Part 3 of 4 — Testing Modern Church Teaching by Scripture

There are few statements that can stop a Christian in his tracks faster than, “God told me.” Once someone says those words, many believers become hesitant to question what follows. After all, if God really said it, who are we to argue?

The problem is that Scripture never tells Christians to accept every spiritual claim simply because someone attaches God’s name to it. In fact, the Bible repeatedly tells us to examine what we hear.

Paul wrote, “Do not utterly reject prophecies, but examine everything; hold firmly to that which is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:20–21).

Those verses give us a balanced approach. We are not told to reject everything automatically, but neither are we told to believe everything automatically. We are told to examine it.

Not Every Spiritual Message Comes From God

John gave the church a similar warning when he wrote, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1).

That warning is important because false teaching often sounds spiritual. A person may speak confidently, use biblical language, mention Jesus frequently, and still be wrong. Sincerity does not prove that someone speaks for God. Neither does popularity, emotion, a large following, or an impressive testimony.

The real question is not whether the speaker sounds convincing. The question is whether what he says agrees with what God has already revealed in Scripture.

That has always been the safest test.

Scripture Must Remain the Standard

God has given us His written Word so that believers are not left to follow every voice that claims divine authority. Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

That means Scripture is not simply one voice among many. It is the standard by which every teaching, prophecy, impression, vision, and spiritual claim must be tested.

If someone claims that God told him something that contradicts Scripture, the matter is already settled. God does not contradict Himself.

This is where many believers get into trouble. They begin giving personal revelations almost the same authority as the Bible. A preacher says, “God showed me,” and people accept the statement before asking whether Scripture supports it.

That reverses the proper order.

The Bible should never be interpreted by someone’s prophecy. The prophecy should be judged by the Bible.

God Takes Speaking in His Name Seriously

The Old Testament shows us how seriously God viewed false prophecy. Deuteronomy 18:20 warned against a prophet who spoke presumptuously in God’s name when God had not commanded him to speak.

The passage then gave Israel a clear test: “When a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not come about or come true, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken” (Deuteronomy 18:22).

A person claiming to speak for God was not permitted to make repeated failed predictions and then explain them away. Speaking in God’s name was serious because false prophecy did more than mislead people. It misrepresented God.

That should still make Christians cautious today.

We hear predictions about elections, disasters, financial blessings, healings, marriages, promotions, and future events. Some of those predictions are made publicly in God’s name. When they fail, people often forget about them and move on to the next prediction.

Scripture does not treat that casually, and neither should we.

“God Told Me” Does Not End the Discussion

One of the dangers of claiming direct revelation from God is that it can make honest questioning seem almost sinful. If someone says, “God told me,” another Christian may feel that questioning the statement is the same as questioning God Himself.

But Scripture never gives a teacher that kind of protection.

Paul wrote concerning prophecy in the church, “Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment” (1 Corinthians 14:29).

Even prophetic messages were to be evaluated. The speaker did not simply make a claim and expect everyone else to accept it without question.

That principle matters today. No pastor, teacher, author, evangelist, or supposed prophet should be offended when someone asks, “Where does Scripture teach that?”

Biblical truth can stand examination.

Be Careful With Personal Predictions

Christians should be especially cautious when someone claims to know specific details about another person’s future.

People may be told that God has promised them wealth, a marriage, a healing, a promotion, a ministry position, or some dramatic change in their circumstances. Those statements can influence major life decisions.

Yet James reminds us, “You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow” (James 4:14).

God certainly knows tomorrow. He knows every detail of the future. But that does not mean every person claiming knowledge of tomorrow is speaking for Him.

There is nothing wrong with saying, “I believe God may be leading me in this direction.” There is a great difference, however, between saying that and declaring, “God told me this will happen.”

The second statement puts God’s name behind our words, and that should never be done lightly.

Look at the Messenger as Well as the Message

Jesus warned that false prophets would come and said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16).

That means character matters.

Does the person consistently point people toward Christ, or does everything eventually point back to himself? Does he submit to Scripture? Can his teaching be questioned? Does he admit when he is wrong? Is money constantly connected to his prophecies? Does he use fear or promises of blessing to control people?

A person can be charismatic and still be untrustworthy. He can draw a crowd and still teach error. Spiritual language does not excuse ungodly character.

The messenger should never become more impressive to us than the truth of the message.

The Bereans Show Us the Right Approach

When Paul preached in Berea, the people listened eagerly, but they also examined the Scriptures to see whether what he taught was true.

Acts 17:11 says they were “examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

Think about that. They were checking the teaching of the apostle Paul against Scripture.

Paul did not condemn them for lacking faith. Scripture praises them for their carefulness.

That gives us a strong pattern to follow. If Paul’s teaching could be examined, every modern preacher and teacher can be examined as well.

No one should be above Scripture.

Hold Firmly to What Is Good

The purpose of discernment is not to make Christians cynical or suspicious of everything. Paul did not tell believers to reject everything they heard. He told them to examine everything and hold firmly to what was good.

That is the balance we need.

Listen carefully. Compare what is said with Scripture. Look at the fruit. Reject what is false and hold tightly to what is true.

Christians should never be afraid to ask, “Where does the Bible say that?”

That question is not evidence of weak faith. Sometimes it is evidence that a believer is taking God’s Word seriously.

When someone claims to speak for God, the safest response is not immediate acceptance and not immediate rejection.

It is examination.

And the final authority must always remain the Word of God.