Being ‘Discerning’ [v266]

APRIL 2021

Spotting counterfeit money takes some skill, but spotting a ‘counterfeit’ person and their ‘teaching’ takes DISCERNMENT.

INTRODUCTION
The Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury, and Secret Service work in conjunction to make sure our country’s currency is hard to counterfeit. Each paper note from $1 to $100 is enhanced with detailed security features designed to make it hard for criminals to reproduce.

Luckily, anyone can help catch a counterfeit. All you need are a few simple tools and a bit of chemistry:

– An anti-counterfeit detection pen
– Ultra Violet light

[ VIDEO: “How to Spot a Counterfeit Bill” ]

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<<< SUMMARY >>>

(A Collection of ’Snippets’)

Spotting counterfeit money takes some skill, but spotting a ‘counterfeit’ person and their ‘teaching’ takes DISCERNMENT.

‘COUNTERFEITING’ MONEY
If you were handed a counterfeit dollar bill, would you be able to recognize it as such? How easy would it be to spot what’s false? Do you imagine that you might second-guess yourself when trying to discern the counterfeit bill from the real thing?

Though UV counterfeit detection lamps and counterfeit money pens are helpful tools, there are many other ways to tell if a bill is authentic or counterfeit. Physical characteristics of the banknote, such as ink, watermarks, and text, are intentional security measures to help people recognize authentic money.

‘MISREPRESENTATION’
Legally, a “misrepresentation” is a false statement of a material fact made by one party which affects the other party’s decision in agreeing to a contract. If the misrepresentation is discovered, the contract can be declared void and, depending on the situation, the adversely impacted party may seek damages.

In some situations, such as where a fiduciary relationship is involved, misrepresentation can occur by omission. That is, misrepresentation may occur where a fiduciary fails to disclose material facts of which they have knowledge.

A duty also exists to correct any statements of fact which later become known to be untrue. In this case, the failure to correct a previous false statement would be a misrepresentation.

There are three types of misrepresentations. “Innocent,” “negligent,” and “fraudulent,”

With the counterfeit industry growing, consumers must become aware of fakes: Price; Quality; Packaging; Company; Payment Method

“FAKE NEWS”
There are two kinds of fake news: One that are entirely invented stories designed to make people believe something false, to buy a certain product, or to visit a certain website. The other kind is stories that have some truth, but are not 100% accurate.

For example, a journalist quotes only part of what a politician says, giving a false impression of their meaning. Now, this can be deliberate to convince readers of a certain viewpoint, or it can be the result of an innocent mistake. Either way, it quickly attracts an audience and can become entrenched as an “urban myth.”

To confuse matters further, there are also people who claim that factually accurate stories are fake news, just because they don’t agree with them or find them uncomfortable

Separating fact from fiction accurately can seem daunting. But getting to the truth is always worth the effort—even if it’s not what you want to hear! Use these six steps to ‘weed out’ the truth from the lies: Develop a Critical Mindset; Check the Source; Find Out Who Else Is Reporting the Story; Examine the Evidence; Do Not Take Image at Face Value; Does It “Sound Right”?

Fake news can have a ’NEGATIVE’ IMPACT, so IT’S ‘VITAL’ to know how to separate the real from the fake!

THE ‘PSYCHOLOGY’ OF DECEPTION
Psychologists have long been concerned with how to determine when someone is telling a lie.

However, the message from the psychological literature on human deception is clear, and fairly consistent: There is no one reliable indicator of deception. Pinocchio’s nose does not exist in real life and one reason deception is so difficult to spot is that every liar behaves differently, but not necessarily differently than truth-tellers.

Now, one of the professionals that we actually ‘WANT’ to be deceived by are magicians—especially when one just ‘lets go’ and allows them to ‘amaze’ one with their ability to “fool” us.

So, how ‘exactly’ do magicians do magic? What is their secret?

Well, Penn Jillette—of the famous magic duo of “Penn & Teller”—points out that there are some basic techniques: Lying; Misdirection; An Unbelievably Detailed Set Up; Taking Advantage of People’s Limited Perception; Taking Advantage of People’s Limited Memory.

