[397 words]
“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).
Many people have put forth ideals that they call religious teaching. Some give a verse from the Bible, to make their claim sound like it is true. Others claim to have received a new revelation from God. Should we always accept any such teaching, without examining it carefully and completely, by God’s word?
Some want to use only one verse, as if the whole Bible was not really important for us to know. Some emphasize John 3:16, as though it is all one needs to know. They overlook Matthew 4:4: “But He answered and said, “it is written, ‘man shall not live on bread alone, but on very word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’.” Jesus quoted this from Deuteronomy 8:3. In this place Moses was telling children of Israel that they needed to obey all the commands of God. We have the same teaching in the New Testament. The apostle Paul, talking to the elders from Ephesus: For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27, NKJV). “Again: So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (v.32).
When we hear something which we do not understand, or which we have not heard before, we must ask, what is the value of this. How would this help me to be a better Christian. And most of all we must ask, does the Bible really teach this? If such will not have any benefit in helping in Christian living, then it may cause me to waste time. If it is really taught in the Bible, then it is not a new thing.
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything, worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).
Stay with God’s word. It teaches us how to go to heaven.
Wayne Curry