We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, Gods word, which is also at work in you believers. 1 THESSALONIANS 2:13 On first read this sounds like pretty heady stuff. As if Paul is telling them to listen uncritically to his words and accept them as coming straight from the Source. I once heard a televangelist tell his listeners that he believed he was Gods apostle for this age. I warned someone who was taken with this individual that his talk sounded cultish. I would still advise caution, particularly when listening to an especially charismatic individual who claims, or whose followers claim, is the direct mouthpiece of God. It is, for me, one of the liberating aspects of scripture, for scripture gives us a guideline with which we can evaluate the truth of what a preacher or teacher is saying. I even have warned my parishioners that if they have a question about what I am saying, to go research for themselves in their Bibles and other readings, as well as using their own common sense. But I would add one caveat here and that goes back to Pauls statement. Paul says that he is grateful that his parishioners received the word of God that (they) heard from (him) ... not as a human word but as ... Gods word. My point is this: when we listen to a sermon we should ask ourselves, what is God saying to me? This isnt always easy and it doesnt simply mean that I or you should simply take the ministers words as gospel truth. Not at all. Rather we should prayerfully and with discernment, ask exactly what does God want me to hear this morning? It may be something entirely different than what the minister is saying, but I should listen with one ear on the sermon and one ear on God. The scriptures can give us a guide also where we can go for more clarification. Paul himself warns in one passage not to believe anyones words, even his own, which are contrary to the Word of the Gospel. Listen to what he says at the beginning of Galatians: But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! Gal. 1:8 The New Testament is filled with warnings about false teachings. Jesus warns about false messiahs: For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24 John also warns against false teachings: Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 And again Paul warns us later in Thessalonians to be discerning: Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thess. 5: 20 - 22 A well-known saying among twelve-step programs puts it this way: Take what you like and leave the rest. We live in an age where we are deluged with information. The internet, television, radio, the printed word - there is so much out there and it is easy to get overwhelmed or misguided by information that is only half true or downright deceptive. We often teach our children to be critical thinkers in school. The same holds true for church. We need to be critical thinkers when it comes to what we hear and say in church as well. But let us also be open to what God is saying to us as we worship together in His Name.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 04:00:17 +0000
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