Truth or Tradition?
Over the years, I've heard some strange things from the pulpit. Not merely differences in preference, mind you, but teachings built on assumptions, verses taken out of context, or ideas not found in the Bible at all. Yes, I've sat through many sermons squirming in my seat (and not just because of my back pain) and biting my tongue because the eloquent and educated speaker sounded good, but what he was saying simply wasn't biblical.
Now, before anyone sharpens a pitchfork, let me be clear: preachers, teachers, speakers, and Christian writers are human. We make mistakes. I know I have. I have taught or written things in the past that I believed were correct, but further study showed me I missed the mark. That is humbling. It's also slightly inconvenient when you've put the mistake in print for all the world to see. Yikes!
That is exactly why I regularly tell my readers and Bible-study students, "Check up on me."
Please do not accept something as truth just because it came from a microphone, a pulpit, a podcast, a bestselling book, or a person with an impressive title. Don't accept it as truth just because I said it, either. Open your Bible. Read the passage in context. Ask, "Where does Scripture actually say that?" Check everything you read or hear against God's infallible Word.
The believers in Berea set a wonderful example for us. When Paul preached to them, they didn't dismiss him, but they also didn't blindly applaud every sentence and hurry home for lunch. They listened, then examined the evidence:
"These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."—Acts 17:11, KJV
Notice that Paul was not offended by their careful study. The Bereans were called "noble" because they received the message eagerly and searched the Scriptures daily to test it. They did not choose between a teachable spirit and biblical discernment. They practiced both.
That is a needed balance today. We should not become suspicious, cynical Christians who assume every preacher is secretly wearing a wolf costume under his suit coat. But we also shouldn't become spiritual parrots, repeating phrases we've heard without ever checking whether God actually said them.
Jesus warned us, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves" (Matthew 7:15, KJV).
Wolves are not usually obvious. If they showed up growling at the church door with a name tag reading, "Hello, I Am Here to Teach Heresy," they would not get very far. They often sound polished, compassionate, clever, and confident. Sometimes they even use Bible verses, just not faithfully.
Some mislead people on purpose. Some do it to gain popularity and a faithful following. Others spout lies because those falsehoods are more acceptable than the truth. Let's be honest: truth can offend. It can hurt. Jesus Himself offended people, not because He was careless or cruel, but because light exposes darkness. We do not help people by softening sin until it becomes unrecognizable. A message that never confronts, corrects, or calls us to repentance may be pleasant, but pleasant is not the same as biblical. Truth sets us free.
The answer is not to stop listening to godly teachers or reading Christian blogs. God gives teachers to His church. He equips writers to share His Word with others. So, no, the solution isn't to stop attending church or reading quality Christian living books. The answer is to become a student of the Bible for yourself. Read it. Compare Scripture with Scripture. Pray for wisdom. Slow down when a teaching sounds exciting but does not sound quite right. Ask for biblical proof. A faithful teacher should welcome that question. An unfaithful one? Well, you'll definitely get a different response.
God's Word does not need protecting from honest investigation. It is the ultimate Source of truth. So, please, check up on me. Then check up on everyone else. Let the Bible have the final word, and don't believe everything you hear outside of it.
🔍 PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN: A Peek at the Study Behind This Post
Acts 17:11 sparked this devotion because it shows something wonderfully refreshing: the Bereans tested the apostle Paul's teaching. If Paul’s listeners were encouraged to search the Scriptures, the rest of us certainly have permission to keep our Bibles open.
Start with the everyday irritation. The initial observation was hearing a statement (actually a few statements) presented confidently as biblical truth during a Sunday sermon, knowing in my heart the verse used did not actually say what the speaker claimed. That little internal “Wait a minute...” became the starting point.
Read the Berean account in context. Read Acts 17:10–12, not merely verse 11. Notice that the Bereans received the word “with all readiness of mind,” so their careful study was not hostile nitpicking. They were eager learners and careful examiners.
Follow the warning trail. Search for Bible passages about false teaching and misleading voices. Matthew 7:15 led naturally to Jesus’ warning about wolves in sheep’s clothing. Then compare it with passages such as 1 John 4:1, which urges believers to “try the spirits whether they are of God.”
Ask the uncomfortable personal question. Before writing about other people’s errors, I asked, “Have I ever been mistaken in what I taught?” That question keeps the devotion humble. The goal is not to attack other teachers; it is to point every teacher and listener back to Scripture.
Find the practical landing point. The devotion crystallized around one simple challenge: listen respectfully, but verify faithfully. Read the full passage, ask for biblical support, and allow God’s Word (not charisma, popularity, or assumptions) to settle the matter.
Time note: This study took about an hour, plus several moments staring at my open Bible as I realized I, too, need regular spiritual fact-checking. Humility is apparently not a speedy process.
Your turn: Try this treasure hunt the next time a sermon point catches your attention or something you read causes doubt to niggle in the back of your mind. Write down the claim, look up every connected verse, and read each one in context. You don't need a seminary library or twelve color-coded highlighters, though nobody is judging you if you have them. You only need an open Bible, a willing heart, and a desire to know what God truly says.
What is one teaching you have heard repeatedly that you would like to examine more closely in Scripture?