Test All Things

Test all things; hold fast what is good. (I Thessalonians 5:21 NKJV)

We live in a world that is spinning out of control. Sin is rampant, even amongst people that call themselves Christians. We have high profile people that claim to be Christians that have severely damaged the cause of Christ because of their shenanigans. People have set up their own set of twisted rules of what is good and what is evil. Jesus warned us that it would be this way just before His return. That is why we must test all things, as we are commanded, like never before. Some of the words that coincide with the word ‘test’ are: identify, discern, judge, know and be wise. Observe the following Scriptures:

• Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (Matthew 7:20 NKJV) Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. (Matthew 7:20 NLT)
• “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” (Matthew 10:16 NKJV)
• But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14 NKJV)
• “Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” (Matthew 16:3 NKJV)
• Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? (I Corinthians 6:3 NKJV)

Part of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit to the Church are discernment, knowledge, and wisdom. As Christians, we are not only to see these gifts in divine operation in the Church, but each one of us needs to seek them for use in our everyday walk through life so we can attract people to Jesus Christ. Look what Paul tells us about his own life and what his goal was:

• When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings. (1 Corinthians 9:20-23 NLT)

If you feel you are lacking what you need to live your life with the same goal that Paul had, look what James tells us:

• If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. (James 1:5 NLT)

But there is also a warning if we choose to remain ignorant:

• My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me. (Hosea 4:6a NKJV)

I have found myself shaking my head lately between the things I read, hear, and see around me. My eyes have been especially opened just through the feedback I get about the content in this website which I keep non-denominational and strictly inline with only what the Word of God teaches. I have found that many despise what is written if it does not line up with their preconceived ideas, traditions, or their denominational teachings. They have no respect or tolerance for anything that does not line up with the way they think. I believe that is why Paul had to write the following:

• Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. (I Thessalonians 5:19-21 NKJV)

I truly believe the reason Paul wrote what he did was so that we can understand each other even if we do not adhere to the same exact things as another fellow Christian. At least we give the other person a chance to share where they are coming from and not damage the bond of love. Afterwards, we do not have to hold onto what they share if our conscience has a problem with it. It may also depend where we are at in our spiritual journey. Look at the fatherly advice Paul gives us:

• Accept other believers who are weak in faith, and don’t argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. For instance, one person believes it’s all right to eat anything. But another believer with a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. Those who feel free to eat anything must not look down on those who don’t. And those who don’t eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. You should each be fully convinced that whichever day you choose is acceptable. Those who worship the Lord on a special day do it to honor him. Those who eat any kind of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who refuse to eat certain foods also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God. For we don’t live for ourselves or die for ourselves. (Romans 14:1-3, 5-7 NLT)

Let me make something clear. I am not referring above to a dangerous teaching. If we are always truly seeking the truth, a warning signal will go off when we come across a dangerous teaching and we will be prompted to steer clear or speak out against it. It’s a shame when certain Christian authors have written some fine works, then all of a sudden they come out with something that is cross-grained to Scripture. So let’s take heed of the double warning Paul gives concerning dangerous teachings:

• Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you. I say again what we have said before: If anyone preaches any other Good News than the one you welcomed, let that person be cursed. (Galatians 1:8, 9 NLT)

I also want to make another thing clear that I am not referring to a Christian who is living a dangerous lifestyle. Notice in the following Scripture that our concern is only with someone who considers themself a Christian, not with someone of the world we cannot escape from. Take heed of the instructions Paul gives concerning dealing with dangerous lifestyles of Christians:

• I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner— not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” (I Corinthians 5:9-13 NKJV)

Not only are we to test all things, but we need to take special care of who and what we endorse. Look what is said of Jesus:

• Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him. But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew human nature. No one needed to tell him what mankind is really like. (John 2:23-25 NLT)

I try to take the safest route so I have only endorsed the writings and works of two world renowned ministers. The reasons that I endorse only these two is as follows:

1. They are deceased and are no longer capable of tarnishing their witness.
2. While they were alive they lived holy lives of what is recorded of them.
3. The Holy Spirit used them in incredible ways.
4. The Holy Spirit moves me when I read their writings.
5. I have never found any of their writings or works out of line with the Word of God.

In conclusion, we truly are to test all things and be very careful of what we endorse today as Christians in a warped society. Let us also use Holy Spirit discernment mingled with the love of our Lord in everything we say and do!