DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT!

One of the greatest Christians, if not the greatest, was the Apostle Paul.  Not only did he write nearly half of the New Testament, he continually suffered for his faith, eventually being martyred (2 Cor. 11:24-31; Paul's death is not recorded in the Bible, but is clearly implied - Acts 9:16; 2 Tim. 4:6-8)!  Paul certainly demonstrated his apostleship through performing miracles, and he even was used of the Lord to raise the dead (Acts 14:7-9; 16:16-18; 19:11-12; 20:9-12; 28:7-9; etc.).  If there was ever a man of God who could be trusted, it was the Apostle Paul!  And yet, Paul hoped that those listening to his preaching would not take his word for it, but would go home and compare what he preached with the Scriptures, to see if what he said was true!  Luke wrote:

"And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.  Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women who were Greeks, and of men, not a few" (Acts 17:10-12).

What was true in the days of the Apostles, is even more true today!  They had only the Old Testament Scriptures to verify what was being taught, while we have the benefit of having both the Old and the New Testament revelation of God's truth.  And while all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness, it requires diligent study, comparing Scripture with Scripture (1 Cor. 2:13; 2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16; etc.)!  My favorite example of how one must take ALL that the Scripture says on a subject in order to know God's thoughts on the matter, is the Bible's teaching on divorce.  Divorce was permitted, but it certainly was not God's will (Deut. 24:1-4; Mal. 2:16; Mt. 5:31-32; 19:3-12).  God only allowed divorce for one reason, and believe it or not, it was not adultery; it was "because of the hardness of your hearts!"  The real sin is not loving one's spouse! 

I have said all this to say, any individual who insists his church blindly follow his leadership without consulting God's Word to verify what he is teaching, is certainly a "wolf in sheep's clothing!"  That goes for Sunday school teachers, deacons, elders, pastors, bishops, cardinals, and even popes!  The Word of God is the standard against which all teaching must be compared!  If you are in a church where questioning the leadership is forbidden, where the leader insists that he or she is infallible, then "run for the hills!"  Your leader is a heretic, an apostate, an instrument of Satan!  Even Jesus said that His followers should observe His miraculous works so that they could trust Him (Jn. 14:10-11)!

 

All men are fallible, and those who blindly follow them are headed for destruction!