Penn and Teller actually take advantage of most of these techniques in their stage act and, in truth, says Penn, that the answer to most magic tricks is incredibly dumb—and once you learn the secret, you will be terribly unimpressed. Penn notes that, “YOU fool YOURSELF!”

‘SPOTTING’ A FAKE OR LIAR
Most people lie occasionally. The lies are often trivial and essentially inconsequential—such as pretending to like a ‘tasteless’ gift. But in other contexts, deception is more serious and can have HARMFUL effects on criminal justice. From a societal perspective, such lying is better detected than ignored and tolerated.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to detect lies accurately. Lie detectors, such as polygraphs, which work by measuring the level of anxiety in a subject while they answer questions, are considered “theoretically weak” and of dubious reliability. This is because, as any traveller who has been questioned by customs officials knows, it is possible to be anxious without being guilty.

However, a new technique is part of a new generation of cognitive-based lie-detection methods that are being increasingly researched and developed. These approaches postulate that the mental and strategic processes adopted by truth-tellers during interviews differ significantly from those of liars. By using specific techniques, these differences can be amplified and detected.

Thomas Ormerod and his colleague Coral Dando—at the University of Wolverhampton—identified a series of conversational principles that should increase one’s chances of ‘UNCOVERING’ DECEIT: Use Open Questions; Employ the Element of Surprise; Watch for Small, Verifiable Details; Observe Changes in Confidence.

Although there is no fool-proof form of lie detection, but using a little tact, intelligence, and persuasion, you can hope that eventually, the truth will out. Omerod says that novices (like you and me) can achieve nearly an 80% accuracy in determining a liar, simply by using the right, open-ended questions—and just look for ‘INCONSISTENCIES’: Use ‘Cognitive Load’; Get Motivated; Stories Are Dangerous; Know Thyself;

You need to know how to ‘steer’ the interaction in ways that ‘trips up’ the liars.

WHAT IS ‘DISCERNMENT’?
The word “discern” is translated from the Greek word “anakrínō” and means “to distinguish, to separate out by diligent search, to examine.” Websters defines it as “the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure,” and “the ability to obtain sharp perceptions or to judge well.”

In the case of judgment, discernment can be psychological or moral in nature. Within judgment, discernment involves going past the mere perception of something and making nuanced judgments about its properties or qualities. Considered as a virtue, a discerning individual is considered to possess wisdom, and be of good judgment; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others.

It is not unlike a medical doctor whose trade is discernment. The task of being an effective medical doctor is you are to be able to look at a person’s situation physically, and you are through proper understanding to be able to judge what that condition is, what it means, and what its cure is.

It is all about understanding, reading symptoms, assessing certain factors in the life, and determining what is wrong, and determining what is right to do with what is wrong so that it can be made right. Discernment in the Christian religion is considered as a virtue, a discerning individual is considered to possess wisdom, and be of good judgement; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others.

Truth is hard to come by these days and many people don’t know where to find it, and, increasingly, they don’t even know how to search for it—believing that it can be found in the tweets of their favorite celebrities, at the top of a Google search, or on a Wikipedia page. However, the real problem for this and future generations is not fundamentally where and how they find the truth but their failure to ‘recognize’ the truth. For this reason, I will try to help you discern truth not only from error but from half-truth, from distorted truth, and from partially-erased truth.

THE DISCERNMENT ‘PROCESS’
The process of individual discernment has steps that can be taken in order to achieve a level of discernment. The following actions can be made when making decisions of discernment: Taking Time in Making Decisions; Using Both Logic and Emotions; Weighing Values;

So, what are some of the practical ‘reasons’ why one makes one decision over another? Well, the following are some of the decision-making criteria people use to make their decisions…

Most people, I would imagine, make their decisions based on some combination of multiple of these or other criteria. Consciously or not, people shift in and out of different decision-making criteria, rather than intentionally using one to make all the decisions of our lives.

Life is full of decisions. Some decisions are ‘either/or’ that require one to make a ‘CHOICE’ between two things, which abrogates the other—sometimes forever!

[ FYI: For more details about making the ‘right’ choice, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/two-choices-one-way-v254/ ].

‘BIBLICAL’ DISCERNMENT
Spiritual discernment is the ability to understand, interpret, and apply truth skillfully—a ‘cognitive’ act. Therefore no one who spurns correct doctrine or sound reason can be truly discerning.

