Scutinize All Things; Hold Fast What Is Good
Thought this post was interesting and insightful:
This is a bit of a sidebar but it feeds into some of the other comments.
We certainly need to minister the “grace and truth” of Christ to those who have fallen but it is also biblical and helpful to ask if there are things within the church culture that are contributing to the problems we are experiencing.
Part of the problem is the “marketing and packaging” – image first, celebrity status, lack of open inquiry, no accountiblity (other than their chosen circle of friends), leadership and teaching in some of these churches, which have substituted orginizational growth over Jesus’ command to make disciples..
I don’t know the specifics of this church or the situation but we had better take heed to the warning of Christ — “Let no man deceive you”. Deception is rampant in our culture and is strongly influincing much of the church.
In reading a recent newsletter from a well known and respected Pastor in Minnesota who was addressing “avoiding division” in the church I was alarmed to see his postion. He said we “absolutely cannot let the enemy” enter our thinking by causing us to question the credibility of the ministry (ministers) God has chosen to connect you with.
This is a real problem we face. It also violates the teaching of Scripture.
1 Thes 5:21, Test (scrutinize) all things; hold fast what is good.
Strong’s #1381 – Dokimazo: test, prove, approve, discern, examine.
1. to test, examine, prove, scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals
2. to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthyScrutinize: To examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification, so that an informed decision can be made concerning the proper course of action.
This is not a suggestion, it is a command.
This same word is used in Rom 12:2, Phil 1:9-*10, 1 John 4:1.
“Gullibility is not synonymous with spirituality. Faith is not a mental habit leading its possessor to open his mouth and swallow everything that has about it the color of the supernatural” (or has a Christian label slapped on it).
“Faith keeps its heart open to whatever is of God, and rejects everything that is not of God, however wonderful it may be. ‘Try the spirits’ is a command of the Holy Spirit to the Church. We may sin as certainly by approving the spurious (false) as by rejecting the genuine (truth). And the current habit of refusing to take sides is not the way to avoid the question. To appraise things with a heart of love and then to act on the results is an obligation resting upon every Christian in the world. And the more as we see the day approaching.” ( A.W. Tozer)
The enemies attack is two-fold: get you to believe a lie or reject the truth.
Make sure your church is “rightly dividing the Word of truth” and be alarmed if there is not an environment that welcomes and encourages open inquiry.
Peace!
Planetshakers Insider 
Good blog… we don’t want to walk around critical of our brothers and sisters; I’m not suggesting that, neither do I think this blogger is… Hm… but our allegiance is first and foremost to the Lord Jesus Christ and His call on our lives to go out and make disciples.
It will take more effort on our part as believers to study out what we hear and be discerning of the Spirit’s leading in our lives… this is a good thing though. We are supposed to study to show ourselves approved of this calling.
Ultimately, there is healing and restoration that every member of the Body will benefit from as we all walk in this.
ken_light
September 8, 2008 at 6:10 am
I liked the paragraph that said “Gullibility is not synonymous with spirituality. Faith is not a mental habit leading its possessor to open his mouth and swallow everything that has about it the color of the supernatural” (or has a Christian label slapped on it).”
and everything else in the comment as well!
I believe the Lord has given us a standard and that is His Word (His Son) and the picture that Christ paints is one that welcomes those who count the cost, that seek out wisdom, discerns the things of man, and holds fast to those things which give Him glory! Its easy to be complacent and flip the t.v on and feed on what is being said by everyone under the sun and not seek and be a studier of the Word. It sounds like the the people of Isreal. God said He would show Himself to them but they chose for Moses to seek out God on his own and give them the Word. They wanted the Word through man and not through God himself. God is calling His people to KNOW Him through HIM and not just through our so called “Mose’s” (preachers).
This comment does not suggest a debating spirit or anything like that. It is simply stating Truth. Thanks for the comment I personally needed to hear it.
I’m like this man who wrote that comment, I do not know all the details of what happened. For that man who came forward and told the turth..I am so greatful he did!! Fear no man but the one who gave you your soul!
God’s Body is Beautiful and as long as we stay teachable to Christ and not by the waves of cultural fads, we will be prepared for His coming!
vintagelight777
September 8, 2008 at 9:55 am
This was a great quote:
“Gullibility is not synonymous with spirituality. Faith is not a mental habit leading its possessor to open his mouth and swallow everything that has about it the color of the supernatural” (or has a Christian label slapped on it).
The Bible says that God made us. This includes our minds and our conception of logic and science, our ability to think and reason and find “the Truth”.
The body is a “temple”, why would God put a defective brain in a temple?
The Bible says that it is the Word of God,if true, then ALL of it is God’s Word, not just the parts that “feel good”.
I challenge all Christians to read their Bibles- all of it. Also to study the history of Christianity and the Bible – where it came from, how it was put together. For instance: Christians don’t realize how silly it sounds to outsiders when they pray in middle English (thou/thee/shall/hast/etc), as if King James era English is more “holy” than modern English.
I also propose something that a few Christians may find heretical: They should study biology,evolution,philosophy, and comparative religion, if only to be able to better debate non-believers and tear down bad arguments,misinformation, or bad logic.
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)
“How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.” (Proverbs 16:16)
“The simple believes every word, but the prudent man considers well his steps.” (Proverbs 14:15)
Peace!
Cris
Cris
August 8, 2009 at 5:50 am
I don’t know terribly much about this ministry. But if you ever want to cause division in a church, don’t rebuke one another. Rebuke is loving and kind. It recognizes that too often we cannot see sin in our own life. We need the help of others to correct and lovingly guide us from God’s word into repentance from sin, sometimes resulting in salvation when the person is not saved, other times it ensures we don’t fall away. Rebuke hurts a little, but like a life saving immunization to sin and the world, it always results in the life of the sanctified (set apart saved ones) in a growth in holiness. In the life of a teacher/pastor it can avoid massive church splits unnecessarily caused by a proud hardened heart in the life of a pastor. Sometimes the pastor continues in heavy shepherding, blaspheming through false teaching, or perhaps just small things, talking in jest, yet not realizing that these things can do so much harm. Usually the decision not to treat an elder/pastor as a father is because we are fearful of man, rather than God. I speak from experience.
Andrew Lacey
September 4, 2010 at 3:23 pm