Beware of the Preacher!
"Study to Show yourself approved"
By Rev. Pamela Staver
Let me ask you this question. Why is it so important to love God with your mind and to study His Word for yourself? Well, first of all the bible tells us to "Study to show theyself approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who rightly divides the word of truth." 2 Timonty 2:15
God doesn’t want us to just take the words of men as the final and total authority about who He is and how we should live. He wants us to study His word and discover his truths for OURSELVES. Because people can and will lead you astray. He doesn’t want you to be led astray by the wrong teachings of people or the deceptions of the devil. And lets face it, not all people have our best interests at heart. Some will lead you astray intentionally and then there are those who will lead you astray unknowingly. Remember, mankind’s hearts are evil and easily deceived and confused...everyone who says they are preaching and teaching the gospel is not necessarily preaching and teaching the TRUE gospel of Christ. but how would we know the difference between the real and the false if we don’t study God’s Word for ourselves?
You know, if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll admit that a lot of what we are taught in the traditional church is...well...just TRADITION. Sometimes it has nothing to do with the true and pure Word of God. It is tradition, a certain way of doing things, a certan way of talking or acting, that religious "Church-y" way that we have. And I don’t mean to step on anyone’s toes or offend, but some of what we do in church is not necessarily scriptural either. And, I hate to be the bearer of bad news to those of you who aren’t aware of this yet, but some of what is taught in many churches and ministries on television, Christian programming, is just straight up "error". And after considering what Jesus went through to save me from Hell and eternal separation from God by dying on the cross for ME, a lot of the stuff we good Christian folk do in church every Sunday morning, just to feel good about ourselves almost feels like a mockery; If you truly understand what Christ endured to save us from our sins it should truly motivate you to want to move beyond comfortable religion to learn more about Him...to study His word and to serve Him.
I guess we just don’t realize the importance of knowing the truth about Christ through His word because we won’t pick up the bible and study it and read it for ourselves (gasp!) Certainly, the very thought of picking up the Bible and studying it for ourselves strikes terror into the very heart of the traditional Christian. Why? Because we’re lazy. We’d rather put our brains on autopilot and be told what scripture says by someone else. We just blindly follow this preacher and that, this wind of doctrine and that new way of thinking; this new idea and that new idea; without checking it against the word of God ourselves to make sure it’s scriptural and sound. We chase after signs and wonders...but if you don’t check the word of God, if you don’t study God’s word for yourself, how do you know that what you’re being taught or being led into is even OF God? Paul said to study to show "thyself" approved. He also commended the Bereans in the book of Acts because they questioned him about his teachings and then they went to the scriptures themselves to see if what he was saying was true.
"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures everyday to see if what Paul said was true". Acts 17:11
Study to show yourself approved. Don’t just take the preacher’s word for it.
