Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:15–16, NIV 1984).
My Musings – “In religion and politics people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second-hand [they say], and without examination, from authorities who have not themselves examined the questions at issue but have taken them at second-hand from other non-examiners, whose opinions about them were not worth a brass farthing.” (Mark Twain).
How often have you read an article or a post that started with “they say?” The questions you should always ask yourself are, “who are they and why should I care or believe what they say?” You should always want to know who “they” are, as well as satisfy yourself that what they “say” has any credibility. What makes them an authority or is what “they say” merely an opinion? Until you know who “they” are and have investigated for yourself what makes what they “say” authoritative, you should be very skeptical of the “farthing” they are trying to pass.
My Advice – We should expect the same skepticism from others about what we say. We are their “they.” We need to be credible in what we say and why we believe what we say.
The Brew Is A Musing 