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Three Trends Undermining Biblical Authority
Churches can affirm biblical authority while allowing other voices to have the final word. In this episode of Contending for the Word Weekly Watch, Dave Jenkins examines three trends that undermine Scripture’s authority: claims of private revelation, experience becoming the interpreter of God’s Word, and cultural pressure reshaping biblical teaching.
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Biblical Authority and the Church Today
One of the central convictions recovered during the Protestant Reformation was sola Scriptura. Scripture alone is the final infallible authority for Christian faith and life. That conviction must shape more than a church’s statement of faith. It must govern what Christians believe, how they interpret their experiences, and how they respond to cultural pressure.
Drawing from 1 John 4:1, 2 Peter 1:16–21, Romans 12:2, and 2 Timothy 3:16–17, Dave calls Christians to test spiritual claims by God’s revealed Word and remain grounded in the truth God has given His church.
Three Trends Undermining Biblical Authority
1. “God Told Me” Replaces “Scripture Says”
Claims of private revelation can make disagreement sound like disobedience to God. Christians must test spiritual claims according to Scripture. No Christian leader has the right to bind another believer’s conscience with a supposed private revelation.
2. Experience Becomes the Interpreter of Scripture
Emotions, dreams, and extraordinary experiences do not authenticate a teacher or establish the truth of a doctrine. Our experiences must be interpreted through God’s Word. Scripture must never be made subject to our experiences.
3. Scripture Is Affirmed Until Culture Objects
Careful biblical interpretation studies a passage in context and welcomes correction from God’s Word. Cultural accommodation begins with a preferred conclusion and reshapes Scripture to fit it. Romans 12:2 calls believers to renewed minds rather than conformity to the world.
Practicing Biblical Discernment Faithfully
Biblical discernment is careful, measured, and truthful. It grows through knowing Christ and His Word. Christians should know Scripture better than they know false teachers and know the gospel better than they know the latest controversy.
- Test spiritual claims according to Scripture.
- Allow God’s Word to correct your experiences, opinions, and assumptions.
- Study biblical passages carefully in their context.
- Remain committed to your local church.
- Grow in sound doctrine and keep your eyes on Christ.
Teachers, trends, and cultures change. God’s Word stands forever. The church continues to need the truth and sufficiency of Scripture in every generation.
Key Scripture References
- 1 John 4:1
- 2 Peter 1:16–21
- Romans 12:2
- 2 Timothy 3:16–17
- Isaiah 40:8
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