Authentic spiritual discernment must begin with Scripture—God’s revealed truth. Without a firm grounding in divine revelation, human reason always degenerates into skepticism (a denial that anything can be known for certain), rationalism (the theory that reason is a source of truth), secularism (an approach to life that purposely excludes God), or any number of other anti-Christian philosophies. When Scripture condemns human wisdom (1 Corinthians 3:19), it is denouncing not reason per se, but humanistic ideology divorced from the divinely revealed truth of God’s Word. In other words, reason apart from the Word of God leads inevitably to unsound ideas, but reason subjected to the Word of God is at the heart of wise spiritual discernment.

THE ‘CHALLENGE’ of DISCERNMENT…

CULTURAL INFLUENCES…

CAUSES…

HOW TO GET DISCERNMENT…

God gives us the Holy Spirit to indwell us and to assist us as we encounter truth and error. It is only through the ongoing, moment-by-moment ministry of the Holy Spirit that we can exercise discernment—which, in turn, give us ‘WISDOM’.

Only those who are ‘indwelt’ by the Holy Spirit have the capacity to exercise true spiritual discernment. Without the Holy Spirit—without spiritual discernment—Christians would be no better off than unbelievers, for they would stumble blindly in their search for truth, never being able to separate truth from error!

JUDGING ‘JUSTLY’
Now, just wait one minute. Doesn’t Jesus say, “Judge not, that you be not judged”? [ Matthew 7:1 ]. Well, typically someone will quote that verse and suggest that it rules out any kind of critical or analytical appraisal of what others believe. So, was Jesus forbidding Christians from judging what is taught in His name? Obviously not. What Jesus condemned was the ‘HYPOCRITICAL’ judgment of those who held others to a higher standard than they themselves were willing to live by, and judging the thoughts and motives of others. He was certainly NOT suggesting that ‘ALL’ judgment is forbidden. In fact, Jesus indicated that taking a speck out of your brother’s eye is the right thing to do, ONLY IF you FIRST get the ‘log’ out of your own eye! (Matthew 7:3-5).

[ FYI: For more details on analyzing Scripture properly—not ‘misunderstanding’ bile passages—view last month’s “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-misunderstood-v265/ ].

This is a familiar word in the New Testament. Elsewhere it is translated “analyze,” “test,” “prove,” and “scrutinize.” It refers to the process of testing something to reveal its genuineness, such as in the testing of precious metals. Paul is urging believers to scrutinize everything they hear to see that it is genuine, to distinguish between the true and the false, to separate the good from the evil. In other words, he wants them to examine everything ‘CRITICALLY’. He is essentially saying to ‘JUDGE’ EVERYTHING!

WHAT WE MUST NOT JUDGE…

When the Apostle Paul and Silas preached in Berea, we are told that the Berean Jews received the Word with great eagerness, “EXAMINING the Scriptures daily to see it these things were so” (Acts 17:11b).

‘HOW’ TO BE DISCERNING
At the ‘heart’ of discernment IS TRUTH. That is why the Church and believers are concerned with the definition (and decline) of truth in our current society. Without a standard for moral conduct and behavior, man constructs his own definition of truth which, many times, is influenced by his personal beliefs and individual preferences.

LEARNING TO DISCERN…

PRAYER is fundamental…

BIBLE STUDY is essential…

CHURCH PARTICIPATION is another ‘requirement’…

These activities are a part of God’s ‘program’ for promoting discernment among His ‘children’. As you ‘join in’ to these, you will discover your ‘powers’ of discernment grow!

Again, here’s the Apostle Paul’s ‘encouragement’ in all of this:

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent” [ Proverbs 2:9-10a ].

10 ‘HABITS’ OF BEING DISCERNING
Discernment does not always come naturally. Because we are sinful and rebellious by nature, we are drawn to what is evil. We often hesitate to make judgments and distinctions lest we draw unwanted attention to ourselves or cause ‘schisms’ with other believers.

So, here are some ‘habits’ that a believers should desire to attain to enable the Holy Spirit to impart more discernment and wisdom upon them…

Through the Holy Spirit and the Scripture, God is renewing our minds so we can discern what His holy and perfect will is.

