"Test all things"
1 Thessalonians. 5:21
There are many people with some desire to be religious, but not enough desire to
dig in to read and study the Bible. Many of these just find a man, a preacher,
and trust him. Whatever he says, they depend upon; he is their "man of God," in
a sense beyond the biblical. They believe what he says; trust his answers to
every question, resting the salvation of their souls in him. They still
read and study the Bible some, but always take his word.
Not a good idea because no man is infallible. Regardless of how much you love
someone, that affection does not make them
infallible. Men may prove themselves to be educated, eloquent, charming and able
to fill buildings with people. Yet they remain
fallible, capable of error.
Those in Berea searched the Scriptures daily, to see if what they were hearing
was true to God's Word (Acts 17:11).
John and Peter both warned of false teachers, and Jesus said they may come to us
in sheep's clothing (Matt. 7:15; 1 Jno. 4:1; 2 Pet. 2:1). John said our duty is
to "test the spirits," and Paul said: "Test everything. Hold on to the good." (1
Thess. 5:21).
There is one body of religious instruction that should govern all that we
believe, teach and practice. That is, the Word of God.
Nothing should be accepted as true; nothing should be practiced or recommended –
unless it is taught in the Word of God. Each
individual must take this obligation seriously.
By Warren E. Berkley
Front Page
From Expository Files 10.7; July 2003
