Trust, but verify
Acts 17:10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.
The church would do well to adopt the Berean’s approach to the teachings and actions of their shepherds. As we “contend for the faith” we should examine the Scriptures to see if what is being taught is truly in keeping with God’s Revelation.
I imagine that some pastor/teacher/shepherds might find that disconcerting but in Acts 17 Luke actually commends the Bereans for their diligence and says that their thorough study of the Scriptures was evidence of their noble character.
And as a result many Jews were convinced that Jesus was the Messiah. Additionally, because of the Bereans study many of their Greek friends, both women and men became believers. It is important to notice that it was the Scriptures, the truth, not compromising with the Greek culture, coupled with the loving community of believers, that convinced them to follow Jesus. We are so often tempted to change our message to make it more palatable to those around us when really what they desperately need, what would really refresh, renew and set them free, is the truth lived out in the community of Christ. To borrow Jude’s metaphors, the church should be like clouds that bring real spiritual nourishment, trees that bear wholesome fruit, and stars that offer reliable guidance.
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