Checking On The Preacher
So many people accept what the preacher says just because he is a preacher. They never realize the fact that he may be misleading them, and teaching things contrary to the Bible. They never think to check on the preacher in order to find out if what he is teaching is in the Bible or not.
First Thessalonians 5:21 is a passage that each member of the church ought to know. It reads as follows: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." It does not say "some things," but "all things." First John 4:1 suggests the same idea. It reads as follows: "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Yes, there are false prophets and teachers in the world as there were during the days of the apostles. "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction." (2 Peter 2:1) The Apostle Paul, while talking to the elders, made this statement after telling them to take care of the church as found in Acts 20:29: "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock." Jude 4 states that false teachers had already entered. How many of us realize that there are false teachers in the church in addition to those outside of the church? Both are dangerous, but those in the church, are much more dangerous.
Let us notice two examples. In Revelation 2:2, Christ commends the church at Ephesus for trying those who "say they are apostles, and are not"; they found them to be liars. Yes, it is perfectly all right to test a teacher. The Bereans, as related in Acts 17:11, "searched the scriptures daily" in order to find out if what Paul was preaching was true; as a result, many believed. Searching the Bible is the only way to find out if preachers, both those in the church and those outside of the church, are teaching those things that are revealed in the word of God. Just because a man is a preacher and has some degrees after his name does not mean that he is a preacher of the gospel as revealed in the Bible.
A preacher should be willing to have you test his doctrines, and ask questions. Truth will stand up in such searching, but error will not. If a preacher does not invite searching and refuses it, then what he is teaching is not worth listening to. Why be ashamed of the Truth? The Apostle Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. (Rom. 1:16)
Do not accept any preacher, but find out if he is telling the truth. If you do this, souls will not be misled by false teaching. Only by studying the Bible can a person find out what is true and what is false; it makes no difference what the subject is. I pray that all of us will realize this.