept it or not, my intent, is to get people to think through the point they are trying to emphasize. Like posting a link so a natural occurance, and just saying that its a sign of the end times. Well, they provided a source-and it did happen, so theres no argument there, but they don't connect the dots, they cant answer the question of how it is a sign of the end times, where in scripture it talks about this, etc. Or, someone makes an argument hey, your wrong, but cant tell you why your wrong. That is what Im getting at-Im challenging people to think through their posts, and their replies, Im not challenging, what is, or what is not, a reputable source.

[gdemoss]

Gods word is in the Bible, God will never tell us anything that is in addition to, or contrary, to what the Bible says (revelation 22:19)-so if Its something that God is saying, then at the very least, the principles, are found Biblically.

Limiting the quote to the above as I am in perfect agreement with the rest of your post, friend.

Rev 22:18-19 ¶ For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and [from] the things which are written in this book.

Adding to or subtracting from has qualifiers in this section of scripture. The words spoken of are both "of the prophecy" and "of this book" in the above. Do you then take this to mean that God has disclosed everything that can be known within scripture and that he has disclosed nothing to anyone outside of scripture? Again to further clarify what I am asking, are you using this scripture to declare that everything that is ever revealed unto man is revealed within the pages of the bible and that God has never and will never use anything else, whether separate or in conjunction with scripture that does not contradict it?

We are in agreement that God will never contradict the bible. The issue in question is whether or not he will use that which is not directly found in scripture to reveal something unto us so long as it does not contradict that which is stated in the bible outright or in principle.

[The_Patriot21]

I do believe that everything that we need to know, God has already told us in His book. However moss, Im not here to debate that-this was not the point of my initial post, the point of the post, was to get people to think through what it is they are debating. If you wish to debate whether God has told us stuff after the Bible, then we should start a new debate topic, and debate it. This was not intended as a debate topic-it was intended as a tool to help people learn to debate better.

[gdemoss]

I do believe that everything that we need to know, God has already told us in His book. However moss, Im not here to debate that-this was not the point of my initial post, the point of the post, was to get people to think through what it is they are debating. If you wish to debate whether God has told us stuff after the Bible, then we should start a new debate topic, and debate it. This was not intended as a debate topic-it was intended as a tool to help people learn to debate better.

[Guest]

... I have a message. Jesus Christ is Lord. So one asks for my source. My source was Jim Shaffer. His source was another man. I believe that the original source was God but cannot prove it....

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