‘PRACTICING’ DISCERNMENT
Spiritual discernment is ‘cultivated’ by God’s Word. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” [ Hebrews 4:12 ].

Practicing discernment means going beyond the face of what you observe and hear around you.

While the Bible does provide a ‘framework’ for the method of discernment, it is ‘scattered’ about in many verses, and some people do well with point-to-point to step-by-step instruction.

So, here is a possible ‘sequence’ suggest by Reformed pastor and author Tim Challies for you to follow to practice discernment: Verify; Clarify; Assess the Issue(s); Pray for Wisdom; Assess Your Instinct; Assess Your Conscience; Search the Scriptures; Observe the Scriptures; Compare and Contrast; Research; Summarize; Expand Your Research; Conclude; Make a List; Judge; Hold Fast; and Apply.

The practice of discernment, then, is given to us in the Bible. We test by using God’s Word as our standard. Having done that, either we hold fast to what is true, or abstain from what is false, and then substitute what is good and true and consistent with God’s character for error. As we do this, God will guide us to His truth, and we CAN BE confident that we are doing His will. We then will be living lives of wisdom and discernment—and by doing so, we honor God. [ “SDG” – “Soli Deo Gloria” – Glory to God Alone! ].

‘WHY’ IS DISCERNMENT SO IMPORTANT?
Little “white lies” seem rather harmless, but how often do we skirt the truth, hide the truth, or neglect to tell the truth? The reality is that God loves the truth, delights in the truth, and upholds the truth—because He is the God of ALL TRUTH. As the sovereign Creator of all things, He established truth and has revealed His truth generally in creation and specifically in His Word (Psalm 19).

Our first parents were tempted through Satan, the “father of lies” (John 8:44). It is no wonder that God would establish His concern for truth in His Word.

While Satan attempts to destroy God’s truth and the world seeks to undermine it, the wrath of our sovereign and holy God has been revealed against the unrighteousness of men, “who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth” and have “exchanged the truth about God for a lie” (Romans 1:18, 25). But God’s truth will abide. His Kingdom is forever!

We must refuse to allow the ‘lords’ of our culture to change the truth of God, as if they ever could, and we must not allow some in the church to attempt to erase the truth, even partially.

What’s more, to borrow a theme from George Orwell, when we erase the truth, future generations not only forget the truth but they also forget the erasure of the truth, and the lies become the apparent truth. It is only when we know the truth that we are set free—free to love the truth, the One who is Truth, and free to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).

DISCERNMENT IN ‘DAY-TO-DAY’ LIFE
With the potential for the entire world to stream into our minds and hearts by means of the Internet, it is safe to conclude that there has never been a time when Christians needed discernment so much as today.

Pastor and author Sinclair Ferguson rightly noted that discernment is not simply to be exercised with regard to the false teaching that threatens the truth of God among believers.

Sinclair Ferguson sets out four benefits of exercising discernment:

1. It acts as a means of protection, guarding us from being deceived spiritually.
2. Discernment also acts as an instrument of healing, when exercised in grace.
3. Again, discernment functions as a key to Christian freedom.
4. Finally, discernment serves as a catalyst to spiritual development

Believers desperately need to value and exercise discernment in their hearts, minds, and lives. I pray God will give you the resolve and desire to cry out to Him for it, and to diligently search the Scriptures to gain it!

WHAT DOES DISCERNMENT ‘PROVE’?
We live in an age where too many who profess to be Christians rarely consider their ‘spiritual maturity’. When people associate doubt with humility and assurance with pride. The thing is far too many people consider sound theology the mark of a person who is argumentative and proud, and far too many people are just like the audience to whom the Book of Hebrews is addressed.

So, when the author of Hebrews describes his readers as children he is not paying them a compliment, and he knows that they will be insulted. He hopes to show them their desperate condition and to impress upon them how serious their spiritual condition is. God demands and expects maturity, and maturity is inseparable from discernment. A Christian cannot have one without the other.

When a Christian falls into moral sin he may well examine his life to determine how he has turned his back on God, but is the same true when he exhibits a lack of discernment? AGAIN, it is the responsibility of every Christian to learn, to be discipled in the Word, so that they can know how to be discerning. To fail to discern is to “walk in darkness” (Proverbs 2:!3).

