Do Your Own Thinking

Not many of us think for ourselves when it comes to matters of religion. Most of us are what we are religiously because of the way our parents reared us and have never questioned whether we were right or wrong. We prefer to leave religious subjects and Bible issues to those supposedly trained and skilled in this field--the priest, theologians, pastors and preachers. Sometimes we even get the idea that the Bible cannot be understood by common people. Some religious leaders even teach and encourage this view.

Does the Bible say anything about the ability and responsibility of the average person to understand its message? It most certainly does. To the Christians in Ephesus , Paul wrote, "Therefore, do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Eph 5:17). Since Paul had said earlier: "...when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ" (Eph. 3:3,4) it is evident that we are capable of understanding the Bible.

The Jews of Berea were commended in the New Testament for being " noble...because they received the word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily" to see if the apostle's teachings were true (Acts 17:11). Their notable trait was their readiness to investigate--to study and search for themselves whether the teaching they heard (new to them) was or was not in accordance with the will of God. The Bereans were ordinary people with honest hearts, open minds and a profound respect for the authority of the sacred Scriptures. Unfortunately, the spirit of independent, personal investigation does not prevail among religious people in the twenty-first century. Man is in a pitiable state when he does not possess the spiritual interest to study the Word of God for himself.

Christians should know what they believe and why they believe it. Peter said, "...be ready always to give an answer to every man who asks you for a reason of the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear" (1 Pet 3:15). The apostle John places the responsibility directly upon every Christian to follow the pattern of the Bereans and prove every teaching to be sure it is from God "because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). Rather than deceive and/or be deceived (2 Tim 3:13) we must "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thes 5:21).

All members of God's family should seek to reproduce faithfully the church of our Lord as it existed in the first century. We should seek to have the same doctrine (1 Cor 1:10), worship, organization (all within the local church) and work. In other words we should endeavor to speak where the Bible speaks, remain silent where it is silent, and do Bible things in Bible ways. We should seek to be Christians only (Acts 11:26; Acts 4:12) realizing that the seed of the kingdom, the Word of God, will produce after its kind--pure and undenominational Christianity (Matt 13:31-32; 1 Pet 1:23).

The church of Christ at Forum welcomes visitors and/or private home studies. See the link below for contact information: www.ForumCOC.org