1. Human Standards of Authority
(A study of Bible authority)

2. Chain of Authority from Heaven to Earth
FATHER
SON
HOLY SPIRIT
APOSTLES
SPOKEN AND WRITTEN WORD
All-authoritative word, Jno. 12:49-50
All-authoritative word, Jno. 17:6-8,14-19
Given the Holy Spirit (Jno. 15:26-27)
Comforter / the Spirit of truth, 14:16-18
Teach and remember all things, 14:25-26
Guide them into all truth, 16:12-15
Revelation, inspiration, confirmation, Eph. 3:3-5; Matt. 10:20; Mk. 16:20
THE NEW TESTAMENT OF CHRIST
Earth

3. Commandments and Doctrines of Men Colossians 2:8, 18-23
Deprive of heavenly reward, 2:18 (8)
Deceptive source of knowledge, 2:18
Not holding fast to Christ…growth is not “from God”, 2:19
Perishable (subject to corruption), 2:20-22
False appearances of wisdom, 2:23
Fail to conquer the flesh, 2:23

4. It works! “The end justifies the means.”
Do evil that good may come, Rom. 3:5-8
“You can’t argue with success!” Rom. 10:1- 3; 1 Sam. 15
It works!

5. “We’ve always done it this way.”
Man’s tradition is not God’s command, Mk. 7:1-13
Wrong when given binding power (7:3-4, 8)
Wrong when nullifies God’s commands (7:13)
Tradition

6. Silence “It doesn’t say not to!”
Be content with what has been revealed, Jno. 9 (Deut. 29:29)
Silence does not give consent, Heb. 7: (Num. 3:10)
Silence

7. Silence of NT used to endorse instrumental music by the Monterey Church of Christ, Lubbock, Texas
But Stephens wondered, “If God feels so strongly about instruments not being used in a worship gathering, then why do I not find a specific text in the New Testament that says you can’t do it?”
“Churches of Christ debate adding instrumental music to worship services”, Irie Price Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,
Silence
“It doesn’t say not to!”

8. “So many can’t be wrong!”
The flood, Gen. 6:5-8
Only two of the Exodus generation entered Canaan, Num. 14:28-30
Majority crucified Jesus
Majority does not rule, Matt. 7:13-14
Numbers

9. “If we do the important things right, the rest won’t matter!”
Rulers, Jno. 12:42-43
One lie, Acts 5:1-4
Uzzah, 2 Sam. 6: (1 Chrn. 15:13-15)
Did God misunderstand? Ezek. 18:24-28
Little things

10. Keeping up with others “They are doing it and so can we!”
Not content with God’s ways, 1 Sam. 8:4-7,
“We won’t survive unless we become like the churches around us!” Rev. 3:1-3
Keeping up with others

11. “It makes me feel good, so it must be right!”
Pleasurable feelings do not justify, Heb. 11:25; Jas. 4:3 (Prov. 14:12; :26)
Emotions

12. Losing touch with reality
“I’d rather do it wrong than not do nothing!”
In what other part of life does that work? Tim. 2:5
Another alternative: Do God’s work in God’s way, Col. 3:17; Cor. 15:58
Losing touch with reality

13. Every human source. of authority puts. greater value on man
Every human source of authority puts greater value on man than on God and what He says
New Testament of Christ is our only reliable authority, Tim. 3:16-17
HEAVEN OR MEN?