Spiritual Tests: How We Know What is Authentic (Introduction)


"Do not judge so that you will not be judged."
(Jesus, Matthew 7:1 NASB)

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test? 
(2 Corinthians 13:5 NASB)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 
(1 John 4:1 NASB)

But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. 
(1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 NASB)

For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 
(1 Peter 4:17 NASB)

"Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." 
(Jesus, John 7:24 NASB)


To judge or not to judge?
To test or not to test?


Which is it?


     'Judge not' from Matthew 7:1 is perhaps the most quoted verse in the Bible by unbelievers.  Why is that?  Daily examples abound.  One of the most stunning I have seen recently is of some women from a local strip club protesting in front of a church whose pastor encouraged the men not to go there.  They claimed the church was not showing Christian love to them.  Without delving into this, suffice to say that the wives and children of these men might disagree!  What a joy it would be to see these women repent and believe in Christ, marry godly men and live full lives to the glory of God.  Is it judgmental to work to that end?


     Certainly we would say that we don't want to be gullible either.  I believe we can all share examples of where we have been deceived, told something we believed was true or good, perhaps even in the name of Christ, only to discover it to be a malicious lie intended to harm us.  So the words of 1 John 4:1 and 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 help us to approach what comes at us with godly skepticism; we 'test' or 'examine' these things to determine their truth or goodness.  On some levels, we may say this is a necessary survival skill!


     In addition, we would say that this kind of judgment or examination must be properly directed, first at our own hearts (2 Corinthians 13:5) and then within the community of faith of which we are a part (1 Peter 4:17).  Judgment of unbelievers is left primarily to God Himself (1 Corinthians 5:11-12).  Like a physical body, the body of Christ is healthy when the spiritual diseases of sin are properly identified and addressed.  It is then that we are effective ambassadors for Christ, with bold compassion calling unbelievers to repentance and faith (2 Corinthians 5:17-21).


     Lastly, judgment must be righteous (John 7:24).  Since only God is righteous, as believers we want to firmly assert that godly judgment does not originate with ourselves, but with Him.  We are stewards of His judgment, first as it applies to our own lives.  My pastor, Reid Monaghan, wrote a compelling piece on this entitled 'Judge Not the Judgment of God', which I highly recommend for your consideration.


Next time, Lord willing, we'll talk a bit on the need for and benefits of godly self-examination, or perhaps better described as welcoming God's examination of us for our good and His glory.


In His Grip,


Mark



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