These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that
they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the
scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11
The Christians at Berea were called noble because they received the
word of God with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures to
be sure that what the preacher told them was consistent with truth
taught in them. This is the portrait of a healthy church that error will
be hard to sweep through. Sadly, this is what is lacking in today's
church, where people take the words of their preachers as true, whether
or not they are in agreement with what the scriptures teach. When this
is true of you, then you should know that you have got yourself to the
place where you have elevated your preacher's words above the words of
scripture.
The falsehoods that parade the church today would have been greatly
curbed, if like the Bereans, we cross check with the bible, to be sure
that what our preachers tell us are in sync with the word of God. These
are the kind of believers that the church needs in this corrupt time,
when different winds of doctrine are flying around. But when believers
are lazy, they relinquish the work of interpreting the bible to only the
preacher. We all are to, like the Berean believers, study the bible to
ensure that what the preacher says is consistent with the truth taught
in the bible.
Toni
