Be Prepared to Give An Answer

The Bible tells us in 1 Peter 3 :15 that we are to "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have".

The NIV Study Bible Commentary says, "We should always be ready to give an answer, gently and respectfully, when asked about our faith, our lifestyle, or our Christian perspective."  Not just our hope but our perspective.

Proverbs 22:20-21

Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge, teaching you true and reliable words, so that you can give sound answers to him who sent you.

Proverbs 15:28

The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

Our church recently has told it's congregation that we will have to sign a Ministry Commitment in order to serve within the church.  That is not what this post is about but I will make a post in the near future to give you what I believe.  However, it is a new topic of conversations and before you hear what I think I would encourage you to search it out for yourself.  Do it honestly, looking at it from all sides openly and prayerfully.  Not just on this issue, but anytime you are faced with such decisions. If someone asks you why you are doing something or why you believe what you do the following are NOT suitable answers and here is why...

1) My Pastor/Leadership told me to and says that it's okay.

1 Thessalonians 5:20-22

Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

3) It is required. 

Galatians 5:1

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

2) "It's no big deal" or "Every other church does it" or "It's harmless, just do it" or "It's only a small concession" or "It doesn't mean anything".

1 Peter 4:5 (also see Romans 14:12 for a similar verse)

But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.

These statements are cop outs, no different then the one your parents used when you were a child "If your friends jumped off a cliff, would you?".  You and only you will be accountable to God for your decisions and actions.  He will not accept the above answers and neither should you.

If you look at mainstream ideas (even within the church) and concede it must be okay, you are setting yourself up for deception - just because others do it does not make it right. (See my post on False Teachings and Discernment for more on how we can be deceived and how we can avoid it.)

Matthew 7:13-14

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. 

Matthew 7:21-23

Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 

Daniel shows us this in the stance he took against King Nebuchadnezzar and resolved not to "defile himself with the royal food and wine". (Daniel 5:8) He stood up to what was mainstream even though he was in a world where no one would have questioned him if he did do it.  Only him and his 3 friends stood their ground.

Look at the "Hall of Faith" in Hebrews 11.  All of these men and women of faith had to stand at some point against mainstream ideas or do something that was unpopular because it was truth and because God had instructed them to. 

Why could they stand alone?  Because they were convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was God they were following and NOT man. 

So again I challenge you that any time you do something you make sure you are able to give a real reason that can be backed up by Scripture and not the words of man.  Questions are NEVER bad. If after studying it for yourself, it is still muddled or unclear - WAIT - and ask God for wisdom.  Don't just do it.

Romans 14:23

But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.

Satan will come and deceive many...it's not a matter of if, but when...and the bible is clear that he will come in "Sheep's clothing" and will be hard to recognize and that we need to be on guard for those times. 

Matthew 7:15

Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

I will continue to challenge you on what you believe and you need to own it for yourself, even in the little things.  Those "little things", "harmless things" are practice for the big things.  Otherwise, when things get tough, you won't know how to stand.

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Discernment of False Teachings

Below is an article I have found from John MacArthur that I feel speaks well to how we as Christians also need to be discerning when it comes to false teaching and how some are better at this than others.

JOHN MACARTHUR ON THE GIFT OF DISCERNMENT

discerning of spirits(v.10)—Satan is the great deceiver (John 8:44) and his demons counterfeit God’s message and work. Christians with the gift of discernment have the God-given ability to recognize lying spirits and to identify deceptive and erroneous doctrine (see Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1).

Paul illustrated the use of this gift in Acts 16:16-18, as Peter had exercised it in Acts 5:3. When it was not being exercised in the Corinthian church, grave distortion of the truth occurred (see v. 3; 14:29).

Though its operation has changed since apostolic times (because of the completion of Scripture) it is still essential to have people in the church who are discerning. They are the guardians, the watchmen who protect the church from demonic lies, false doctrines, perverted cults, and fleshly elements. As it requires diligent study of the Word to exercise gifts of knowledge, wisdom, preaching, and teaching, so it does with discernment.

An important gift for the protection of the church is that of discernment, the distinguishing of spirits. The basic meaning of distinguishing has to do with separating out for examination and judging in order to determine what is genuine and what is spurious. Satan is the great deceiver, “the father of lies” (John 8:44), and ever since the Fall he and his demons have counterfeited God’s message and God’s work. All Christians should judge carefully what they hear and read and “not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1).

That is what the God-fearing and “noble-minded” Jews of Berea did when they first heard the gospel from Paul (Acts 17:11). They tested Paul’s word against what they knew of God’s Word, and because the two words matched they believed that what he preached was from God and not from demons. That is what every believer should do with every message that claims to be from God. No preacher or teacher of the gospel should resent having what he says judged against Scripture.

Those to whom God has given the gift of discernment have a special ability to recognize lying spirits, and this gift is the Spirit’s watchdog. Some ideas that are given as scriptural and that on the surface seem scriptural actually are clever counterfeits that would deceive most believers. Those with the gift of discernment are the Holy Sprit’s inspectors, His counterfeit experts to whom He gives special insight and understanding. The gift was especially valuable in the early church because the New Testament had not been completed. Because of the difficulty and expense of copying, for many years after its completion the Bible was not widely available. The Holy Spirit’s discerners were the church’s protectors.

The gift of discernment is also especially valuable when the church and the gospel are considered acceptable in society. When Christianity is persecuted, counterfeit teachers usually are scarce, because the price for being identified with the gospel is too high. They are much more likely to appear in times and in places where Christianity is considered respectable or at least is tolerated. In parts of the world today, evangelicalism is popular and often profitable. All sorts of teachers, preachers, writers, and counselors claim to be evangelical and biblical.

Although any thinking person realizes that all the ideas cannot be biblical, simply because many of them are so contradictory of each other, it is not always easy to know which are true and which are not. Most often they are a mixture. Counterfeit teachers used by Satan usually have some truth in what they say. Unfortunately, many basically sound teachers sometimes undiscerningly pick up ideas from psychology, philosophy, or popular thinking that seem biblical but are not. It is the ministry of those with the gift of discernment to help separate the wheat from the chaff.

The Corinthian believers who had that gift either were not using it or were being ignored. Otherwise the perverted ideas and practices that Paul deals with in this letter could not have flourished as they did. Discernment is the gift, along with prophecy, that the Apostle urges the Corinthians to use in relation to judging the use and interpretation of tongues. Those with discernment are to judge even those who prophesy (1 Cor. 14:29).

Obviously, the gift of discernment is valuable to the church in assisting Christians to settle disputes among themselves rather than going to court. That seems to be the gift needed by the person Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 6, the “wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren” (v. 5).

Even praise of the gospel can be deceitful and misleading. When Paul and Silas began to minister in Philippi, Luke reports that “a certain slave-girl having a spirit of divination met us, who was bringing her masters much profit by fortunetelling. Following after Paul and us, she kept crying out, saying, ‘These men are bond-servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation’ ” (Acts 16:16-17). What the girl said not only was true but seemed to be favorable to the gospel and to those who were proclaiming it.

But the purpose and motivation of what she said was exactly the opposite. The demons who controlled her meant to attract the people and, gaining their trust, then ridicule and undercut God’s Word and the work of His ministers. In that case Paul could not judge by what was said, because the girl’s words were true. He knew she was a demonic instrument only because the Holy Spirit revealed the false spirit that controlled her.

False teaching can be judged by comparing it with Scripture, but false spirits can be judged only by the true Spirit’s gift of discernment. That gift may be called the Spirit’s gift on gifts, because God uses it to reveal to His church whether or not a manifestation of the other gifts is of Him. All imitation of the gifts is not demonic. Much of it is simply the work of the flesh, carnal Christians trying to serve the Lord in their own power and for their own benefit and glory. Summarizing, it can be said that the gift of discernment is given to tell if the other gifts are of the Holy Spirit, if they are merely natural imitations, or if they are demonic counterfeits.

I believe God still empowers some of His people to unmask false prophets and carnal hypocrites. He gives them insight to expose imitations and deceptions that most Christians would take as genuine. The gift of discernment, however, can easily deteriorate into a critical, proud, and self-righteous spirit. It can be judgmental instead of corrective when it is imitated in the flesh. But rightly used it is a great protection to God’s people.

