Watchout For WOLVES: Keys To Discerning Authentic Ministries & Evaluating Doctrinal Trends

There is a place for scientific study relative to man and how he functions, however, only the Bible has the ultimate answer to man’s emotional and psychological needs.

13. Watch out for doctrines that are not willing to be questioned or tested.

Paul wrote to the believers i n Thessalonica to “ Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Th. 5:21). John reminded his followers “ do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God (1 John 4:1). Paul commended the believers in Berea who were open to what he was teaching, but also searched the Scriptures thoroughly to verify them as God’s truth. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Acts 17:11 God’s people need to be wary when they find spiritual leaders who react when their teaching is challenged or when they are asked for scriptures to substantiate what they are teaching. Truth does not have to be defended. It will always bear up under scrutiny. The Berean believers were not deemed rebellious when they searched the Scriptures upon hearing a new teaching; they were called noble or fair-minded. One translation says that they were of a “ nobler disposition ” (WNT). There are three ways to respond to any new teaching that we may hear. One is to reject it immediately because it is not part of our tradition. That is foolish and assumes that one has heard it all. Second is to believe what is being taught immediately without scrutiny. That is gullibility and can lead to all sorts of error.

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