We Are Responsible for What We Believe
We Are Responsible for What We Believe
Too many believers accept anything they hear from the pulpit, see on YouTube, or read in the latest popular book. Abandoning our responsibility to test and prove what we are taught is risky business, leaving us open to being influenced incorrectly and adopting false teaching as doctrine. Just because someone has a position, a big ministry or other platform does not mean they necessarily have it all right. God’s Word tells us we are responsible for what we choose to believe. In the second chapter of Revelation, He praises the church at Ephesus for testing and disciplining false teachers in their midst (v2), then admonishes the church for falling away from its first love for Him (v4). We should read His judgment and counsel as if directed at us today, because it is. Too many have lost their first love of God.
“I know your deeds and your toil, and your patient endurance, and that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, and have tested and critically appraised those who call themselves apostles (special messengers, personally chosen representatives, of Christ), and [in fact] are not, and have found them to be liars and impostors; and [I know that] you [who believe] are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name's sake, and that you have not grown weary [of being faithful to the truth]. But I have this [charge] against you, that you have left your first love [you have lost the depth of love that you first had for Me]. So remember the heights from which you have fallen, and repent [change your inner self--your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior--seek God's will] and do the works you did at first [when you first knew Me]; otherwise, I will visit you and remove your lampstand (the church, its impact) from its place--unless you repent. Yet you have this [to your credit], that you hate the works and corrupt teachings of the Nicolaitans [that mislead and delude the people], which I also hate.” Revelation 2:2-6 (AMP)
Believers today should be as wise in testing and disciplining false teachers, incorrect teaching, and agenda-based narratives as the Ephesians were. Why? Because accepting falsehoods separates us from truth and will inevitably lead us away from our first love of God and His truth.
I know this from personal experience, having been influenced by false doctrine for much of my life even though active in church and various study groups. How to keep from falling into this trap? A few years ago, I adopted two strategies: First, instead of listening to a wide number of folks I looked for a small circle of teachers who are well grounded and in relationship with each other. They may not agree on every detail, but their teachings are consistent, truthful, and they edify each other. My second strategy was to develop a method of testing what I take into my own belief system. Here are the four questions I use.
Does the teaching contradict or support what is written in the Word?
This is a litmus test for me. The Bible is a small book and only a portion of what God intends for us, but it is a plumb line for everything else. There cannot be any disagreement between a word that is given, a revelation, or a doctrinal teaching and the Word of God. The Almighty speaks to us in many ways, but none of them should contradict His inspired Truth.
What does the Spirit tell me regarding the virtue of a teaching?
For much of my life I listened and accepted as gospel what church leaders taught. Pastors are called to the ministry, so it is easy to assume everything they say is from God, but pastors are human and have their own biases. I have learned to turn to the Holy Spirit for confirmation, to test what I am being taught.
Do I discern any sort of agenda in a teaching or its motivation?
Unfortunately, not all teaching is purely motivated. I am not a fan of “health and wealth” theology that promises all our needs will be met if only we will support the ministry. Even worse are those who promise “spiritual covering” in exchange for financial support. “Hyper Grace” is another falsehood, claiming that God forgives everything just because He loves us so much, effectively removing our responsibility. On the same plane in my view are those who seek to change beliefs as a social engineering mechanism. Motivations and agendas that seek to elevate a person, organization, or cause over God the Father are sure tell signs.
What happens when I put the teaching into practice in my own walk?
All good teaching should bear good fruit in our lives. If the teaching is correct but does not bear fruit, then it is a matter of faith and/or application. No matter how strongly we believe and how diligently we apply incorrect teaching, however, it cannot bear good fruit because the seed itself is spoiled. Good fruit proves that good seed has been correctly nourished and applied to our daily walk.
It is too easy to fall into the trap of believing what we want to hear. We are called to accountability for what we believe as a matter of faith, how we judge the world, and how we walk out our beliefs. The best way to honor our call to truth is to trust what the Holy Spirit tells us is correct. Let God alone be the judge of what you believe.
Father God, I love You. I love You more than anyone or anything else. My heart desires to rest in Your peace, Your truth, and Your presence. Show me how to guard my heart so that it never turns away to gaze at or believe falsehood. Father, Your Word tells me that I am accountable for what I choose to believe. Show me how to judge the chaos of this world, its false priorities, beliefs, and agendas. Father, separate me from love of the world so that I may love only You and Your truth. Let my desire be not to please man but to please You. I ask that You grant me audience with Wisdom, Understanding, and Counsel1 that they may be my teachers and tutors, and that my heart would listen only to Your heart. Amen
Shalom
Isaiah 11:2