John MacArthur

http://apprising.org/2012/02/14/john-macarthur-on-the-gift-of-discernment/

False Teachings vs. False Teachers

The other day as I was browsing the internet for some new bible study material and I typed in the words "Beth Moore".  Immediately pages of links popped up and near the top was one that said "Beth Moore's Dangerous Bible Twisting".  So, I had to go in and read this.  Now, I have to admit that I admire and respect Beth Moore as a teacher of the bible, however, I have not always agreed with everything she has stated and have at times felt that she has made a stretch to draw certain conclusions.  That said, as I read this it came to my mind that if she is getting publicity as a false teacher who else is?

So this began a hunt to see if I could find any respected theologian, bible teacher, preacher, book author that I could think of to see if there were any who did not get labeled as a false teacher in some way, shape or form.  Interestingly, enough there were none.  Each name I searched had an article or more that said they were teaching falsely.  That might not surprise some of you but it actually took me off guard for a bit.

Is there no one that we can trust implicitly?  Can we not listen to messages and trust that they are speaking truth?  How do we know what teachings we can hold on to and what we have to throw away?  I know that I have been guilty in the past of just listening to a message and accepting it as "gospel".  What lies have I been told?  Maybe none, but maybe some. 

The bible says...

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22
“Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”

Matthew 24:4-5

And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. Matthew 24:4-5

Hebrews 13:8-9

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings."

A heretic is defined by Peter as one who lays error alongside of truth, secretly introducing destructive heresies.

2 Peter 2:1 

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-- bringing swift destruction on themselves.

Christians are to reject those who preach a false gospel because they are condemned by the Lord.

Galatians 1:8-9 

But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned! 

Even Paul, a foundational Apostle, encouraged his listeners to test his teaching against the written Word of God, and he stated that those who teach must not "go beyond what is written.".

Acts 17:11 

Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

1 Corinthians 4:6 

Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 

Believers are to be discerning.

Philomen 1:9-11 

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-- to the glory and praise of God.

Proverbs 15:14 

The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

Proverbs 17:24 

A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

Proverbs 18:15 

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

Proverbs 28:7 

He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father

Proverbs 3:21 

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; 

Why do we test teaching against the Scriptures? Because we are commanded to remain in sound doctrine, to keep the faith, to follow the teachings of the prophets, Apostles and Jesus Christ.

2 Timothy 4:3 

For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Titus 1:9 

He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

Titus 2:1 

You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine. False teachers are liars and do not remain in sound doctrine.

We can also look for and test their fruits.

Matthew 7:15-20 

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 

I also want to say that we have to be careful not to be too critical, especially if it is a teacher that we have personal issues with.  It is easy then, because we do not appreciate them personally that we critique everything they say and label it as false.  This may not be so.  We may be looking through tainted eyes and so we then have to be willing to look and search out what is in our own hearts first.

That all said, I would not want to be quick to label someone a false teacher.  So what do we do with teachers that say things that we find do not line up with scripture...are they a false teacher?  Not necessarily.  I personally think that the decision can be made only after we have approached them with what we believe to be false or in error and ask them to expand, clarify, or prove what they are saying with the Word of God.  If they willing accept the challenge and are willing to dialogue and discuss and study the scripture together with you, genuinely hearing your side and considering that they may have been wrong, then in my opinion we will either then ourselves have been corrected or the teacher will have been corrected.  If found to be in error a true teacher will then be willing to admit that they made a mistake.  They will also be willing to fix and clarify that with the audience to whom they stated it.  If the teacher is NOT willing to dialogue or discuss and is unwilling to search scripture and show what is being stated thoroughly, we need to be very careful.  Not only do we need to be very careful but we may have to completely separate ourselves from them and their teachings.

Romans 16:17 

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Ephesians 5:11 

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh DISORDERLY, and not after the tradition which ye received of us.

2 Tim. 3:1-9

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

2 John 1:10-11 

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take them into your house or welcome them. Anyone who welcomes them shares in their wicked work.

2 Corinthians 6:17 

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch no the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

Jude 1:12 

These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm-- shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted-- twice dead.

Here is a link that summarizes this quite nicely as well...


http://www.gotquestions.org/judge-teachings-leaders.html