The divine injunction of Paul is, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:21).

Frequently it seems that some Christians get the idea that we don't need Bible authority for what we do. It may be that emotionalism has more power with one than truth. But it is the truth that frees men (John 8:32). It is walking in truth that makes the godly happy (2 John 4).

The word "prove" in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 is a word of action; that is, it requires something of the child of God. It is an imperative - a command. It is not an optional matter with the Christian; he is obligated to prove all things. The word is defined as: "1. to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing be genuine or not)" (Thayer, p. 154).

One doesn't see many saints like this today. It is a sad state of affairs when churches are full of people buying anything and everything taught without assuming the duty imposed to "prove" it to be true.

This necessarily argues there must be an accepted standard of authority. And with the true child of God there is a standard by which all things are measured: the word of God! When men in the long ago "searched the scriptures daily whether those things were so," they recognized that either a teaching measured up to the scriptures or that teaching was not true, and therefore should be rejected.

How is it with you?

- From a bulletin for this congregation dated January 25, 1970