This is the bad news. Scripture portrays those who lack spiritual discernment in three ways: they are spiritually immature, they are backslidden, and they are dead. Those who lack discernment or do not care for it will fit into one of these three categories. These are the dangers of ignoring discernment.

BUT, there is good ‘news’, too! The Bible declares that there are many benefits stored up for those who desire discernment, those who seek after it and practice it. Interested?

DISCERNMENT IS ‘DISAPPEARING’
Discernment seems to be a vanishing virtue among professing Christians today. Facebook is awash with quotes that sound positive and even Christian at first glance, but are not accurate. Christians must discern who these ‘imposters’ are.

The tactics of a ‘wolf’ in sheep’s clothing, the tactics of an imposter, are not overt. They write books that are found in Christian bookstores. They preach and teach on Christian radio and television stations. They make Study Bibles. [ Such is the crisis of discernment, those in charge of stores and programming can’t discern the difference either! ]. If one is not careful, these imposters will lead them to a false Gospel, and possibly to Hell!

Pastor and author John MacArthur suggests that the ‘culprit’ of the scarcity of discernment in the contemporary church is the devastating consequences of the “watered-down message.”

MacArthur concludes by saying that the pastor MUST preach the Word, even though it is currently “out of fashion” to do so (2 Timothy 4:2). He warns that this the ONLY WAY their ministry can ever be ‘fruitful’. Moreover, it would assure that they WILL be fruitful, because God’s Word NEVER returns to Him void—it accomplishes that for which He sends it, and prospers in what He sends it to do (Isaiah 55:11).

FALSE ‘DOCTRINES’
These days, for some people, “fake news” may be trigger words, bringing to mind certain events, media outlets, or people. While we may make jokes and Internet memes poking fun at this phenomenon, the fact of the matter is that we DO indeed live in a world that is full of fake news and other false views.

English Baptist pastor Charles Spurgeon said that, “Discernment is not a matter of telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.”

SADLY, the church today is filled with people who lack any ability to differentiate the very worst false doctrines from the truth. Christians are constantly at a loss to answer the most profound errors they hear from cultists, unorthodox media preachers, or other sources of false doctrine. Too many people are like the man fashioning a patch-work religion, sifting through stacks of religious ideas, looking for what is good in all of it. This is INEXCUSABLE!

Yet, sometimes division is fitting, even healthy. Especially in times like Luther’s—and like ours—when the visible Church seems full of ‘counterfeit’ Christians, it is right for the true people of God to ‘declare’ themselves. There is NO ‘ROOM’ for compromise.

Primarily, people do not move into false doctrine by ‘design’. No, it is usually by laziness, ineptness, carelessness, and foolishness in properly handling the Scriptures. People have gone astray from the truth (2 Timothy 2:18). The idea here is they were aiming at the truth, they just missed it.

People come up with error because in the process of seeking truth, they don’t know how to find it, or they don’t make the effort, or they don’t appropriate the necessary elements (hermeneutics).

[ FYI: For more details on hermeneutics, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/gaining-a-deep-understanding-v264/ ].

DISCERNING ‘FALSE LEADERS’
So, how do we detect counterfeit Christians? Well, in an ‘extra-biblical’ account of the life of King Solomon, it relates that the Queen of Sheba presented him with real flowers and copies that were so close in appearance that no one could tell the difference. She then put the challenge to him. If he were as wise as people commonly believed, could he tell which were the genuine flowers? Solomon instructed his assistant to “Open the windows.” Soon enough, bees came in and went straight for the genuine flowers and ignored the false ones! Brilliant!

SO, BEWARE!…

RECOGNIZING FALSE PROPHETS…

FOLLOW DISCERNING LEADERS…

We must ‘rightly divide’ so that we do not confuse ourselves, and possibly lead others astray into false teachings. The world will continue to struggle against God and Jesus, by the promulgation of false religions and false teachings that lead men into Hell. But the believer, has the truth in their hands the Bible. The believer, also has the Holy Spirit indwelling in them, Who will lead them into all truth (John 16:13).

