As humans, we often feel we are able to do just about anything we want to do. We disdain authority when it goes against our own desires. People don’t like to have to change their way of living to suit someone or something else. When it comes to religious matters it is vital that we find out what God ordains for us and what He does not.
“but test everything; hold fast what is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21 (ESV))
There is a reason we are to test the doctrines of preachers, teachers, denominations, and churches. It is just a simple matter of reasoning; two people expressing two differing interpretations of one doctrine cannot both be right. It is possible that they both can be wrong but no way can both be right. Notice that Jesus taught us that there would be wolves coming in sheep’s clothing (Mt 7:15). We are taught to try every teacher and teaching because there are many false prophets gone out into the world (1 Jn 4:1ff). Paul marveled that the Galatian brethren accepted a false gospel (Ga 1:6-9). He said that those who pervert or change the true gospel are cursed.
Can a person come to the truth simply by listening to the teaching of men? They can if the preacher or teacher is actually teaching the truth. But, that is not always the case. That is why we are to study the word of God for ourselves proving whether the teaching is truth or not like the faithful Bereans of Acts 17:11-12.
Paul commanded that we take heed to ourselves and to the doctrine in doing so we will save ourselves (1Ti 4:16). There was a time when people loved the word of God and demanded that it be taught and followed. However, over time the devil has crept in teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Mt 15:9). These are the seducing spirits who proclaim the doctrine of devils (1Ti 4:1ff).
Let us heed the teaching of Paul, “Whatever you do in word or deed do all in the name of the Lord.” (Co 3:16-17), Let the word of Christ dwell in us richly so that we can know the truth and be set free (Jo 8:32). Let us demand from preachers and teachers book chapter and verse for every doctrine. Let us know the truth enough to identify false teaching and stop it before it pollutes people.
Why are there so many churches teaching so many different doctrines, worshiping God in so many different ways, and convincing people of salvation in ways not even mentioned in the Bible? It is because we are not living by the injunction to “Prove (test) all things and hold fast to that which is good.” We have forgotten to ask “what does the Scripture say?” (Ro 4:3). Let’s start living by the teaching of Christ in all we say and do in His church!
Worship Thoughts 