Be Ready to Answer

Summary

Elder Wayne Gibbons emphasizes the importance of sanctifying the Lord in our hearts and being always ready to give a reason for the hope within us, with meekness and fear, as instructed in 1 Peter 3:15. He distinguishes between actions commanded by Scripture, matters of preference, and conveniences within church practice, urging believers to adhere strictly to biblical commands while understanding differences in non-essential practices. Gibbons also critiques the addition of human traditions to God's commandments, highlighting the biblical distinction between divine commands and man-made traditions, using examples from Mark 7 and Matthew 15. He stresses that Scripture alone is the rule of faith and practice, rejecting the equal authority of church tradition as held by the Roman Catholic Church.