“Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good.” – 1 Thess. 5:19-21 (The Message)
Throughout our society, great claims are made for various institutions, products, investments, processes, and philosophies. By embracing or employing them we are assured of a certain desired result. Advertising, public or private, distribute these claims to the masses.
Most of us have experienced disappointment resulting from claims that were false, or very exaggerated. It didn’t fix it, heal it, safeguard it, or produce it! So, we’re left frustrated or angry over being sold ‘a bill of goods.’ Common sense cautions us to rely on what has been proven effective or reliable.
Unfortunately, Christianity also circulates a vast array of ‘claims,’ and some of them are as suspect as a miracle potion that cures 100 different ailments and restores one’s youth. Yet millions of sincere believers invest time, energy, and money hoping these spiritual programs or ‘insights’ will produce unusual results.
Like you, I value the story of David for its many valuable lessons. Even as a youth David knew better than to face the giant Goliath clothed in the burdensome armor of Saul. “I haven’t proved them!” he said, and threw them aside in favor of his sling and some stones from the brook. (1 Samuel 17:38-40) He sure didn’t look the part of a ‘military’ guy, but he had in his hand what had served him well, and with them he could trust the Lord!
So, it’s important for us to differentiate between what Jesus and the Bible promises us, and what some ministry, or preacher, or organization is promoting. For example, certain preachers claim if you follow their teachings you’ll become affluent. I’ve watched this for almost 50 years, and there is little evidence among their disciples to validate their claims. Curiously, people will continue to support folks who tell them what they want to hear, whether it produces the promised result or not!
“Our church offers everything you need to be a strong Christian.” It sounds good, but it isn’t so. Most of what we need to be strong believers we must obtain on our own, through private prayer and worship, the scriptures, and by service and sacrifice for others. Churches can bless and support us, but that claim is misleading. As a result, many faithful church attenders wonder why they don’t experience much love, joy, peace, or power; the good things that only come through the Holy Spirit. (Gal. 5:22; Acts 1:8))
Some believers follow various ‘prophets’ who claim insight into the future and amass great followings and notoriety by predicting what the new year will bring. Interestingly, no one holds them accountable when their predictions don’t ‘pan out.’ In the early days of Christianity such persons would have been soundly discredited and disfellowshipped. Today, they just hit the ‘reset’ button and continued uncensored. The reason they do, however, is our fault! We don’t insist on validity, reliability, and accountability.
The Apostle told us to ‘test everything, holding fast to what is good” (worthy, valuable). To borrow the words of Jesus, you know it’s a grapevine because it produces grapes; you know it’s a spring because it’s putting out fresh water! “A tree is known by its fruit!”
We should be much like the Bereans in Acts 17, who, when presented the message of Jesus, “searched the scriptures to see whether these things were so.” They wanted a confirmation, a validation of the word they were receiving, regardless of who said it!
This why relationships are so important in the church. We need to connect with people who have a ‘track record’ serving the Lord. We can believe what they say because they’ve been a reliable witness to other things for years. Their words have been validated countless times before.
We can identify cultish practice when someone insists on being believed just because of their title or position. There are a host of spiritual sounding doctrines floating around, well-advertised and merchandised, that promise deeper insight, personal enrichment, or a fast-track to success. My advice? Find someone who has followed that program for at least a couple of years, and ask what they gained from it. It’s likely they’ve moved on to a newer, trendier creed when the previous one didn’t produce the promised result.
Remember the little book called ‘The Prayer of Jabez’ that took the evangelical world by storm; a sure-fire formula for being blessed and protected? 10 million copies and spin-offs galore circulated the faith community. (somebody got blessed!) By reciting its simple petitions saints were promised unusual results; benefits quite beyond those of ‘regular’ prayer, faith, and obedience. Only in retrospect did folks realize that spiritual ‘formulas’ don’t unlock special blessings.
Sound spiritual truths are not easily ‘packaged.’ God works with each of us individually, directing and teaching us His ways. Every person’s journey is unique, and God’s process to help us complete ours is tailored specially for us in time, content, people, and means.
A wise believer will ‘test everything’, as the Word instructs. If it’s God’s truth it will lead us to Him, and hold up under rigorous inquiry. It will have stood the test of time. Regardless of how lovely the package or presentation, does it deliver what it promises?
Shouldn’t we question ourselves regularly about our chosen relationships, affiliations, beliefs, and pursuits? ‘God language’ is often a disguise for things that don’t really bring us in contact with God’s Spirit and purposes. Mature saints aren’t looking to hook up with what’s popular, or trendy, or even more ‘spiritual,’ but what delivers the goods! “Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit!” (Romans 14:17) Be blessed!!