Acts 17:11 *And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth* ( NLT).
Sometime ago, I started a series of teaching. I knew the teaching might ruffle some feathers and it did. Someone left the teaching platform angrily and accused me of teaching wrong stuff. Well, that accusation was nothing to me until proven. I expected the person to come with clear counter arguments from scriptures but she didn't.
I perceived her exit was because what I preached was against what her pastor preached. I deduced that from my conversation with her. I tried explaining what the bible says to her on that subject but she refused to examine the points raised. The next thing I discovered was that she blocked me.
She exhibited loyalty to men more than scriptures. Instead of taking the posture of Berean believers who searched the scriptures to confirm the teachings of Paul. Some have been conditioned to accept the word of their pastors as authority. Is this not the reason we have many babies in the body who are not growing spiritually?
I have engaged some believers in conversations where I observed their disregard for the authority of scriptures. They placed the opinion of their pastor or favourite preacher over the clear teachings of the bible. That is what I call 'Blind loyalty'.
*God is not raising "zombies". I am afraid of a system where people cannot ask questions for clarity sake but must forcefully accept what 'Papa' or 'Mama' says. It is easier for errors to thrive undetected in that kind of circle*.
The protestant reformation of the 16th century was aimed at breaking a corrupt system of blind loyalty to the Pope and church tradition that stood against the written word of God. Martin Luther and other reformers elevated the authority of scriptures above all other. Hence the term "Sola Scriptura", meaning 'Scripture alone is the authority'.
That is, what the bible says is final not what the Pope says. Unfortunately, I see a reversal of that among Charismatics today. Now, it is what 'Papa', Bishop or G.O. says not what God says. Some no longer study their bibles, just books and tapes of their favourite preachers.
God is calling me and you to return to the bible. Gone are the days where only the Bishops and priests had bibles. Now, the book is open for all to read. You can learn how to interpret bible accurately so you won't be deceived. This is the age of access to helpful information.
God did not make mistakes giving us sixty-six books for our own personal study of Him. Stay loyal to the truths in the written word. Don't accept men's ideas because the person who said it is a high ranking preacher.
*Give honour to whom honour is due and do not mix arrogance with knowledge but stay loyal to the word of God*.