The Authority of God's Word

God told Adam, "Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Genesis 2:16-17). This information was relayed to Eve, as she told the serpent what God had said (Genesis 3:2-3). The serpent twisted what God had said by adding one little word when he said, "Ye shall not surely die" (Genesis 3:4).

God's Word can be twisted and perverted in many ways. Paul warned against such perversions in Galatians 1:6-9. The apostle John warned against adding to and subtracting from God’s revelation in Revelation 22:18-19. Despite these warnings, the gospel is perverted by many in the religious world. God's Word is not respected as it is changed to fit one’s personal desires. Following are just a very few examples.

• God's Word says: "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mark 16:16). Religious leaders of today say: "He who believes will be saved and then, at a convenient time for him in the future, he will be baptized if he so desires."
  
  
• God's Word says: "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Religious leaders of today say: "Repent, and you shall receive remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, and then those who wish to be baptized as a sign of their salvation may."
  
  
• God's Word says: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). Religious leaders of today say: "Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart, and with your hands, and on the piano, and drums, and guitar, and whatever other instrument you desire, to the Lord."
  
  
• God's Word says: "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved" (Acts 2:47). Religious leaders of today say: "And the religious body will determine who will be added to the church by the democratic process of voting, after they are saved."
  
  
• God's Word says: "But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence" (I Timothy 2:12). Religious leaders of today say: "And I permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, for it is a shame for her talents to go to waste in silence."

There are many more examples that could be offered, but the point is clear: God's Word is not esteemed as the final authority among many religious leaders of today. They refer to their creed books before they search the pages of the New Testament.

It is the aim of those in the churches of Christ to restore first century Christianity. One early restorer coined the phrase, "Speak where the Bible speaks; be silent where the Bible is silent." Such is a Biblical position. The apostle Peter instructed, "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Peter 4:11).

We will not worship in a way that has no command or example in the New Testament, the inspired guide for all Christians. "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Colossians 3:17).