Probably no three English words embrace greater wisdom than these, "Prove all things." The first demands the clear thinking of the logician, with the rigid impartiality of the judge; the rejection of all that is false: the retention of all that is true. It is imperative; a command to each individual to do the work for himself. Only in so far as he has proved himself right may he venture to direct others, though he may indicate what he considers would naturally follow certain premises.
For centuries this command of St. Paul has been obeyed by an occasional individual, and then usually in the realm of things called material, because it seems to demand too much, and because acceptance of authority and acquiescence in popular opinion require no effort, and for the time being, at least, subject the holder to no discomfort. The individual who obeys this command may first question, next doubt popular opinion, then believe a statement which reverses this opinion. In all stages of his progress, however, he is more than likely to be branded as an outcast until popular thought overcomes its inertia and accepts his opinion or proof. But, anomaly of anomalies, if the individual be one of those to whom the command seems most fittingly. to apply: namely, a student of the Bible, he is often dubbed heretic, agnostic, infidel, or something else supposedly dire, and is held up to ridicule, if not to something worse. In his effort to obey this command he is impelled by an honest purpose. He is searching for the truth, and nothing but the truth will satisfy him. He acts upon the assumption that a statement cannot be both true and false, a proposition which even his most active opponents will admit as tenable. In the search for truth why should any Biblical assertion be ignored? St. Paul's command admits of no exception; it distinctly says, "all." And it means each statement, whether thought to be true or false, and the questioning, if done with honest intent, should be respected and honored.
The topics most vital to Christianity are those of God's existence and nature and man's relation to God. These topics have elicited perhaps more speculation than any others which have ever engaged the attention of mankind. Because, however, of wrong premises or the admission of fallacious reasoning, the discussion of these topics has brought forth more bitterness, hate, persecution, strife, and kindred ills than any other subject with which the human mind has grappled. And yet, with the effort to follow in daily life the trend of clear and correct thought, no such pitiful conditions would or could have marred the pages of mortal history.
