Pilate: The man who saw the Truth ... and did nothing.

            In the last few months I have been writing to address many difficult issues, and more than a few abstract thoughts. I had no idea what I would write when I started this blog. And I had no idea that one of the smallest postings would become one of the most popular.

            "What is Truth?" It was a short enough essay—more of a scribble really— hardly worthy of mention; or so I thought.  But despite my preconceptions, “What is Truth” remained an article of distinction, and ranked number one in the top three articles until just recently

           

“What is Truth?” That really is the question we’re all asking, isn’t it? Science seeks to discover the truth. Philosophers debate the meaning of truth. And people get themselves into serious trouble when they distort the truth. But what is truth?

            This question has probably been asked more times, by more people, than any other query in human history.  But I only know of one person who got the chance to present this question to the man who could answer it in its entirety. Pontius Pilate: The man who Crucified Jesus.

John 18:33-40

New Living Translation (NLT)

33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.

34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

38 “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people ...

            After this, Pilate had Jesus flogged and crucified. He asked the ultimate question to the God of the universe, but he failed to listen.  The Bible goes on to explain the truth in more detail in several other passages. But these are some of the best.

John 17:17

New Living Translation (NLT)

17 (Jesus Speaking) Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.

Psalm 119:160

New Living Translation (NLT)

160  The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.

James 1:17-19

New Living Translation (NLT)

17 Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

            God’s Word is truth. But God’s word is more than the Bible. God’s Word is Jesus.

John 1:1-5

New Living Translation (NLT)

Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word

1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

John 1:14

New Living Translation (NLT)

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

            And as Jesus himself put it:

John 14:6-7

New Living Translation (NLT)

 6 ... “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. 7 If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!”

            So what is truth? The answer was looking Pilate in the face 2,000 years ago.  A man, but more than a man. God clothed in human flesh, waiting for Pilate to give the order that would end His life; so that He could offer life to us all. 

           That is truth.

           Jesus is Truth.

2 Corinthians 5:21

New Living Translation (NLT)

21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Philippians 2:6-11

New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God
 as something to cling to.

7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form,

8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
 and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
 and gave him the name above all other names,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

            Pilate saw Jesus face to face. He looked The Truth in the eye, and then washed his hands of Him.

           

If you have read this, or any of my other articles, then you also know the truth. Even if you didn’t before, you do now. And the Bible teaches that each of us will be held accountable for that knowledge and what we decide to do with it. (Ezekiel 33:8-9, Matthew 25:14-30, Mark 6:10-12, Luke 10:10-12, Romans 1: 18-32, Romans 2:1-16, etc.)

So the question is: what are you going to do with the truth?

           

Will you accept the truth of Christ? Or are will you reject it, like Pilate did?

Are you going to hide the truth under a basket? Will you burry it in the ground until Christ returns? Or will you invest it in the Kingdom of God, in fulfillment of the Great Commission?

The choice is yours.

Today is the day of salvation, for the truth will set you free.

(2 Corinthians 6:2, John 8:32)

The Message of the Cross: How Jesus is the Beating Heart of the Christian Faith

   “And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.”

~ 1 Corinthians 15:14-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

In this passage, the Apostle Paul is being brutality honest with the church in Corinth. He tells them outright that Christians should be “pitied more than anyone else in the world” if what he and the other Apostles were preaching was not true. And with good reason. At this time in history, Christians were being heavily persecuted by both the Roman Empire and the Jewish leaders. They were being dragged from their homes, tortured and publicly executed. Paul and the other Apostles were no exception.

“Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.”

~ 1 Corinthians 4:11-13 New Living Translation (NLT)

These were the founders of the church. All but one of them, the Apostle John, would be executed for their beliefs—Paul himself was beheaded in Rome, and John died in exile. To me, this is yet more proof of the Bible’s validity. The Apostles clearly believed what they had witnessed—and they had witnessed something; there is no other explanation for their actions. No one would be willing to suffer and die for something they’d made up. 

Most cult leaders are after fame, money, and pleasure. Not poverty, torture, and death. But in the first century, that was what it meant to be a Christian. If you accepted Christ, there was a very real possibility that you would be killed for it. Which is why Paul said what he did in 1 Corinthians  15:14-19.

Paul only had one message that he preached, no matter where he went, and it was the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (2 Timothy 2:8-10)

“Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. 

“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 

“Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.” 

~ 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

Jesus is the beating heart of Christianity—not to mention the Head of the church. (Ephesians 5:23) Anything else is peripheral.

In short: If you don’t have Jesus right, then you don’t have anything right. So if anyone ever tries to derail you with a peripheral debate, turn the discussion around; always bring it back to Jesus, who he is, and what he did for us. Jesus is the center of everything we believe, and people have been trying to discredit him for the last 2000 years.

