When you have a question about the Bible where do you turn? First, you should stop and pray. The Spirit of God helps us to understand God’s Word. God’s Spirit helps us to understand and apply God’s Word. If you still need help you should turn to your pastor or church leader. Have you ever thought about who they turn to for help?

I have many years of theological education. I have a Bachelors of Theology with a Minor in Bible, a Master’s of Divinity, and I am pursuing a Doctor of Missiology. All in all, I have about ten years of theological education. I still have questions. Do you want to know where I turn? I use a host of resources. Apart from prayer and studying the Word, I use two main computer options. I use Logos Bible Software. I have used the program for years. It is invaluable for my study. The other option I use is…Google. Seriously, I have a Google search up almost all the time. It is fast and pretty accurate. I normally will search it in Google and then dive down deep in Logos. I am not like most pastors, well not like most pastors outside the United States.

When I was in Ecuador in October of 2012, I had the privilege to teach twenty local pastors about Church History. Now, I have to admit, I am a history fan. I love the names, dates, and archaic language of primary sources. I love to read about the origins of things and the events that shape modern day traditions. Even though I love history, I do not find it emotionally stirring. In fact, sometimes it is flat out boring!

Now imagine, getting ready to teach twenty pastors the last four hundred years of church history, 1600-present after they have been in class for over thirty five hours that week. An elder from the church I attend had just finished teaching 1100-1599. He taught the Crusades, Reformation, and Spanish expansion into South America. When I started teaching, a man stood up and started speaking, well he was yelling. Then he stated waving his arms up in the air. After what felt like an eternity, which was probably fifteen seconds, the rest of the pastors started echoing the man.

At this point, I thought someone had said something offensive. I was really hoping it was the guy before me because I had several hours of teaching left! I thought there was going to be a mutiny on our hands. I turned to the translator and asked him what the man was saying. He told me he said the man was praising God because he never knew how God brought the Bible and the Gospel to Ecuador. He had always believed with blind faith that the Bible was true and that God was faithful to bring the truth with them. The men were echoing thanksgiving and praise to God by exclaiming they now had the facts to back up their faith.

That is when it hit me, I take Wikipedia and Google for granted.