Test the Spirits

 

The scariest thing about teaching is our responsibility before God to those being taught. Sunday School or Bible study teachers, podcasters and pastors, will be judged by a stricter standard because of that responsibility (James 3:1).

Some may think this doesn’t apply to them because they are not ordained or teaching God’s Word in an academic setting. But, even those who are claiming Christianity and sitting under the teaching of someone else have a responsibility to check that teaching with scripture:

1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

It is notable to talk to Christians and understand how many do not know who the Bereans were but they are the biblical illustration of “testing the spirits.” The Apostle Paul called them more noble than others he had taught because they searched the scriptures to see if Paul and Silas were speaking correctly. Here is the story from Acts 17:10-11:

The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

The Bereans checked Paul’s teaching. Yet, we think it is somehow insulting or disrespectful to “test the spirits” of the doctrinal teaching of our pastors and podcasters.

If the Bible says we are to “test the spirits” and those who receive the teaching of the Word of God with eagerness and then check it with scriptures, are more noble than those who don’t, shouldn’t we be checking our Bibles against what we are taught?

We know what the Bible says can be different from teachers and preachers who succumb to pressure and temptations to have life be more comfortable for those hearing the preaching and teaching (a.k.a., tickling the ears). God’s Law is given to us as a tutor (Galatians 3:24), teaching us about sin with its penalties and repentance with its rewards. God’s Law is not always comfortable, but it is always good.

Psalm 119:1 says, “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the Law of the LORD!”  Verse 9 says following God’s Law will keep our way pure. (Read more benefits of God’s Law here in Psalm 119)

There are too many who unquestionably follow whatever they hear from the pulpit, maybe their own Pastor or on YouTube or podcasts, without ever checking what they hear. Even when someone else questions it from scripture, they believe the one in their pulpit over the One of the Bible.

If, like many, the Bereans are unknown to you, check them out in Acts 17. Like they did, we must recognize that it does not matter who says it, if it is not consistent with the Word of God, it is wrong.

In His prayer before the crucifixion, Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”  It is this Truth that sets us free (John 8:32).

In our complacency, we attribute more authority to the pulpit than we do to the scriptures. By example, we are teaching the next generation where they will find truth.

God’s Word is truth. Will you check what you hear against His Word?