Absolutism
1. “In those days Israel had no king, everyone did as he saw fit”(Judges). [The Israelites unwittingly, were reaping the natural digression into chaos after adoption of a philosophy akin to the First Amendment theory of absolutism.]
2. “…These men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and … things they do understand by in-stinct, like unreasoning animals – these destroy them” (Jude 10).
Marketplace of Ideas
1. “Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, ‘May we know what this new teaching is that your are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean”(Acts 17:19-20).
2. “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11).
3. “Every Sabbath [Paul] reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks” (Acts 18:4).
4. “…You must inquire, probe and investi-gate it thoroughly. And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you, you must … put to the sword all … in that town” (Deuteronomy. 13:12-15).
5. “If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what it is for-bidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, they are guilty” (Leviticus 4:13).
6. “Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7).
7. “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1)
8. “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 10:16).
9. “…It is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a coverup for evil”(1 Peter 2:14).
10. “Have nothing to do with … fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible …” (Ephesians 5:11-13)