Should We Fact-Check What Is Taught in Our Local Church? How?
This is a tricky question. Many Christians have never studied theology, attended seminary, or received formal biblical training. So, when the Bible tells us to test everything, a genuine question arises: How am I supposed to test what my pastor teaches if I am not an expert myself?
To answer that question, we need to consider three things: how God communicated in the Old Testament, how He communicates in the New Testament, and the context in which we live today.
God’s Communication in the Old Testament
In the Old Testament, God generally communicated through specific individuals He had chosen. These were prophets, judges, priests, and kings. If people wanted to know God’s counsel, they usually had to seek out someone God had anointed or called to be His spokesperson. The average person did not have direct access to Scripture in the way we do today. There was a dependence on those through whom God chose to revealed His Word.
God’s Communication in the New Testament
The New Testament changes the picture completely. Through Christ, we have become children of God and have the Holy Spirit living in us. We are no longer dependent on a prophet or a select group of individuals to hear from God. We can approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. God can speak to every believer who sincerely seeks Him and relies on the Holy Spirit. Spiritual leaders remain important, but they are not our primary sources for answers to issues of life. Every genuine believer can read God’s Word today and allow the Holy Spirit to speak God’s will to their conscience.
Our Current Context
We live in a time of increasing knowledge, but also increasing confusion. There is an abundance of teaching available online, on television, and in churches. Alongside genuine biblical teaching, there is also manipulation, deception, confusion, and spiritual exploitation. For that reason, the answer to our original question is clear: Yes, we should fact-check what we hear from preachers and pastors. Not because we are disrespectful, but because we do not want to be deceived, manipulated, or led astray. The question then becomes: how do we do it?
Four Biblical Ways to Fact-Check Teaching
- Read the Bible for Yourself
One of the greatest privileges believers have today is access to Scripture. Most Christians own a Bible, and many have access to multiple translations and study resources. There is therefore no excuse for remaining dependent solely on what others tell us. The more familiar we become with God’s Word, the easier it becomes to recognize when something is biblical and when it is not.
- Rely on the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit guides believers into truth. Reading the Bible without depending on the Holy Spirit can leave us with information but little understanding. When we combine Scripture with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we develop the discernment needed to recognize truth from error.
- Do Your Own Research
When we encounter teachings we do not understand, we should not immediately accept or reject them. We should investigate them for ourselves. Personal research allows us to identify knowledge gaps, understand issues more deeply, and ask better questions when seeking help from others.
- Meditate on the Word of God
It is not enough to read Scripture occasionally. We must meditate on it consistently. Meditation allows God’s Word to shape our thinking and helps us become sensitive to His direction. It is often through meditation that God makes His will clearer to us. Without regular meditation, we remain vulnerable to confusion, manipulation, and spiritual immaturity.
What Should We Expect from Church?
Church was never meant to replace personal spiritual exploration and growth. Keep in mind that many Christians live in a place where a physical church is not feasible. The church is primarily a place for fellowship, prayer, and mutual encouragement. It is where believers gather, strengthen one another, and grow together in Christ.
God puts pastors, teachers, prophets, apostles, evangelists, and other leaders in churches to provide guidance and insight that contribute to our spiritual growth. However, no church leader can replace your responsibility to study God’s Word, seek God personally, and grow your own relationship with Him.
Final Thoughts
The healthiest Christians are not those who blindly accept everything they hear, nor those who reject every spiritual authority. They are believers who study Scripture for themselves, rely on the Holy Spirit, conduct careful research, and meditate on God’s Word. In an age of information, confusion, and competing voices, discernment is essential.
Read the Word. Do the research. Depend on the Holy Spirit. Test everything. And continue growing in the Lord.