The Anchor of Truth: Why the Bible is Our Only Authority

In a world overflowing with opinions, "influencers," and ever-changing social norms, where can a soul find a solid place to stand? If you walk into any ten churches in your town, you are likely to find ten different sets of rules, varying worship styles, and conflicting doctrines. This religious confusion leads many to ask: Who has the right to say what is true?

For the churches of Christ (Romans 16:16), the answer is simple, though it is increasingly radical in today’s culture: The Bible, and the Bible alone, is our final authority. We reject man-made creeds, denominational manuals, and the "traditions of the elders" in favor of the inspired Word of God.

The Danger of Human Traditions

Humanity has a natural tendency to want to "improve" on God’s design. We see this even in the New Testament. Jesus often confronted the religious leaders of His day, the Pharisees, because they had buried the commands of God under a mountain of human tradition.

Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah when He said, "And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9). When we allow human wisdom to dictate our spiritual lives, our worship becomes "vain"—empty and useless. This is why I am a member of the church of Christ: I want a faith that is valid in the eyes of God, not one that is merely comfortable for men.

Speaking Where the Bible Speaks

There is a famous plea often heard in our Restoration heritage: "We speak where the Bible speaks, and we are silent where the Bible is silent." This isn't just a catchy slogan; it is a biblical principle. The apostle Peter wrote: "If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God" (I Peter 4:11).

To speak as the "oracles of God" means to act as a mouthpiece for what God has already revealed. It means we don't have the right to add "modern" updates to the Gospel or delete parts of the New Testament that make us feel awkward. If God has spoken on a matter—whether it be the plan of salvation, the structure of the church, or how we should live—that settled it. If He has not spoken, we have no right to bind our opinions on others.

The Inspiration and Sufficiency of Scripture

Why do we trust this ancient Book so much? Because we believe it is not merely a collection of wise sayings or historical accounts, but the very breath of God. Paul’s letter to Timothy provides the foundation for this conviction: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (II Timothy 3:16-17).

Look closely at those words. If the Scripture makes the man of God "complete" and "thoroughly equipped," what is left for a human creed to provide? If a creed says more than the Bible, it says too much. If it says less than the Bible, it says too little. If it says exactly what the Bible says, we don't need it—we already have the Bible!

The Greek word for "inspiration" is theopneustos, which literally means "God-breathed." When we read the Bible, we are not reading the opinions of Peter, Paul, or John; we are reading the mind of the Holy Spirit communicated through them.

The Warning Against "Other Gospels"

One of the most sobering passages in the New Testament is found in Galatians. The early church was already struggling with people trying to "tweak" the Gospel to make it more culturally acceptable or to fit their previous religious backgrounds. Paul’s response was blunt: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:8).

This is why we are so careful to examine everything we do. If a practice cannot be found in the New Testament—either by direct command, apostolic example, or necessary inference—we must set it aside. We are not interested in being "progressive" if it means progressing right out of the doctrine of Christ (II John 1:9).

A Standard for Judgment

Finally, we must recognize that the Bible isn't just a guidebook for a better life; it is the standard by which we will be judged. Jesus said: "He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him— the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day" (John 12:48). Imagine standing before the judgment seat of Christ. Will we be able to defend our religious practices by saying, "Well, my preacher said it was okay," or "My church manual allowed it"? No. The only defense will be, "Lord, I did what You commanded in Your Word."

Conclusion

Being a member of the church of Christ means choosing the narrow path of biblical authority. It means being willing to change our lives to fit the Bible, rather than trying to change the Bible to fit our lives. It is a call to return to the "ancient order of things," trusting that God’s Word is still living, powerful, and sufficient for us today.

You are loved.

Ray Reynolds

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