First they said he was not human. Now they say he was not God. Some even go so far as to claim that Jesus never existed—despite the testimony of thousands and the mountain of archaeological evidence to the contrary. And, of course, there are those who have said that Jesus did not rise from the dead. Since the day the church began, intellectuals, governments, and religious leaders have searched for Jesus’ body—desperate to prove us wrong. But they have yet to succeed.

Jesus is the foundation of the Christian faith. (1 Corinthians 3:11) He is the one thing no one can refute. So we must always bring everything—every spiritual issue, thought, and discussion—back to him.

“For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

“So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. Don’t let anyone condemn you by insisting on pious self-denial or the worship of angels, saying they have had visions about these things. Their sinful minds have made them proud, and they are not connected to Christ, the head of the body. For he holds the whole body together with its joints and ligaments, and it grows as God nourishes it.”

~ Colossians 2:12-20 New Living Translation (NLT)

B.I.B.L.E: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.

“Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.”

~ 1 Corinthians 13:12 

Reading this passage I was struck by the reality that the Bible isn’t forever. Don’t get me wrong; I am in no way trying to downplay the importance of the Bible. It is essential for discerning the truth from lies, and for showing us the way to be reconciled to our Creator through Jesus Christ. Furthermore, it is God’s Word, and God’s word lasts forever. (1 Peter 1:25)

But God’s word is so much more than a book. It is truth itself. The Gospel message, the Truth of Jesus Christ—The Word—which is the very foundation of the Bible, will last forever. But the Bible itself will not.

You see, the Bible is only applicable on this side of eternity. It is meant to lead us back to God. Like a message in a bottle, sent adrift on the currents of time itself. But once we are in Heaven, its purpose will have been fulfilled. We won’t need the Bible to tell us about God—we’ll be able to see Him face to face, with our own eyes! Plus, there won’t be any sin or suffering in Heaven, so the rest of the Bible is immediately nullified the moment we arrive.

Which brings us back to the beginning of this chapter.

According to the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:12, a time is coming when all of our theological debates, thoughts, and musings will no longer matter. Every gray area and mystery in the universe will be revealed, and we will “know everything completely.” 

Kind of puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?

The Bible is God’s Guidebook. It tells us how things began, how they went wrong, and how far we have fallen. It tells us how God came down from heaven and became one of us, in order to die for all of us, and how He rose from the dead so that we too, might have life through Jesus Christ our Lord. He told us everything we needed to know. No more. No less.

A pastor of mine put it this way: “Bible is an acronym. It stands for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.”

How true that is.

Once we shed this mortal coil and cross the veil of eternity, then we will “see everything with perfect clarity,” and all the things we wonder and hypothesize about—all the mysteries of God and the universe—will be revealed to us.

But until then, let’s follow the example of the believers in Acts 2:42, and devote ourselves to studying God’s Word. It is our guide after all. And the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

~ Psalm 119:105 

“Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”

~ Proverbs 9:10 

A Window in Time: Revelation 19:1-9

Revelation 19

New Living Translation (NLT) 

Songs of Victory in Heaven

19 After this, I heard what sounded like a vast crowd in heaven shouting,

“Praise the Lord! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.

2 His judgments are true and just. He has punished the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality. He has avenged the murder of his servants.”

3 And again their voices rang out:

“Praise the Lord! The smoke from that city ascends forever and ever!”

4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living beings fell down and worshiped God, who was sitting on the throne. They cried out, “Amen! Praise the Lord!”

5 And from the throne came a voice that said,

“Praise our God, all his servants, all who fear him, from the least to the greatest.”

6 Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder:

“Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. 8 She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” For the fine linen represents the good deeds of God’s holy people.

9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he added, “These are true words that come from God.”

              I always found this verse to be pretty amazing. In this one moment, the Apostle John got a sneak-peek through the veil of time and space, to the final Victory Celebration of God and His Church. 2000 years ago, John saw us—all of us. Everyone who was, is, or ever will be in Christ, celebrating in heaven. Isn’t that something? We’re all in the Bible!

             God exists outside of time and space. So to Him, the past, present, and future are all one in the same. He wrote the book that is History—His Story. He knows every word of it from cover to cover. To God, we’re already there, celebrating with Him in Heaven.

Hebrews 12

New Living Translation (NLT)

God’s Discipline Proves His Love

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

             God is there at the finish line, cheering us on. He is waiting for us with open arms. Longing, as we are, for the day when He will say to us, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” (Matthew 25:21 (NLT)

This is Sparta: A Call to Arms for the Next Generation.

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.

“For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

“And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.”

