Direct Answer
A serious Christian could begin by admitting that his or her slate is not blank, giving opposing biblical arguments a fair hearing, and carefully distinguishing the words of Scripture from inherited explanations. The transcript’s main practical tool is to ask what a passage would seem to say if one had no prior theological system.
Support from Transcript
- Bercot says “preconceived ideas are normal,” but they are also “a barrier to finding truth.” - He says the “battle is half-won” when a person recognizes and admits “that his slate is not blank.” - He warns against forming beliefs when “equal time is not allowed for an opposing set of doctrines.” - He urges readers to separate “our doctrinal beliefs, our plausible explanations, from the actual language of Scripture.” - He says a blank slate means having “no theological system to defend.” - He suggests asking, “If I didn’t know any better, what would I probably think this verse was saying?”
Discussion Follow-ups
Concrete practices include slow reading, restating the verse without doctrinal additions, inviting correction, and studying passages before consulting one’s preferred tradition.