- Joined
- May 13, 2025
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I recently made a post on the Puritan Board titled "Religious Robots or True Disciples?" It was a simple, bold call to return to Scripture as the supreme authority, echoing the mindset of the Bereans in Acts 17:11 who tested everything they heard by the Word of God. My post warned against systems that discourage believers from studying the Bible for themselves and instead train them to repeat doctrinal systems without testing them by Scripture.
I didn’t name names. I didn’t attack any person. I didn’t call for rebellion or self-teaching. I simply urged Christians to get back to the Word and examine everything they’re taught. That was enough to set off a firestorm. Here’s the full conversation, preserved here: https://archive.ph/ZoL4a or see the PDF file click here.
Some may say I shouldn’t have posted on The Puritan Board, but I actually thought they would want to discuss the importance of knowing the Scripture. Instead, I faced a firestorm, and not one person was friendly. I think this is very sad. A place that claims to uphold the Bible reacted with hostility to the very idea of testing teaching by Scripture. That says a lot.
Immediately, I was met with pushback, not over the Scriptures I cited, but over the implication that any religious framework or tradition might be questioned. Several users defended the need to be "indoctrinated" by ordained teachers, and one even stated outright that I should not try to "break free from indoctrination." The very thing I warned about, systems that elevate man-made teaching structures above the Bible, was on full display.
This all began because of my daily Bible reading project at Know-The-Bible.com where we’re currently going through the book of Acts. That’s where the Bereans showed us what real discernment looks like. They didn’t just listen. They searched. That’s what I encouraged others to do. And for that, I was silenced.
When I responded with Scripture, I was accused of twisting the Bible, being immature, and disrespecting the church. But at no point did anyone refute the verses I quoted. Instead of testing my words by Scripture, they questioned my attitude. Instead of asking whether my concerns were valid, they doubled down on their systems, even though I never attacked them personally or dismissed all tradition, only warned against putting it above Scripture.
It didn’t stop there. One moderator accused me of slander simply for pointing out that many religious systems discourage believers from testing what they’re taught. I was told I needed to be "taught" because I didn’t agree with their interpretation. Another poster accused me of causing division, even though all I had done was uphold 1 Thessalonians 5:21: "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
Eventually, I was restricted from replying. My thread was locked. I was banned.
All for quoting the Bible.
This experience is exactly what I was warning about. Too many religious communities say they believe in the authority of Scripture, but the moment someone actually practices it, by testing the system, challenging assumptions, and holding every teacher accountable to the Bible, they get silenced.
Why? Because indoctrination depends on control. And the truth of Scripture threatens that control.
Let me be clear: I thank God for faithful teachers. Ephesians 4 says God gave pastors and teachers to build up the body. But their authority only stands if it aligns with Scripture. If someone resists being tested by the Bible, that’s the red flag, not the person asking questions.
My goal wasn't to start a fight. It was to spark real conversation about the need for every believer to read, study, and obey God's Word personally. What happened instead was a demonstration of what happens when systems are placed above Scripture.
The bottom line? If quoting the Bible gets you banned in a "Reformed" forum, you know something's wrong.
And if that offends someone, maybe it's not because I'm wrong, maybe it's because the system has grown too comfortable being above question.
Jesus said, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?" (Matthew 15:3)
That question still stands.
