In these times of confusion among the churches, we must be a light for the truth, shielding ourselves from wrong teachings that are everywhere. When new truth contrary to what we have been taught by God's apostle is considered, it begins to erode the vital foundation given to us. We have a responsibility to measure and compare what is offered against the teachings we received, ensuring it aligns with the truth of God. By allowing events or teachings critical of this truth to influence us, we risk hardening our hearts, which is a danger we must avoid. Faithfulness to God's word and the doctrine once delivered through His apostle brings assurance, and we must hold fast to this truth to stand with supreme joy with Jesus Christ at the end of the age.

Seeking new truth can often bring conflict within the church, as it may challenge established unity. When a seeker introduces a new truth that does not align with church doctrine, they risk violating the scriptural command to speak the same thing and be perfectly joined together in the same mind. This departure from unity, driven by the acceptance of new truth, can tragically separate one from God's called-out ones, as it allows satan to incite pride and tempt the seeker into sin under the guise of a good cause. However, there is a proper way to seek new truth without damaging the church's unity. Those who live God's way will cherish the truth revealed at their calling and guard against devising different beliefs, preserving the unity of the spirit. When new truth contradicts existing doctrine, it must be handled with discipline and humility. The discoverer should contain this truth and present it only to the church leader, living by faith that the leader will prayerfully examine it. If deemed scriptural, the leader will introduce it to all at once, ensuring that everyone speaks the same thing before and after the change, thus maintaining unity. Spreading new truth prematurely divides the church, and God's Word demands expulsion to protect unity. The excitement of discovering new truth is understandable, but sharing it unwisely with others before official determination can harm the bond of peace. Even the Father and His Son exercise restraint in revealing truth, disclosing it only as we are ready. We need not fear missing out on truth, as long as we keep up with what has already been revealed to God's true church. God will reveal additional truth in a way that does not damage His church, ensuring we all walk by the same rule and remain of the same mind. Our focus must be on holding fast to the revealed truth by obeying it, thereby growing in both truth and unity as we strive together for the faith of the gospel.

Claims of newly discovered truth demand careful scrutiny, since studying God's Word, which is rich in meaning, can indeed lead to deeper understanding over time. However, when someone asserts that they have found a new truth, Herbert Armstrong's counsel remains essential: "Don't believe me—BELIEVE YOUR BIBLE—BELIEVE GOD!" He warned that regardless of who makes such a claim, even if it were himself, believers must trust God and His Word above any human source. Mr. Armstrong stressed that Scripture is the unchanging standard by which all truth claims must be measured, echoing Psalm 119:105, which declares that God's word is "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." To properly evaluate any assertion of new truth, one must study the whole of God's instructions rather than relying on isolated verses pulled out of context. This comprehensive approach is what will protect God's elect from the signs and wonders that deceivers will employ in the last days, as Christ warns in Matthew 24:24. Every message must be judged against the entire counsel of God, as Paul instructs in Acts 20:27, rather than against a single proof text or a persuasive argument. This principle becomes especially urgent in light of Paul's warning in I Timothy 4:1 that in the latter times some who possess God's Spirit will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. This raises the sobering question of how someone with God's Spirit could be led astray—a danger illustrated vividly in the history of the Worldwide Church of God, where one man relied on Greek logic rather than Scripture to persuade members to accept his ideas, introducing confusion about doctrines such as the Trinity and the nature of God. He leaned on his own credentials rather than on God's Word, and because many failed to test his teaching against Scripture, they were deceived. This example underscores that there are only two possible spiritual sources behind any teaching—God's or Satan's—making it critical to measure every doctrine against the full truth of Scripture rather than accepting claims of fresh revelation at face value. Isaiah 8:20 provides a further safeguard: "To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Since God and Christ are both described as light, any teaching lacking clear scriptural support reveals the absence of God's Spirit behind it. Had those in the Worldwide Church of God applied this test, they might have recognized that the man's assertions of new understanding lacked genuine light and spared themselves from deception. This principle connects directly to the broader warning that self-deception and neglect of testing all things, as instructed in I Thessalonians 5:21 and I John 4:1, leave believers vulnerable. Just as the foolish virgins in Christ's parable failed to do the diligent work needed to keep their lamps burning, so believers today must actively test every claim of new truth against the whole of Scripture, refusing to add to or subtract from God's Word, in order to remain firmly anchored and unshaken as Christ's return approaches.