Consider the Source
For days and days, I have been wanting a bit of information for a couple of units I have been working on in our update of America the Beautiful. I have searched and searched online. Two other folks on our team have searched and searched. We can’t find what I’m looking for! It’s not that we can’t find something. I have seen information about this on the Internet time and time again, but not from a source that I trust completely. It’s just that we can’t find an absolutely authoritative source for the information.
I feel like the mama in Macy’s Department Store in Miracle on 34th Street who was trying to find a fire engine for her little boy. She said, “I’ve been all over. I tell you Macy’s ain’t got any. Ain’t nobody got any.”
Finally, I decided to email a highly-respected museum — an authority on the very subject in question. Then, I waited. After a few days, I got a reply. The museum technician said she searched their library and didn’t find it.
Now I really feel like that mama in the movie!
This experience got me to thinking about sources. The world is full of opinions. And the Internet we have come to depend on is a seemingly endless source of information — and opinions. I have a deep concern about the impact of the Internet on children and teenagers. Aside from the obvious horrific content they can find too easily, I am also concerned about their dependence on the Internet as a source. A wealth of good information is there and a wealth of garbage.
We must introduce children and teens to the Source of all truth. Every person needs to know God’s will so that they can judge every source in light of His will.
Once Jesus had a confrontation with the chief priests and the elders of the Jews. When they challenged Jesus, He responded by pinning them down about their opinion about John the Baptist. Jesus asked:
“The baptism of John was from what source,
from heaven or from men?”
Matthew 21:25
They punted.
And they began reasoning among themselves, saying,
“If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us,
‘Then why did you not believe him?’
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people;
for they all regard John as a prophet.”
And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.”
Matthew 21:25
How wishy washy can you be!
In my research question, the source matters. The source matters in every other question, too.
Although He was a Son,
He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.
And having been made perfect,
He became to all those who obey Him
the source of eternal salvation . . .
Hebrews 5:8-9
That three-word adage I’ve heard for most of my life is true: Consider the source.
. . . for us there is but one God, the Father,
from whom are all things and we exist for Him;
and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things,
and we exist through Him.
1 Corinthians 8:6