The Apostle Paul understood the problems that would arise in the church in Ephesus. He warned them about false teachers and encouraged them to be careful about the teachings they accepted. In the letter to the Ephesians, Jesus praises them for following Paul’s advice Churches Without Spiritual Impact.
Testing Teachings and False Teachers
The church in Ephesus was careful about the teachings they allowed. They didn’t just accept anyone who claimed to be an apostle. Instead, they tested those who came to teach and found many of them to be false. Jesus recognizes their hard work in this area. He approves of their efforts to protect their faith from false teachings.
A Modern Example Televangelists
Recently, I received a manuscript of a new book that will be published by Moody Press. It is a collection of articles by Christian leaders examining the teachings of some well-known televangelists. These televangelists get a lot of attention on TV, and the book takes a close look at whether their teachings line up with the Bible Daily Ephesus Tours.
Just like the Ephesians tested the teachings of their time, we should carefully examine the teachings we hear today. If the teachings of these televangelists don’t match Scripture, they should be rejected. This is exactly what Paul taught the elders in Ephesus to do when he said:
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32 NIV)
The Right Way to Test Teachings
The key to testing any teaching is whether it aligns with God’s Word. Paul encouraged the Ephesians to measure everything against Scripture. If more people did this today, we might have avoided some of the scandals that have damaged the reputation of the church.
For example, consider what could have happened if a church had analyzed the teachings of Jim Jones, a cult leader who led many people to their deaths. If his teachings had been tested and challenged, many lives could have been saved.
Jesus Commends the Ephesians
Jesus praises the church in Ephesus for their wisdom in testing teachings. He does not criticize them for being judgmental. Instead, he commends them for following the advice Paul gave and for protecting their faith from false teachings.
