Christians I Struggle With

# Christians I Struggle With Ever since I came to faith, I have continually met people who believe differently from me. They call themselves Christians, yet we often disagree on many important matters. The first man who shared the Gospel with me once spoke these words, which have stayed with me ever since: “Along your journey, you will meet many people who claim to be believers. You will visit many different churches, but remember one thing: the Word of God must be your guide. Whatever people preach and whatever opinions they hold, take the Scriptures and examine whether these things are true. Let the Word of God be your greatest standard of discernment.” Ten years after my conversion, I still need to examine these things every day. Many teachers and prophets have arisen who mislead people, speak falsely, and sometimes—even unknowingly—lead others away from the truth. I have visited churches where everything initially seemed fine, until people began shouting in tongues without interpretation and falling to the floor in ways that appeared uncontrolled. On several occasions, I was accompanied by someone to whom I had shared the Gospel. I was hoping to help that person find a church in the area, but after witnessing such things, they were deeply troubled, and I had to explain what they had seen. Something similar happened with my mother. At her very first church service, she witnessed people speaking in tongues without interpretation. She had never seen anything like it before. In moments like these, I had to take the Word of God into my hands and examine what was happening. Scripture gives clear instruction concerning the use of tongues in the gathered church: > “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.” > — 1 Corinthians 14:27–28 (KJV) The instruction is clear: tongues in the church are to be spoken in an orderly manner, and there must be interpretation. If there is no interpreter, the speaker is to remain silent in the congregation. Why, then, do so many people try to reinterpret or explain away what Scripture plainly teaches? This is exactly why the man who first shared the Gospel with me gave me that warning. You will meet many people who call themselves believers. You will visit many churches. And in those churches, you will encounter things that have been introduced by men rather than established by God. Therefore, you must open the Scriptures and learn to distinguish between what comes from God and what comes from human tradition. There is far too much of what is human in the church today, and far too little of what is truly governed by the Word of God. So, if you are searching for answers and hearing different opinions from every direction, remember this, my friend: God has given you a precious treasure. You can take His Word into your own hands and examine these matters for yourself. The Christians I particularly struggle with are those who, even after being shown several clear biblical passages supporting a particular doctrine, still refuse to reconsider their position. They insist that they are right, because they have placed their trust in what a man has taught them rather than submitting their thinking to what God has said. Dear reader, do not allow loyalty to a preacher, a church, a movement, or a tradition to become greater than your loyalty to Christ and His Word. A humble Christian must always be willing to be corrected by Scripture. It is not a mark of weakness to abandon an error when the Word of God exposes it. It is an act of obedience. The Puritans often reminded believers that true faith must be governed by the authority of Scripture, not by human enthusiasm or religious appearance. A heart that truly desires God must also desire His truth, even when that truth challenges cherished opinions. We must not ask whether a teaching is popular, impressive, or emotionally powerful. We must ask whether it is faithful to the Word of God. The prophet Isaiah gives us this wonderful promise concerning the way of holiness: > “And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.” > — Isaiah 35:8 (KJV) God has not left His people without direction. His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Let us therefore be people who search the Scriptures, test every teaching, and follow Christ rather than the opinions of men. **What has been your experience?** Have you ever encountered teachings or practices in a church that made you return to Scripture to examine whether they were biblical? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Let us discuss these matters with humility, love, and a sincere desire to remain faithful to God's Word.