“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”1 Corinthians 11:1

Secondhand Faith?

Following God, not blindly following a person who follows God, and how to grow the discernment to tell the difference.

A lot of sincere Christians have secondhand faith. They believe what their pastor believes, the way he believes it, because he said it. Then the leader falls, leaves, or gets something wrong, and their faith wobbles with him. Scripture says two things at once: honor and follow good leaders (Hebrews 13:17), and test everything, even Paul (Acts 17:11). This isn’t about distrusting your pastor. It’s about keeping your own eyes on Jesus, so a good leader can do what good leaders are supposed to do: point.

Not anti-church. Not anti-pastor.The goal is healthy following: honoring leaders without handing them your conscience, and testing teaching without becoming a cynic. If a leader has already hurt you, start with Hurt by the Church, Held by Jesus.

Built on 1 Corinthians 1:12 and 11:1, Acts 17:11 and 18:24–28, Hebrews 12:2 and 13:17, Galatians 2:11, John 1:35–37 and 3:30, 1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Exodus 32, Numbers 16, 1 Kings 22 and 2 Samuel 12.
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