~ Ephesians 6:10-19 New Living Translation (NLT)

According to the Bible, we are in a war. Not against people, but against Satan and the forces of darkness. The moment we declare our allegiance to God, the forces of evil in this world go on the offensive. And we are called to be ready. Unfortunately, it seems that few of us are prepared to fight for what we believe—especially the youth of this generation.

Take a look at how we have been bringing up future generations for the last fifty years. 

Generally speaking, children being raised in the church go to Sunday school every week, learn Bible stories, sing songs, and make crafts, which they then show to their adoring parents. This is all good for the very young, of course. But unfortunately it tends to go on far longer than it should. Some kids today stay in Sunday school until they are 11, 12, or even 13 years old. At which point they usually start attending youth group. But again, these groups are failing to prepare our children.

Often times, the kids in youth groups are not paying attention to the message and are more interested in the group's social aspects. They use youth group as a time to play games, hang out, and flirt with their peers; instead of using it as a time to grow in their knowledge of God’s word. Essentially they are drinking milk when they should be eating solid food. (1 Corinthians 3:2)

So where is the discipleship? The leadership? Where is the instruction in righteousness?

I would hope that the parents are taking it upon themselves to teach their children about God—this is their calling, after all. (Proverbs 22:6) But once the kids are out from under their parent’s roof, they’re on their own. And too often the faith of their parents never became their own.

They go into the world unprepared, both spiritually and intellectually. They walk straight into a spiritual war-zone where their faith is challenged at every turn. The world bombards them with the idea that sin is good and admirable, and tells them that the Bible is nothing more than a bunch of fairy tales and the outdated ideals of a few elitist individuals, hell-bent on manipulating the week-minded for personal gain. 

Prominent individuals and great minds tell them that Jesus was just a man, that God is dead, and that religion “breeds ignorance” and hinders “free thinking.” And so many young Christians fall away.

Now I think one possible reason for this is that we have inadvertently taught our children to believe whatever they're told without question. We mean well, of course. We teach them about God and the Bible. But we don't necessarily teach them to think critically for themselves or encourage them to ask hard questions. So when inexperienced young Christians head out on their own, they do exactly what we've taught them to: They believe whatever they're told without question. Only now, what they're being told is the exact opposite of everything they learned growing up.

The truth is, Satan knows that the church is always just one generation away from extinction. He knows that if the old die without passing the flame, then the church will die with them. So what better way is there to destroy the church than to destroy the next generation of Christians? And what better way to destroy the next generation of Christians, than to discredit the Bible? If Satan can eliminate God’s Word as a factor, then what little defense they had will be stripped away.
We are locked in battle with an enemy who is literally trying to disarm us. Yet, we continue to treat church as if it is a “Country Club for Christians” and send children off to war dressed in tin-foil armor, carrying cardboard shields and wooden swords, while Satan sits behind a machine gun waiting for a chance to pull the trigger.

So what do we do?

I say we take a stand, here and now.

We need to teach our kids how to defend what they believe, logically and effectively. We need to reform our youth groups into training grounds—not just spiritually, but intellectually as well. We need to train up the next generation to be Warriors of Faith—Spiritual Spartans. They need to know how to use every tool at their disposal: The Bible, history, archaeology, philosophy, and science. We need to teach them how to think critically and encourage them to ask the hard questions. They are the church and they need to be able to discus difficult topics—not only among themselves, but among others also—comfortably and with authority. The last thing we need is for them to believe everything they're told without question. They need to be like the Bereans in Acts 17:11, checking all things against God's Word to see if what they're being told is true.

Satan isn’t stupid. He knows that if he can destroy the Bible’s credibility, he will effectively strip us of our armor and weapons. So we need to know how to use extra-biblical information to reinforce what the Bible teaches. If people won’t listen to the Bible, they may be persuaded to listen to the facts. Use the hard evidence of the Bible’s validity to crack their defenses, and then use God’s Word as the knockout punch.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.”

~ Hebrews 4:12 New Living Translation (NLT)

We are at war.

  We've been trying to fight lions with lambs when what we really need are Spartans—a generation of trained warriors, well equipped and ready to fight for the Truth.

But we also have to teach them how to stand together.

When Paul wrote his letter to the Ephesians, the Roman Empire ruled over the entire known world. The armor he was describing in Ephesians 6 was that of a Roman Legionary.

The Romans did not fight alone. They fought as one. A solder on his own was nothing. But a legion of soldiers working together—fighting in tight formation—was unstoppable. That is what we need to be. We need to be trained and equipped as individuals. But we also need to surround ourselves with others. We need to have people to lock shields with. We need accountability.

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”

~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 New Living Translation (NLT)

So it is up to us.

Youth leaders: Challenge your students to be more than they are and make provision for those who are ready and willing to learn to fight for their faith. Give them the choice to become “Spartans,” and encourage them to do so. Kids need to know the Bible and how to use it effectively in battle. But they also need to be able to think critically and defend their faith with logic and supporting evidence, should the need arise.

