A man asked me, “Why should I believe what you teach instead of Billy Graham, prominent theologians, and scholars?”

That was a good question. Why accept what I was showing him in the Bible what seemed to contradict what was said and written by great men, like Martin Luther and John Calvin and theologians and scholars? I was an unknown, a nobody to the man who asked the question. Why should he accept what I was teaching?

Perhaps a question he should answer is, “Which teaching of which of these learned men should we follow?” They widely disagree among themselves. That is why there are so many different churches. People have believed and follow what these men have written in creeds, confessions of faith, handbooks, and other materials. The result is division and disagreement.

Should traditions be followed because they have been practiced for a long period of time? Does how long something has been practiced make it right or wrong? Many traditions have developed over the centuries in religious groups. How are we to choose which of these are right? Does it make a difference what we do?

The religion of parents can become the religion of their children, which is no problem if the children have searched for the truth and found true what their parents believe. The only reason most children are of a certain religion is because it is the religion of their parents. Some children think if they chose another religion, their parents will be offended, feel betrayed, think that their children are condemning them by leaving their religion.

This was a problem with the Jews. They were proud and confident because Abraham was their ancestor (John 8:41). John understood this attitude and warned those who came to be baptized by him, “...do not think to say to yourselves; 'We have Abraham as our father. …God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.” (Matt. 3:9).

Paul left his ancestral Jewish faith to follow Jesus. “And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers (Gal. 1:14). Like Paul, many people have decided to follow Jesus instead of the religion of their parents.

In response to the question “Why should I believe what you teach?” I replied,

“You are not to believe what I teach just because I teach it or what other men teach because they teach it. Men can be wrong but Jesus is always right. He said, 'The Father...gave Me a command what I should say and what I should speak. And I know His commandment is everlasting life' (John 12:49, 50). We can listen to theologians and scholars but no one can offer eternal life and be more right than Jesus. We must continue in His words to learn the truth. Men of learning are to be honored but not above Jesus.”

Jesus said, “If you abide in my words, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31, 32).

No religious leader can provide the blessings Jesus can provide. We must believe in Jesus and obey Him in order to be given eternal life (John 3:16; Heb. 5:9).
 

 ©Copyright Owen D.Olbricht 2014. All rights reserved. May be reprinted if credit is given to the author.