"If I question the church or leaders, I'm rebelling against God Himself."
How it sounds in your head: The pastor said something that felt wrong, but when I mentioned it, they said I was being rebellious and disrespectful to God's authority. Maybe having questions means I don't have faith. Maybe I'm supposed to just obey and not think.
"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
-- Acts 17:11Source: religious control - using God's name to silence legitimate questions and concerns.
She was taught that questioning leadership equals questioning God, making her doubt her own discernment and conscience.
Her husband Nabal was a fool making deadly decisions for the family. She went AGAINST his authority to save everyone, and God blessed her wisdom—Nabal died and she married the king.
I REFUSE the lie that questions equal rebellion. IT IS WRITTEN that the Bereans were FAIR-MINDED for checking what Paul said against Scripture. I am COMMANDED to test spirits, not surrender my brain. IT IS WRITTEN in Galatians 1:8, 'Even if an angel from heaven preaches another gospel, let him be accursed.' If ANGELS don't get blind obedience, neither do pastors. I am Abraham's seed with the BARAK blessing, and I have the Holy Spirit to guide me into all truth. The Father gave me a mind and expects me to use it—discernment is not rebellion.
While religious leaders are calling your questions rebellion, the Father is calling them wisdom and praising you like He praised the Bereans. He's not threatened by your questions—He's the one who gave you the Holy Spirit to ask them.