Pastors: Preach the truth and be ready to disciple the next generation. Make it your priority to be there for them. They need to be a part of the church now, not when they grow up.

Parents: Teach your children the ways of God and instruct them in everything to the best of your ability.

Children and Young adults: You are the church today. You are the next generation; the leaders of tomorrow. The enemy wants to destroy you, so you must be prepared. But be encouraged. Take up the full armor of God, and educate yourselves. Someday, you will have to take up the fight. You must always be ready to give a defense of the hope that is in you. (1 Peter 3:15)

Brothers and Sisters in Christ: Help one another. Teach the next generation the truth. Teach them to think critically and to use all of the tools God has given us. The evidence is plain to see. The Bible, archaeology, history, philosophy, and science all reveal God’s truth, for He has made it so. (Romans 1:19-20) But above all else, pray for each other, and hold one another accountable.

Today is the day we make our stand. Right here. Right now.

Satan wishes to disarm us so that he may stamp us out entirely, starting with our youth.

Satan and the forces of darkness say, “Lay down your weapons!”

I say, “Come and get them!”

What say you?

The Struggle for Unity in the Church.

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me."

~ John 17:20-21 New Living Translation [Emphasis Added]

Hours before his Crucifixion, Jesus prayed for unity among his followers; then and forever. 

Unfortunately, unity in the church is probably one of the biggest problem areas of the Christian walk. All you have to do is look around to see dozens of different churches, each one doing things a slightly different way. Baptist Churches, Bible Churches, Non-Denominational, Assembly of God, Charismatic, Lutheran; the list goes on and on. And that’s what’s wonderful about the Body of Christ; we’re all different parts of the same body. We are each unique, yet united in Christ. It’s our differences that make us effective. This is what the Apostle Paul was talking about in 1 Corinthians 12:12-26.

Diversity is good; as long as the Gospel is preached, and the church’s doctrine is sound. But the truth is, many churches today are born out of the shattered remains of a once unified congregation. It doesn’t take much to cause a church split these days: a difference of opinion; taste in music, or clothing; which Bible translation is best; evolution verses creation; dating verse courtship, etc. And I know from first hand experience that anything that tears apart the Body of Christ leaves its scars. Mistrust, resentfulness, broken relationships, and feelings of betrayal are some of the more common wounds a church split can inflict. (1 Timothy 6:3-5) Not to mention pushing people away from God—which is perhaps the most grievous wound of all.

Is it any wonder then, that one of the biggest marks against the church is our hypocrisy, when we openly attack our brothers and sisters over such petty things?

“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 

~ 1 Corinthians 1:10 New Living Translation (NLT)                      

God takes unity in the church very seriously. We are the Body of Christ; we have to be united in Him. This doesn’t mean we need to do everything the exact same way. But we don’t need to attack each other for doing things differently. (Romans 14:13)

However, we must test all things against God’s word so that we will not be deceived into following false doctrines. (1 Thessalonians 5:21) The Bible is our guide—our plumb line. If any doctrine is not found in the Bible, then it is not from God, and is to be avoided at all costs.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”

~ 2 Timothy 3:16 New Living Translation (NLT)

“Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.”

~ 2 Timothy 1:13-14 New Living Translation (NLT)

Test everything against God’s word; that’s what it’s there for. Don’t just accept whatever you’re told with out question—even pastors can be wrong. You need to look into what you’re being taught and examine it for yourself; test everything that is said, and make sure you are not being misled. You need to “Be like the Bereans.” (Acts 17:11)

“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.”

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”

~ 2 Timothy 4:2-4 New Living Translation (NLT)

“I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God, who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be the Good News but is not the Good News at all. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth concerning Christ.” 

“Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed.”

~ Galatians 1:6-9 New Living Translation (NLT)

According to God, our response to people who stir up divisions within the church is to be swift and decisive. (Titus 3:10, Romans 16:17) God does not want a cancer to spread through His body (the church) and neither should we.

This is why it is so important for us to study God’s Word on our own. It helps prevent division and promotes unity and accountability within the Body of Christ. If the congregation is in the word, it keeps the pastor accountable. And if the pastor is in the word, he can spot the wolves among the sheep, and keep them from causing dissension in the church. Plus the sheep will be able to spot the wolves, too, and can keep themselves from being mislead through accountability with one another.

We’re a family—brothers and sisters in arms. We need to look out for each other, and help each other along. (Ecclesiastes 4:10)

So let us all strive for unity today. Let us remove this plank from our eye so we can help each other to grow in Christ—equipping one another to reach a world in desperate need of forgiveness. (Matthew 7:3-5)

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.”

~ Philippians 2:1-2 New Living Translation (NLT)

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