A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26. He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to the alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical "dihydrogen monoxide." And for plenty of good reasons, since it:

1. causes excessive sweating and vomiting.

2. is a major component in acid rain.

3. can cause severe burns in its gaseous state.

4. is a fact that accidental inhalation can kill you.

5. contributes to erosion.

6. decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes.

7. has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients.

He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical dihydrogen monoxide. Forty-three said yes, six were undecided, and only one knew that the chemical was... WATER!!!

The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?" The conclusion is obvious.

Religion is another area where people have a tendency to be gullible. Extreme examples can be found in David Koresh's followers and the Heaven's Gate cult. But it can happen any time we believe someone without checking out God's Word to see if what is being taught is the truth. Faith does not mean blindly accepting whatever anyone (even a preacher) says. John warned, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1).

Use God's Word to discern between what is true and what is false. And if you feel like living dangerously today, pour yourself a big tall glass of dihydrogen monoxide. Have a great day!

This ought to cause us to remember and to beware that facts can be so easily manipulated and that gullible people are ready, willing, and able to uncritically believe and act upon just about anything. Careful thinkers gather all available and relevant facts before drawing hasty conclusions. Divisive "church members", dishonest politicians, faultfinders, and other evil sorts distort and manipulate facts for the consumption of the gullible. Adolf Hitler was not willing to openly discuss his doctrines. He correctly believed that if you repeatedly claim that certain things are true, long enough, then people will believe them.

We all need to always obey the biblical injunction to "test all things" and to "hold fast what is good" (1 Thess 5:21). The result, for all honest and faithful people will be that we will "abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thess 5:22).

 

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