Check it Out for Yourself...

I want to challenge you all today. It’s a simple challenge, but a worthwhile one — and one that can be applied to both life and Scripture. The challenge is this:

👉 Don’t take anything on face value — check it out for yourself!

Why do I say that from a biblical point of view? Because Scripture itself tells us to. Paul writes in Philippians 2:12,

“Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”

That’s a powerful statement. Paul isn’t saying, “Take my word for it.” He’s saying, “Make sure you know what you believe and why you believe it.” Faith isn’t meant to be second-hand — it’s meant to be personal, tested, and rooted in truth. When we simply accept what others tell us, even well-meaning teachers or long-standing traditions, we risk building our beliefs on interpretations rather than on the Word itself.

Church history is full of examples where traditions, however noble, drifted from what the Bible actually says. Sometimes it happens subtly, a little at a time, until centuries later the practice or teaching bears little resemblance to Scripture. But God’s Word hasn’t changed. That’s why it’s vital that every believer — not just pastors or theologians — develops the habit of checking things out for themselves.

When Paul preached in Berea, Acts 17:11 says,

“The Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

If the Bereans could fact-check the Apostle Paul himself, then surely we can check what we hear from pulpits, podcasts, or YouTube preachers today! The goal isn’t to be argumentative or suspicious, but to make sure our faith rests on God’s truth, not on human opinion.

So, here’s the challenge: the next time you hear a teaching, a doctrine, or even a favourite saying that “everyone” quotes, don’t just nod and accept it — look it up. Read the passage in context. Ask what it really means. Compare Scripture with Scripture. And then, when you see the truth for yourself, let God’s Word reshape what you believe.

You might be surprised how often tradition and Scripture quietly clash — and when they do, my advice is simple:
Accept Scripture over teaching and tradition. Because God’s Word is always right, and it never changes.

So today, take that challenge.
Open your Bible.
Read. Examine. Test.
And let truth — not tradition — guide your faith.

Article written by Shaun Fereday, Prison Chaplain (Sessional) and Leader @SFGH Church