1. What does the Bible say? If you find Biblical reference, than you can decide if it is right or not.

2. What does tradition say? How has tradition and history handled the issue.

3. What does your own personal experience say? Base it off of what your experience in life has told you.

4. What does logic say? What does your human logic say on the issue, is it real or not.

I like how these NEED to go in this order, it is weighted. Like 80% Bible, 12% Tradition, 7% Experience, and 1% Your logic.

It has to be like that, because there is no way our logic is = to the word of God. Just thought I'd post this, I like this trinket from the Methodist church.

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To err is human--and to blame it on a computer is even more so. - Robert Orben

Blind belief is dangerous. - Kenyan Proverb

Computers are useless. They can only give you answers. - Pablo Picasso

"For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away." 2 Cor 3:14-16

So if our hearts aren't turned toward Christ, then our hearts can be veiled to the truth when we read scripture.

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I agree with Steve's sentiments on the first point. Also, one phrase I try to implement is "interpret scripture with scripture". So many times it's easy to take a verse out of the Bible and apply it with full force while ignoring the other verses in the Bible. Scripture must be kept in context of other scripture, and so many ideas in scripture are juxtaposed. Such as the perfection expected of believers in 1 John and the forgiveness for sins found in Romans. The book of Hosea is a beautiful picture of a contrast between justice and forgiveness. But often that contrast isn't contained in the same chapter, or even the same book, and so we have to be careful to look at the whole of scripture to make sure we understand the balanced, scriptural viewpoint.

Thanks for posting this, Max! You're right -- it's a great nugget from the Methodist chruch!

Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Hebrews 4:2 "...the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith..."