Some of you say the Bible is your final authority.

Until it challenges something you already believe.

You’ll question another denomination.

You’ll expose somebody else’s false doctrine.

You’ll tell Catholics to question tradition, Baptists to question theirs, Pentecostals to question theirs.

But touch YOUR favorite doctrine and suddenly:

“That’s what I’ve always been taught.”

“My pastor explained that.”

“My church believes this.”

So?

Where did God say it?

Because one of the hardest lessons I ever learned was that believing something for years doesn’t make it biblical.

And quoting a verse doesn’t automatically make it biblical either.

Satan quoted Scripture.

When he tempted Jesus, he said:

“For it is written…” Matthew 4:6.

The verse was real.

The use of it was wrong.

Let that bother you.

Because Christians do the same thing when we grab one sentence, ignore its context, and force it to defend something we already believe.

“Judge not.”

Keep reading.

Jesus says first remove the beam from your own eye, “and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” Matthew 7:5.

“I can do all things through Christ.”

Keep reading.

Philippians 4:11–13 is Paul talking about enduring abundance AND need, fullness AND hunger.

“Where two or three are gathered…”

Keep reading Matthew 18:15–20.

Jesus was already talking about sin, witnesses, correction and the church.

“Touch not mine anointed.”

Keep reading Psalm 105.

Stop turning five words into immunity for religious leaders who don’t want to be questioned.

But here’s where this gets personal.

Acts 17:11 says the Bereans:

“searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”

Do you understand who they were checking?

Paul.

An apostle.

And Scripture calls them noble for doing it.

Yet today some Christians act like checking a preacher against the Bible is rebellion.

Paul himself said:

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

ALL things.

Including what I preach.

Including what your pastor preaches.

Including what your denomination teaches.

Including what YOU believe.

It’s easy to claim the Bible is your authority when you think it agrees with you.

The real test comes when it doesn’t.

Will you change what you believe?

Or will you start changing what the verse means?

Jesus confronted religious people for:

“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition.” Mark 7:13.

These weren’t atheists.

They were religious people.

They knew Scripture.

They defended their traditions.

And they could become so committed to what had been handed down that they resisted the truth standing in front of them.

That should scare every one of us.

Because fake faith doesn’t always throw the Bible away.

Sometimes it carries one.

Sometimes it highlights verses.

Sometimes it screams “biblical truth” while refusing to let Scripture correct anything it already believes.

So don’t read this thinking about somebody else.

I’m talking to you.

And I’m talking to myself.

Take the doctrine you defend the hardest.

The one you’re certain couldn’t possibly be wrong.

Put THAT one on the table.

Read the entire passage.

Study the context.

Compare Scripture with Scripture.

And stop asking God to prove you right.

Ask Him to show you what’s true.

I’ve had to admit I was wrong before.

I’ll probably have to do it again.

I’d rather have Scripture destroy something I believed than spend the rest of my life defending something God never said.

Jesus prayed:

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” John 17:17.

Not my tradition.

Not yours.

His Word.

So here’s the question that separates people who love truth from people who only love being right:

If Scripture proved one of your favorite doctrines wrong today, would you change your doctrine?

Or would you change what Scripture means?

#BibleStudy #Christianity #BibleTruth #Jesus #Scripture —