Indeed, before delving into a discussion of the Bible’s viewpoint on a certain topic, we do well to try to determine what our listener really believes.
وَإِلَّا ،‏ فَقَدْ نَصْرِفُ وَقْتًا طَوِيلًا وَنَحْنُ نَدْحَضُ فِكْرَةً لَا يُؤْمِنُ بِهَا فِي ٱلْأَسَاسِ .‏ —‏ ١ كو ٩ :‏ ٢٦‏ .‏