What is your source for authority? Is it the Bible? Your denomination? Your pastor? Maybe it's the Church Fathers? What I have noticed over the last 5-10 years is that many people have a source they go to for what they believe, and don't go to the Bible as their final authority (Sola Scriptura). Now I realize the Bible does teach in many places people who are put in authority for positions in which they are called by God to lead people, but that does not negate the responsibility of those who follow God to not be cautious and test things according to what the Scriptures teach.
For example, lately a lot of discussions I have had with Roman Catholics and even those of the Orthodox Church will claim to go to the Church Fathers, or that their traditions are just as equal as what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches tradition can be a good thing but not when it goes against the Bible or teaches something completely new as a requirement for a person to be saved. For example the Roman Catholic Church Magisterium in official sources claims that for a person to be saved they must be physically water baptized, they must believe when they take communion aka the Eucharist that it becomes the literal flesh and blood of Jesus and is not just symbolic, and that the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception and the Assumption of Mary are considered essential to be saved. Do you see a problem here? Where does the Bible teach what they claim? The answer is no where, these teachings are unbiblical and false.
Another example is the Orthodox Church leaders and sources claiming one must believe in the Perpetual Virginity of Mary or you are anathema! They also claim you must be water baptized in their church to be saved. The Orthodox Church teaches by taking the Eucharist aka communion a person has their sins forgiven, and this is a perpetual thing to be done over and over to have their sins forgiven. They also claim that if you simply believe taking communion is symbolic and does not become literal flesh and blood of Jesus you are not saved. In fact if you reject the teachings of the Orthodox Church on what they believe about the sacraments you are considered anathema! If you believe praying to icons and Mary is idolatry you are considered anathema! These are some wild and crazy claims from the Orthodox Church, but does the Bible teach these claims? No, the Bible does not teach these things!
Both the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church have many unbiblical and false teachings on how to be saved, and unless a person is examining and testing what they claim from what the Bible teaches in context that person will be deceived and led astray. What does the Bible say on testing what people teach and the warnings of false teachers? Here are a few examples from what the Bible teaches.
"10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so." ACTS 17:10-11
"6 Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other." 1 COR. 4:6
"14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some." 2 TIM. 2:14-18
"14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 TIM. 3:14-17
"2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry." 2 TIM. 4:2-5
"3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain." 1 TIM. 6:3-5
"8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." COL. 2:8
"17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. 18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting." ROMANS 16:17-18
"13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; 16 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong." 1 PETER 3:13-17
"3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ." JUDE 1:3-4
"15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits." MATT. 7:15-20
"24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect." MATT. 24:24
"1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." 1 JOHN 4:1
"21 Little children, guard yourselves from idols." 1 JOHN 5:21
"6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!" GAL. 1:6-9
"3 But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. 4 For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully...13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds." 2 COR. 11:3-4&13-15
"1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves." 2 PETER 2:1
"29 I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with tears." ACTS 20:29-31
So how will you respond? Will you go along with your church affiliations? Will you go along with your pastors or leaders? Or will you be eager to learn and cautious to examine the Bible on what you are being taught in that it lines up with what Jesus taught, what the apostles and prophets taught? Be "Bereans", test all things and hold fast to what is good and biblical? Paul says in 1 THESSALONIANS 5:21-22 : "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil." That is my encouragement to you today, and pray this is a blessing for you. Please share this with others.
Here is a video https://youtu.be/SDvV53RDOls?si=OngbiY5fOsR1LF5i recently I did if you have not seen it addressing this and the importance of examining what you are being taught by whomever.
Lord bless you,
Kelly Powers
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