Articles
What Standard Of Authority Should We Follow In Religious Matters (3)
What Standard Of Authority Should We
Follow In Religious Matters (3)
By Greg King
Jesus once asked, “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men” (Matthew 21:25). By posing such a question Jesus was actually showing that in religious affairs there are only two sources of authority for what men do. All religious teachings and practices come either “from heaven” (i.e. they come from God) or “from men” (they are man-made). There are no other choices.
Today as we look at the religious world around us we see division and confusion. Why is it that men are so divided in their religious practices? We suggest that one of the main causes of religious division can be summarized in this statement: men are divided because they actually follow different standards of authority.
Each of us understands the need to have certain absolute “standards” in various matters in society that are unrelated to religion. For example, we buy milk in gallon or ½ gallon containers. There are 12 inches in a foot. A cup is 8 fluid ounces. There are 8 cups in a half gallon and 16 cups in 1 gallon. All of these measurements are simply absolute, objective, unchanging standards. If there were no such standards in society and everybody just “did his own thing” when it came to measuring things, chaos would result.
It’s the same way in religion. When folks do not go by one absolute, unchanging standard in their teaching and practices, then confusion and division is unavoidable. It is always wise to ask this question: What Standard Of Authority Should We Follow In Matters Of Religion? Some want to follow the wisdom of men. Man’s wisdom is also not a safe guide in serving the Lord. Many accept and do only that which appears to them to be wise or logical. The problem is, the way man “sees” things is often not in harmony with the way that God thinks. “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 16:25). Some things may “look” right, but they actually lead to spiritual destruction.
We must not forget this truth: “… the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19) When it comes to pleasing God and the salvation of our soul, we must not follow worldly wisdom or what wethink is best. Why? Because man’s wisdom is not infallible. John 12:48, “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.”