FULL OUT ‘DECEPTION’
The Devil has been deceiving people since the beginning of time. We only need to read the first few chapters of the Bible to see how he deceived the first humans, Adam and Eve (Genesis 3).

Deception is creeping into the lives of Christians who are not firmly ‘rooted’ in the Scriptures. It’s a ‘slippery slope’ leading to destruction—Hell.

TRUTH MIXED WITH LIES…

False “prophets” love to use deceptive language. So, for the purpose of unmasking these prophets, God provides a ‘gift’ to some believers that enables them to discern lying spirits to the one Holy Spirit of truth. The gift of discernment is the Holy Spirit’s special ‘defense’ against the lies that come from lying spirits.

WRAP UP
Criminals craft deception, pouring their talents into making counterfeit money look so similar to the genuine thing that it is often difficult to distinguish between fake money and real. However (you have likely heard this before as it’s not a new thought), those who are best able recognize a counterfeit bill when they see it do not train by studying counterfeits, rather, they can recognize a counterfeit immediately when they see it because they have carefully studied the ‘REAL’ THING.

If you were told a well-disguised counterfeit about a doctrine in God’s Word, would you be able to recognize it as such? How easy would it be to ‘sniff out’ what’s false about that half-truth? Do you imagine you might second-guess yourself when trying to discern the false statement from Truth revealed in God’s Word?

THE ‘SOURCE’ OF DISCERNMENT…

EXAMINE EVERYTHING…

TODAY’S ‘PROBLEMS’…

HOW TO BE ‘BIBLICALLY’ DISCERNING…

Thus, it is my prayer FOR YOU that, “love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” [ Philippians 1:9-11 ].

This post is a ‘PLEA’ for discernment—to ‘SPOT THE COUNTERFEIT’. It is a reminder that God’s truth is a precious ‘commodity’ that MUST be handled carefully—not diluted with ‘whimsical’ beliefs or bound up in human traditions. When churches—and individual believers—lose their resolve to discern between sound doctrine and error, between good and evil, and between truth and lies, they open themselves up to every kind of error, and then the Church is ‘DOOMED’!

HOWEVER, for those who do apply biblical discernment consistently—in every area of life, are sure to ‘walk’ in the wisdom of the Lord (Proverbs 2:1-6).

May YOU be one with ‘biblical’ discernment!

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ALL THE ‘DETAILS’

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Nathalie Schrans of ControlTek (a company that provides tamper-evident security packaging helps the nation’s leading banks, armored couriers and retailers transport cash safely and securely) suggests that there are eight ways to determine if a bill is real or counterfeit:

1. Color-shifting Ink
One of the first things to check to see if a bill is authentic is if the bill denomination on the bottom right-hand corner has color-shifting ink. Going back to 1996, all bills of $5 or more have this security feature. If you hold a new series bill (except for the new $5 bill) and tilt it back and forth, you can see that the numeral in the lower right-hand corner shifts from green to black or from gold to green.

2. Watermark
The watermark is a characteristic security feature of authentic banknotes. Many of the new bills use a watermark that is actually a replica of the face on the bill. On other banknotes, it is just an oval spot. Here are some things to keep in mind when looking at a bill’s watermark:

– The watermark should only be visible when you hold the bill up to the light.
– The watermark should be on the right side of the bill.
– If the watermark is a face, it should exactly match the face on the bill.

Sometimes counterfeits bleach lower bills and reprint them with higher values, in which case the face wouldn’t match the watermark.

– If there is no watermark or the watermark is visible without being held up to the light, the bill is most likely a counterfeit.

3. Blurry Borders, Printing, or Text
An automatic red flag for counterfeit bills is noticeably blurry borders, printing, or text on the bill. Authentic bills are made using die-cut printing plates that create impressively fine lines, so they look extremely detailed. Counterfeit printers are usually not capable of the same level of detail. Take a close look, especially at the borders, to see if there are any blurred parts in the bill. Authentic banknotes also have microprinting, or finely printed text located in various places on the bill. If the microprinting is unreadable, even under a magnifying glass, it is probably counterfeit.

4. Raised Printing
All authentic banknotes have raised printing, which is difficult for counterfeiters to reproduce. To detect raised printing, run your fingernail carefully down the note. You should feel some vibration on your nail from the ridges of the raised printing. If you don’t feel this texture, then you should check the bill further.

