Investigate, Investigate, and Investigate
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesWe must be willing to investigate all religious teaching as to it’s validity. For example, there are “many” religious denominations in the world today, but there were absolutely no religious denominations in the first century (Note the phrase “one body” or “the body” in the following inspired passages: Ephesians 4:4; cf. Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 10:17; 1 Corinthians 12:12-13; 1 Corinthians 12:25; Ephesians 2:16; Ephesians 3:6; Colossians 3:15), and there wouldn’t be any today if folks would thoroughly investigate the teachings that are promoted within those denominations in light of clear Bible teaching.
The very word “denomination” implies division, which the apostle Paul adamantly spoke against (Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10-13).
In fact, all religious teaching that we have ever received or will receive, should be carefully examined by the standard of God’s word to determine its validity (Matthew 4:4; John 17:17; John 8:47; 1 John 4:1-6).
Like the noble Berean Jews of the first century, we should be willing to daily investigate, investigate, and investigate in light of the inspired Scriptures as to what we have been taught in the past and what we are presently being taught (Acts 17:11; cf. 2 Timothy 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:15-16).
Just because our parents and grandparents adhered to a certain religious doctrine, doesn’t mean that doctrine is right or correct according to the standard of God’s word — the Bible (Psalm 119:151; Psalm 119:160; Psalm 119:172; Psalm 139:17).
One of the main reasons why there are so many misinterpretations of the Bible is simply because of preconceived man-made ideologies and philosophies that an individual carries into the study of God’s Book.
Dear reader, we must be willing to dispose of these things from our mind, so that we might come to the Bible with a clear mind, willing to listen to the Lord as He speaks to us through His written inspired Word (cf. 1 Samuel 3:9-10; 2 Timothy 3:15-16; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Regarding any religious teaching, we need to constantly ask, “What do the Scriptures say?” regarding this teaching (Acts 8:34-35; cf. Luke 24:27; Acts 18:18).
We should never take any religious teaching that our parents, grandparents, preacher, or Bible class teacher tell us at face value, but be willing to investigate the teaching they are promoting, laying it alongside clear Bible teaching to see whether their teaching coincides with the teachings of the Bible (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1-6). If their teaching does not coincide with clear Bible teaching, we need to be willing to discard that teaching, no matter what the cost (Philippians 3:2-8).
Better to lose the approval of one’s family in this life, than to lose one’s soul in the life to come (Matthew 10:34-39; Luke 9:23-26; Luke 14:25-33).