Articles
False Standards Of Authority
What standard of authority is the basis of your faith? Unfortunately instead of submitting to the Bible as the sole source of authority, men will often rely upon other standards to form the basis of their religious beliefs and practices.
1) Some base their religious decisions on what they feel or however their conscience may guide them (Proverbs 3:5-7; 14:12). It is hard to persuade someone with the truth (John 8:32; 17:17), when they feel very strongly about a particular religious belief. Emotions must not be our guide, but God’s law (Psa. 119:105).
2) Others put their trust and confidence in the wisdom of men. We hear such things as: “My pastor says,” or “Let me check with my priest.” The Bible says that we are to put our faith in God, not in the wisdom of men (I Cor. 2:5). The Bible refers to the so-called wisdom of this world as being foolishness to God (I Cor. 3:18-21).
3) Some just go with what is accepted by the majority (Gen. 6 & I Peter 3:20; Matt. 7:13-14). But the “majority” is not a safe guide for us religiously. What if the majority at the church where I’m a member are actually following after the commandments of men rather than the commandments of God (Matt. 15:7-9; 7:21-23)? Should I continue to just go along and accept it because most do?
4) Others are quite loyal to family and tradition (Mark 7:1-8; Gal. 1:13-14). For some, religious tradition means everything. Unfortunately, this prejudice blinds the eyes and closes the ears to some hearing and receiving the truth found in the Bible. Jesus tells us that we must love Him above all others (Matt. 10:34-39). Of course if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15), even when the Lord’s teachings do not match up with family tradition.
All four of these are false standards of authority. Only the Scriptures are inspired of God (2 Tim. 3:16-17). We are to base our beliefs and practices only upon what God has revealed to us in His Word (2 Cor. 4:13; Col. 3:17; I Pet. 4:11).
