*Did you know that God tells Christians to judge? Today many Christians sit in Churches or watch ministries on TV and are swayed by the messages they hear, the speakers claim that what they preach or teach is from the word of God, the Bible. Is that true of most ministries? I would like to give my own testimony about this according to my own personal experiences in different Churches. I was raised in the Catholic religion, had my Communion and Conformation, and attended Church with my Mom. Many years later I was Born Again at a home Bible Study and attended the Church that held the Bible Study. I was convinced that this Church and the people were straight from God and I embraced their Doctrine even though at that time I did not fully understand everything they believed but I knew I was saved and I loved Jesus and could not get enough of his word. My bubble was burst when someone in that Church told me that it was possible to lose your salvation that was a shock to my system but I asked the Lord to show me the truth by his word and I would hold fast to that my whole life. He showed me over and above that I had eternal life. I found myself examining what this Church believed; soon I became shunned as I refused to follow their Doctrines. I found myself discouraged and down in the dumps as the people I loved in the Church did not fellowship with me, but some did. The Lord did not leave me discouraged but sent “Mature” true Born Again brothers to me in that Church, one brother John taught me the deeper things of God and I was forever changed. John opened my eyes to the Tares in the Church along with their legalism and laws through the commandments of men, as our Lord Jesus said; “Many will come in my name and deceive many”.
Now I want to go back to the judgment by Christians, consider the following scriptures;
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2-Timothy 2:15 NASB.
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 1-Thessalonians 5:21 NASB. (The word
Examine is to judge, God tells us to judge anyone who preaches or teaches his word to prove if it is correct or in error.
And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. Acts 17:11 NLT. (For this same reason Christians are to carefully examine (Judge) when they hear God’s word preached or taught. In that way you will not be deceived or led astray)
Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 1-John 4:1 NLT.
“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves” Matthew 7:15 NLT.
Pray that the Lord will place you where he wants you as his Secret Agent where you can be used to speak the truth in love and expose error. Through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 2-Corinthians 6:8 ESV.
Hold fast to what is good and uplifting but make sure everything they say is true and the Doctrine of Christ. Find out what they believe, then listen to what they say but don’t do what they do! I will give an example, I heard a Sermon two Sundays ago, the Pastor said he rejected legalism and the law and believed only Bible truth. Really I thought, as I know they are a Tithing Church (Law), talk about hypocrisy. Always ask for a Churches “Statement of Faith”, if they don’t have one or they dodge direct questions, be careful how you listen there.
God’s word tells us to contend for the Faith and expose error and falsehood. Most of the Arminian Doctrine Churches don’t believe in Eternal Security, they also teach falsely that when one is Born Again they do not have the Holy Spirit and must seek for a second act of God they call “The Baptism in the Holy Spirit”, this is not to be confused with being Baptized in water. You receive the Holy Spirit the moment you believe, he is the one that gives you faith, and he joins to your spirit to become one Spirit with you, the New Creation. In the Book of Acts the Holy Spirit was delayed in coming upon some in order to prove to the believing Jews that God was saving them as well as the Jews, the speaking in tongues by the Gentiles as the Disciples did on Pentecost convinced the Jews. Thereafter, every new believer would receive the Holy Spirit the moment they believed, without the speaking in tongues.
*We are to judge by what we hear or see, we are not to judge by rumors or gossip and can never judge people’s motives, only God can do that.
Author Ken
September 2013