In the last week of Jesus’ life, He was confronted by the religious leaders of the Jews asking by what authority He was doing the things He was doing. Before Jesus answered their query, He told them that they should first respond to His question. He asked them about the baptism of John and by what authority John had baptized the multitude. There were only two options. Either it was from heaven, ordained by God, or it had its origin in the wisdom of man. What an amazing approach to dealing with religious questions. Every spiritual event in our lives can be measured in the same way. Is it from heaven or is it from man?
Those opponents of Jesus knew immediately the dilemma they faced. If they admitted that the baptism of John was from heaven, there would be the obvious implication of their responsibility to obey the teachings of heaven. The other choice was to turn their back on teaching that everyone knew was from heaven. There are some questions which we should consider in this manner.
Having the Lord’s supper every week—is it from heaven or from men? Before the church was begun, no man had ever partaken of the Lord’s Supper. With the establishment of the church there was a weekly assembly of the church to eat of the bread and drink of the fruit of the vine. What was the origin of this sacred act of worship? Those who advocate a daily, monthly, quarterly partaking of this feast should think carefully about these matters. If the origin of a weekly observance is from heaven, the obvious question which follows is why have you not obeyed heaven?
Having elders to shepherd the church and deacons to serve—is it from heaven or from men? There is no question that this arrangement is the one found in the Bible. Today we find men who think they are reverend, who dominate the churches which have no elders. Then there are those other churches dominated by edicts from church councils and boards. Those who follow these newer practices should think carefully about the question we are addressing. The practice of having shepherds and deacons, is it from heaven? If it is, then there is that question which follows—why have you not obeyed heaven?
Apply this principle to all of life—is it from heaven or from men? Every principle can be measured—congregational singing, baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, sexual purity, modesty in the way we dress, marital faithfulness, the language we use. Before you make a decision in your life, there is one important question to be asked. Is the course of action you are considering in keeping with that which has been revealed from heaven or is it from the dictates of man’s heart?