WHAT IS THE STANDARD OF AUTHORITY IN RELIGION?
IS IT HUMAN WISDOM AND REASON?

Many people idolize human wisdom and reason. They accept nothing in spiritual matters unless to them it is rational. Thus in many instances, they set aside divine revelation. Each person becomes a standard within himself. Hence, no common standard or ground of agreement is possible. Isa. 55:8,9 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." The thoughts of these verses should make us afraid to enthrone human reason and wisdom. In 1 Cor. 1:18-21, the apostle Paul said, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe". We cannot accept human wisdom and divine revelation at the same time. Paul said, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools". (Rom. 1:22). Solomon stated, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death". (Prov. 14:12). Human wisdom cannot be accepted as a standard of authority if we truly desire eternal salvation. (to be continued)

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