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YOU SHOULD NOT until - you have compared what is taught to scripture for yourself- then if it proves to be true in light of scripture taken in context, you MUST believe it.
You MUST examine everything in light of scripture and be convinced for yourself what scripture is saying before you have any business establishing a belief. We and everyone else who teaches are responsible for what they teach, and will be judged for it, But you and only you are responsible for what YOU BELIEVE. Your and only your salvation depends on what YOU believe and act upon. If your beliefs are correct according to scripture, and you are willing to be guided solely by scripture you will be able to have a relationship to God that will not allow you to be deceived. But - if your beliefs do not line up with scripture, you are deceived already.
2 Thess 2:10-12
and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, 12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
NKJV
We MUST have a love for the truth and truth alone. Scripture clearly tells us to “test all things to see if they be of God”.
1 Thess 5:21-22
Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
NKJV
It does not say believe what your pastor teaches, believe what your brother teaches, believe what sounds good, believe what feels good, believe what you want, it says YOU are to test ALL things to see if they are of God. The TRUTHS of God many times DO NOT feel good, are not what we want to believe, are not what many people are teaching, as they convict us of things in our life that must change, BUT they ARE the Truths of God never the less. Feelings do not count, compliance with scripture and obedience to it are the only things that count. Remember scripture also tells us “because they had not a love for the TRUTH, God sent them a strong delusion that they must believe the lie”.
Comparing something to scripture does not mean comparing to books of men, though you may use such books in the study process (I personally do not recommend this), the only way to compare to scripture is with the SCRIPTURES, study aids like greek Hebrew lexicons, concordance, strongs englishmans , etc and the HOLY SPIRIT. Remember scripture tells us that the Holy Spirit will teach us ALL things. Your decision of what to believe MUST be based on scripture alone.
It seems that most people have been taught to believe what their “church” or “pastor” or “elder”, etc” teaches is truth. But this is not a scriptural concept and those that truly walk with our Lord cannot accept this concept as truth. If you learn this scriptural concept no one will be able to bring you into the bondage that so many faithful brothers and sisters are under. Oh yes if you take the scriptural stand and you check scripture to see if this be so before you can accept it as truth, then you may be labelled a troublemaker, not a team player or whatever. But if you want to please God this must be where you stand. If you want to Please man you cannot please God. See the bereans stand.
Acts 17:10-12
Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed,
NKJV
It is ok to not have a belief about everything being taught. It is right to not have a “belief” on a subject that you do not have the mind of God on. In fact this is the most scripturally correct stand. After many years of extensive study I have many things that I teach as truth as I believe I have the mind of God on them and what I teach lines up with scripture. But there are many things I do not teach ( some there is not enough scripture to make a stand) or I say this is the light I have so far on this subject, I do not have all the truth, it looks like this is what scripture is saying, but I do not fully have the mind of the Lord on this yet. Scripture says that no man (including ministers of the Gospel) has all the answers though so many profess to Remember we are each a part of the body and for the body to function properly EACH must fulfill his function. When each of us provides what have learned that lines up with scripture we can have an understanding of all.
In this day when so much that is being taught is “doctrines of men”, not “the apostles doctrine”, we must be as the Bereans and examine the scriptures daily to know what is from God and what we must discard because it just does not measure up. Remember - “doctrines of men” will bring you into bondage. But “the truth will make you FREE”.
Charles LaFoe
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