Hearsay Theology is Theology which has not been checked out. Matters are established, the Bible says, by multiple witnesses. One’s theology has to be confirmed! Even our own views must be checked.
Before people had access to the Bible, the Bible was read to them. The exception is where men wanted to keep people in the dark, and actually banished the Bible from their Churches by having it only read in foreign languages which none understood.
The Bible changes lives. There is no other message but the message of the Bible itself. James says that the wisdom from above is first of all, “unmixed.” No personal opinion, tradition, psychology, philosophy, etc. are to be mixed into it. “. . . then peaceable,” James says. No peace until there is purity! All the views of this world will never bring us to peace. Only the unmixed purity of the Scriptures themselves.
“Your error is great, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God,” Jesus said. He also said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they alone shall see God.” As Hebrews says, “Without holiness, no man shall see God.” Clean on the inside is required. A dirty life equals a soiled view. Jesus has to heal our blind eyes.
Finally, “If any man is willing to DO the WILL OF THE FATHER, he shall know if the teaching is from God or from men,” Jesus said. Scripture alone, a Pure Heart and a Willing Heart to yield or do. These are the beginnings of sound Theology. No desire to have it our way, to mix it, or to defy it. Everything else will produce a distortion. The options are simply, “Not my will, but Thine be done,” or God telling us, “All right, have it your way!”
originally posted on his Facebook page.