Articles
What Standard Of Authority Should We Follow In Religious Matters (4)
What Standard Of Authority Should We
Follow In Religious Matters (4)
By Greg King
Jesus once asked, “The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men” (Matthew 21:25). By posing such a question Jesus was actually showing that in religious affairs there are only two sources of authority for what men do. All religious teachings and practices come either “from heaven” (i.e. they come from God) or “from men” (they are man-made). There are no other choices. What Standard Of Authority Should We Follow In Matters Of Religion?
Some want to follow what the majority does. Surely you have heard someone say, “Everybody is doing it, so it must be right.” What about it, in the sphere of religion does the fact that many people are doing or teaching something make it right in God’s sight? God warned the Israelites: “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” (Exodus 23:2). The truth is, what many people do or teach could be right, but it just might be wrong, too. The action or teaching of the majority is not a safe guide.
How many lives were spared during the great flood in the days of Noah? “… while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water” (1 Peter 3:20). The Bible does not tell us what the population of the world was in Noah’s time, but only a “few,” eight people to be exact, were saved in the ark that Noah built. The majority of people who lived at that time were lost outside the ark. Clearly, in this case the action of the majority was wrong!
Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13,14, NKJV). If only “few” will receive eternal life, then the majority will be lost. Therefore, it would surely be unwise to accept and follow what the majority does!
