Question: Are you 100%, absolutely, without any doubt whatsoever SURE that everything your preacher or Sunday School teacher says IS TRUE? I didn’t ask if you disagreed with what they say or didn’t like what they say, I asked if it was TRUE!
This post was motivated by THIS POST of mine. When my kids were growing up, my wife and I checked their rooms, email accounts, pockets, and cars periodically. “Why… didn’t you trust them?” Yes, but we verified our trust (Quote from Ronald Regan). “You do know they circumvented you don’t you?” Yes, but not always.
I read an article about two masterpiece paintings being on the back of the other. Seemed plausible… after all… it was on the internet! Yeah… that’s not a good reason to believe something. Thus the 3/4 useful website Snopes.com. Here’s the point oh Christian brother and sister…
When you listen to your Preacher (Or ANY preacher, or Sunday School teacher, or anyone teaching the Bible for that matter) trust BUT VERIFY everything they say! I don’t care who it is! Billy Graham, Tim Keller, John MacArther, Benny Hinn, or anyone else. TEST WHAT THEY SAY by Scripture! Why?
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 Jn 4:1)
Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. (1 Thess 5:20-21)
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. (1 Cor 14:29)
These Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. (Acts 17:11)
I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. (Rev 2:2)
With the internet, assume it is wrong… verify it. When listening to anyone preach or teach Scripture… listen, be discerning, ask for The Spirit’s leadership. But please, DO NOT believe whatever a person says just because they stand in a pulpit, use the Bible, and are persuasive in speaking.
Good advice, Brother Ron.