Week of August 24

Have you ever thought, “It must be true because I read it on the internet”? Most everyone knows the danger of such a claim; it often signals trouble! John obviously knew nothing of the internet, but he similarly warns believers to “test the spirits,” which proves to be sage advice with spiritual concerns. There were many false teachers and teachings swirling about, and he was seeking to protect the church from being caught up in a whirlwind of harmful doctrine. We do well today to learn to recognize and avoid false teachers and teaching.

John stressed the importance of right belief as one proof of genuine Christianity. This claim may not rest well on the minds of some in our contemporary generation, but we do well to examine the reason for such an assertion. Church services back then were much more informal than ours are today. People could stand up and claim to be speaking a message from the Spirit of God. The internet—the virtual church for many—is filled with similar types of declarations today. John thankfully provides believers with some direction on how to distinguish between true and false messages. He calls for us to “test” the words of those who claimed to be speaking a message from God. What did he mean?

Not every religious message comes from God. John teaches us that behind every statement is a spirit (Gk: pneuma), but not every spirit is from God. I believe we all may readily deduce this fact, but there is more. This evaluation calls for critical thinking. He wants us to practice Christian discrimination, for we are not lemmings who at any moment may run off a theological cliff! We are to engage our minds and examine the content of messages we hear (Acts 17:10-11).

Examine messages for their validity. The word “test” means to “prove,” or “examine,” like coins assessed for genuineness and proper weight. John uses a present tense imperative verb, which means that this examination is to be a continual process. Such verification of God’s truth is an important church commitment. The verb is in the plural, meaning all believers are to exercise “the responsibility of discerning truth from error.” I know! Many preachers today will exclaim, “I’ll tell my church members what to believe.” That is a tall role to fulfill, don’t you think? Love your pastor, but use your God-given mind, guided by the Spirit of God.

Be a truth discerner. The Bible provides us with examples of truth discerners—e.g. Elijah (1 Kings 18:1-22). Moses set forth clear instructions about testing whether a person was a true or false prophet: 1) Does the message come true? (Deuteronomy 18:22);
2) Does the messenger call for you to follow the one true God? Even if the false prophet performs signs and wonders (cf. the sorcerers in Egypt; Exodus 7), but calls for you and me to follow other gods, then they are false prophets (Deuteronomy 13:1-5)(NAC).

I enjoy watching British crime shows largely because they are set in England (who doesn’t love the English countryside?), and the plots are developed very well. On one show the vicar of a church claimed to have found the bones of a deceased Christian martyr while hoeing in the church’s flower garden. Who would have thought?! He had taken that find and turned the “discovery” into a shrine, and an annual festival. Of course, this made money, and it also made it important to keep “the bones” under glass and far away from forensic testing . . .which eventually occurred! Testing proved that the bones were not as old as the vicar had claimed them to be, thus exposing as false the sensational “theology” that had grown up around them. It was interesting to see how resistant the church folk were to solid critique and analysis. In the end, it weakened their witness in their village. 

The point: Be discerning! Not all spiritual activity is godly activity. John says to measure the validity of all messages by the one standard of truth—the incarnation of Jesus Christ. In other words, it is about the deity of Christ? Is He God and does He speak as God? I believe that Jesus is Christ and is God, so when He speaks, I know it is truth. I measure all other claims of truth by this fail-proof standard. This test is not only comprehensive, but it is also confessional. Is this spiritual message true? Then ask, “What does the person believe about Jesus Christ?” (4:2-3).

Here is a spiritual thought for today. It has been said, “The first point of wisdom is to discern that which is false; the second, to know that which is true.” I will add, “and to follow that Truth!” (John 14:6).

1. There have been many challenges to the Christian life in this generation, not the least of which is to the divinity and supremacy of Christ. Reaffirm your commitment to the truth embodied in Christ. 

2. For Families: The best way for children to discern truth from falsehood, is to know what is real and genuine to begin with! This is why memorizing scripture, hearing sound biblical teaching, having family devotions each day, and learning early both to read God’s Word and pray are so important! These training patterns are essential for strong mature Christian growth at any age!

Sometimes we hear words from a contemporary song, or a random conversation, or even from a Christian radio host, that are not quite true. When this happens, take time to repeat what you heard to your children and ask them what is wrong with the statement. Show them how to analyze what they hear, and to ask discerning questions. It is good to teach our children solid critical thinking skills, and to give them time to learn to think. With all of their distractions, we must carve out time to help them in this way.

If your kids grow up having a stable foundation of biblical knowledge, great models of spiritual maturity around them, know God’s Word in their memories and hearts, and seek His guidance, when the false comes along, they will be in a better position to recognize it for what it is. Let’s help our children to know the Truth.

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock