Be a Berean!!
Recently I was thinking back and I happened to recall the first time I ever received the advice to "be a Berean". This encouragement was given to me over two years ago in an email from a Baptist preacher named Joe (who has henceforth become one of my best friends). When Joe introduced me to this concept, it was in reference to some teachings he recommended to me by pastor John MacArthur(a). At the time, the phrase, "be a Berean", was foreign to me. I had never had someone encourage me to "be a Berean". Since that email exchange and after having read many books written by Reformed authors, I have now become very familiar with phrases such as "be a Berean" and "the Berean spirit".
What is a Berean you ask? In order to discover this we need to look to the Bible in Acts 17:10-11. In these verses we read, "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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".
The Berean's as we have come to know them, were Jews living in Berea, a city about 50 miles west of Thessalonica (b). When Paul came to their synagogue preaching the Word, they received it, but they also searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul was preaching was true. These Berean disciples didn't just blindly follow what Paul said, though he was a God called apostle. These Berean believers checked what Paul taught against the Bible -which at that time consisted of what we now call the Old Testament. Scripture even bears witness that the Bereans were "noble" because of this! What an awesome testimony!
I don't know about you, but honestly, I want to be as theologically correct as I can possibly be- this side of Glory. At times I have found that I was in error on certain doctrines. Because of that, I've had to correct my understandings on some things. I am not ashamed of this. I am also not afraid to concede that I may be wrong on some doctrinal issues at this present hour! The reason I say this is mainly because I am a human being and prone to err. Another reason I say this is because there are still a few (often debated) theological positions and issues that I myself am not totally convinced about. Therefore until "I know even as also I am known"(1 Cor 13:12), I expect to continue reforming my theology as the Holy Spirit guides me and illuminates the Holy Scripture. As for admitting I was wrong in the past, I am encouraged by the wise words of Charles Spurgeon when he said:
"To confess you were wrong yesterday, is only to acknowledge that you are a little wiser to-day; and instead of being a reflection on yourself, it is an honour to your judgment, and shows that you are improving in the knowledge of the truth. Do not be ashamed to learn, and to cast aside your old doctrines and views, but to take up that which you may more plainly see to be in the Word of God".
In our day and age, I believe there needs to be more Bereans! By this I mean that Christians everywhere should adopt the attitude of the Bereans of Acts 17 and check the claims of every preacher, sermon, doctrine, or "Christian book" against the Bible itself to see if the teachings they promote are so! Sadly, many in the church lack this discernment and lack the desire to be correct in their understanding. All too often Christians are content to believe what their pastor says or follow some fad doctrine they see on television or read in a book. One only needs to turn on TBN and watch it for a few minutes to see that the church is greatly lacking in the area of Berean discernment and scholarship.
These are perilous times. Heresies and false prophets abound. A spirit of laziness and apathy has taken over much of the visible church. Let us be on guard. Let us be diligent to "prove all things, holding fast to that which is good" (1Thess 5:21). Be not afraid to test your own theories and doctrines against the Holy Scripture. If you see where a change needs to be made in your theology: make the change! Let not your pride hinder you! Seach the scriptures daily! Let us stand firmly with the Reformers by declaring "Sola Scriptura" (c)! If the Bereans were faithful enough to examine the very teachings of Paul the Apostle, should we do no less in our day?
Be a Berean!
-Rhett
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footnotes:
(a) John MacArthur is a minister whom I respect and believe to be a very Biblical teacher, though I do not agree with his teachings on the Cessation of the "Charismatic Gifts".
(b) From Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
(c) Sola Scriptura means "Scripture Alone". It is one of the "Five Solas of the Reformation". In reference to this, A.A. Hodge has written: "The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, Having Been Given By Inspiration of God, Are the All-Sufficient and Only Rule of Faith and Practice, and Judge of Controversies".
Recently I was thinking back and I happened to recall the first time I ever received the advice to "be a Berean". This encouragement was given to me over two years ago in an email from a Baptist preacher named Joe (who has henceforth become one of my best friends). When Joe introduced me to this concept, it was in reference to some teachings he recommended to me by pastor John MacArthur(a). At the time, the phrase, "be a Berean", was foreign to me. I had never had someone encourage me to "be a Berean". Since that email exchange and after having read many books written by Reformed authors, I have now become very familiar with phrases such as "be a Berean" and "the Berean spirit".
What is a Berean you ask? In order to discover this we need to look to the Bible in Acts 17:10-11. In these verses we read, "And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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".
The Berean's as we have come to know them, were Jews living in Berea, a city about 50 miles west of Thessalonica (b). When Paul came to their synagogue preaching the Word, they received it, but they also searched the Scriptures to see if what Paul was preaching was true. These Berean disciples didn't just blindly follow what Paul said, though he was a God called apostle. These Berean believers checked what Paul taught against the Bible -which at that time consisted of what we now call the Old Testament. Scripture even bears witness that the Bereans were "noble" because of this! What an awesome testimony!
I don't know about you, but honestly, I want to be as theologically correct as I can possibly be- this side of Glory. At times I have found that I was in error on certain doctrines. Because of that, I've had to correct my understandings on some things. I am not ashamed of this. I am also not afraid to concede that I may be wrong on some doctrinal issues at this present hour! The reason I say this is mainly because I am a human being and prone to err. Another reason I say this is because there are still a few (often debated) theological positions and issues that I myself am not totally convinced about. Therefore until "I know even as also I am known"(1 Cor 13:12), I expect to continue reforming my theology as the Holy Spirit guides me and illuminates the Holy Scripture. As for admitting I was wrong in the past, I am encouraged by the wise words of Charles Spurgeon when he said:
"To confess you were wrong yesterday, is only to acknowledge that you are a little wiser to-day; and instead of being a reflection on yourself, it is an honour to your judgment, and shows that you are improving in the knowledge of the truth. Do not be ashamed to learn, and to cast aside your old doctrines and views, but to take up that which you may more plainly see to be in the Word of God".
In our day and age, I believe there needs to be more Bereans! By this I mean that Christians everywhere should adopt the attitude of the Bereans of Acts 17 and check the claims of every preacher, sermon, doctrine, or "Christian book" against the Bible itself to see if the teachings they promote are so! Sadly, many in the church lack this discernment and lack the desire to be correct in their understanding. All too often Christians are content to believe what their pastor says or follow some fad doctrine they see on television or read in a book. One only needs to turn on TBN and watch it for a few minutes to see that the church is greatly lacking in the area of Berean discernment and scholarship.
These are perilous times. Heresies and false prophets abound. A spirit of laziness and apathy has taken over much of the visible church. Let us be on guard. Let us be diligent to "prove all things, holding fast to that which is good" (1Thess 5:21). Be not afraid to test your own theories and doctrines against the Holy Scripture. If you see where a change needs to be made in your theology: make the change! Let not your pride hinder you! Seach the scriptures daily! Let us stand firmly with the Reformers by declaring "Sola Scriptura" (c)! If the Bereans were faithful enough to examine the very teachings of Paul the Apostle, should we do no less in our day?
Be a Berean!
-Rhett
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
footnotes:
(a) John MacArthur is a minister whom I respect and believe to be a very Biblical teacher, though I do not agree with his teachings on the Cessation of the "Charismatic Gifts".
(b) From Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
(c) Sola Scriptura means "Scripture Alone". It is one of the "Five Solas of the Reformation". In reference to this, A.A. Hodge has written: "The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, Having Been Given By Inspiration of God, Are the All-Sufficient and Only Rule of Faith and Practice, and Judge of Controversies".
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