“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” I John 4:1
The last couple of weeks have been, well, frustrating. I had hoped that after the election, the hate and division would begin to taper off. It has instead become worse. Lies and half-truths are being spread – and believed – by people on both sides of the issues we face in our country. We aren’t waiting to learn the whole truth about a situation before we start accusing each other of all sorts of “un-American” actions. More and more, I’m turning off the news and listening to music. I’m trying to avoid the arguments on social media; I’m trying to be understanding of my friends and family who don’t see eye to eye on the issues. The hate and maliciousness I’m seeing in people, even in those with whom I usually agree, have disappointed and discouraged me.
A few days ago, I read an article on a Christian Leaders website about a group of “Christian” speakers and authors doing women’s conferences around the country. They are an offshoot of a larger group that no longer does the conferences. The writer shared some things about the new speakers that shocked me. She explained in her article that the attendees at the conference she attended were completely enthralled by the speakers, absorbing their every word. God is being thrown out of these conferences. Self-promotion and love of the world, promotion of many of the popular, un-Biblical agendas, “It’s all about what makes me happy” ideals are the big topics. The women attending the conferences are swallowing it all, hook, line and sinker. I’m not one to form an opinion based on one article. I googled the speakers, most of whom I’d never heard of before, read their bios, checked out their websites, and read excerpts from their books. I was deeply saddened by what I read. The writer of the article was accurate in her assessment.
I’ve spent some time asking God what’s wrong with us all. Why has our country become so filled with hate and division? Why are we so quick to believe the lies before taking time to check out the truth? More saddening to me, why is the church falling into the same trap? Why are God’s people falling for every “tell me how I can be happy, God give me whatever I want, I’m enough on my own” message? Why are many of our pastors and teachers jumping on the “whatever’s popular with the people bandwagon?” I’ve been baffled and discouraged by it all. What have we become and how can we get back to being who God wants us, His church, to be for Him? “Lord, where do we go from here?”
The gentle whispering reply, “Start with yourself.”: “I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies.” Psalm 119:59; “How many are my iniquities and sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.” Job 13:23. What is there in me that I need to change? Am I contributing to this “mess?”
Make sure that whatever you are sharing – whether it’s “news” or spiritual insight – is the truth. Check and double-check your facts. “Therefore, each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25
Friends, we have to be careful. Because of the craziness of the world in which we live, it’s easy to get caught up in it all. The Bible warns in Matthew 24:23-24 that false prophets will rise up and try to deceive even the elect and II Timothy 4:3-4 reads “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers, and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” Don’t let your desire to “feel good and have it all” open your mind to deception.
When you hear a Christian speaker or read their work, weigh it against the word of God. Don’t believe it just because it sounds good to you or makes you feel good. Ask yourself what God has to say about it. If they quote Bible scripture, read the text around it. Does this verse mean what they say it means, or do the verses around it indicate something deeper or something else entirely? This isn’t about being judgmental. It’s about knowing the truth, learning what’s right. And, James 3 tells us that teachers are held to a higher accountability. Put their words to a Biblical test.
Truth is important in every part of our lives. That includes the various issues in our country. Check the facts before you believe them or share something. Half of our problem is our willingness to believe whatever we read or hear, as long as it goes along with our own agenda, paints a pretty picture for “our guys” and an ugly picture of “their guys.” That’s just plain wrong.
We need to live in the truth.
“He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit.” Proverbs 12:17