5. Security Thread with Microprinting

The security thread is a thin imbedded strip running from top to bottom on the face of a banknote. In the $10 and $50 bills the security strip is located to the right of the portrait, and in the $5, $20, and $100 bills it is located just to the left.

Authentic bills have microprinting in the security thread as another layer of security. Below is a list of the micro-printed phrases on authentic banknotes:

– $5 bill says “USA FIVE”
– $10 bill says “USA TEN”
– $20 bill says “USA TWENTY”
– $50 bill says “USA 50”
– $100 bill says “USA 100”

6. Ultraviolet Glow
Counterfeit detection tools and technology use ultraviolet light because this is a clear-cut way of telling if a bill is counterfeit. The security thread on authentic bills glow under ultraviolet light in the following colors:

– $5 bill glows blue
– $10 bill glows orange
– $20 bill glows green
– $50 bill glows yellow
– $100 bill glows red/pink

7. Red and Blue Threads
If you take a close look at an authentic banknote, you can see that there are very small red and blue threads woven into the fabric of the bill. Although counterfeit printers try to replicate this effect by printing a pattern of red and blue threads onto counterfeit bills, if you can see that this printing is merely surface level, then it is likely the bill is counterfeit.

8. Serial Numbers
The last thing to check on a bill is the serial number. The letter that starts a bill’s serial number corresponds to a specific year, so if the letter doesn’t match the year printed on the bill, it is counterfeit. Below is the list of letter-to-year correspondence:

– E = 2004
– G = 2004A
– I = 2006
– J = 2009
– L = 2009A

These security measures were designed not just to deter criminals from attempting to counterfeit money but to help people and businesses recognize counterfeit money when they see it. If you see even one error that could mean a bill is counterfeit, you should report it to the U.S. Currency Education Program to protect yourself from being held liable for any losses and to inform the Federal Reserve about counterfeit bills in circulation.

A duty also exists to correct any statements of fact which later become known to be untrue. In this case, the failure to correct a previous false statement would be a misrepresentation.

There are three types of misrepresentations. “Innocent” misrepresentation is a false statement of material fact by the defendant, who was unaware at the time of contract signing that the statement was untrue. The remedy in this situation is usually rescission or cancellation of the contract.

The second type is the “negligent” misrepresentation. This type of misrepresentation is a statement that the defendant did not attempt to verify was true before executing a contract. This is a violation of the concept of “reasonable care” that a party must undertake before entering an agreement. The remedy for negligent misrepresentation is contract rescission and possibly damages.

The third type is a “fraudulent” misrepresentation. A fraudulent misrepresentation is a statement that the defendant made knowing it was false or that the defendant made recklessly to induce the other party to enter a contract. The injured party can seek to void the contract and to recover damages from the defendant.

Concerning fraudulent misrepresentation, contract law anticipates that the parties to a valid agreement are open and honest with each other about the terms of the contract and the subject matter of the agreement. Yet, far too often one side to a contract tries to obtain a favorable agreement by lying or misrepresenting material facts. In order to successfully prove fraudulent misrepresentation, though, you have to prove certain legal elements. Amongst those elements are the following:

– A representation of fact was actually made
– That representation was either untrue or misleading
– The party that made the misrepresentation either knew it to be false or misleading or made the representation in a way that was with reckless disregard for its truthfulness
– The other party relied on the representation to its detriment
– Damages resulted from the reliance on the misrepresentation

Those elements might sound easy enough to prove, but there are a lot of intricacies involved with these cases. Fraudulent misrepresentation can affect a business’s bottom line, one’s personal reputation, and one’s future ‘dealings’ in MANY aspects of life! There’s simply too much to risk for you to forego a bad contract that was created by fraud.

With the counterfeit industry growing, consumers must become aware of fakes.

With almost no industry left untouched by the presence of counterfeits, consumers can be duped into buying poor quality imitations and left disappointed whether they are looking for Nike trainers, mobile phone accessories, a luxury watch or cosmetic products. In addition to being left out of pocket, some consumers are then stuck with goods that are made with potentially dangerous materials and carry real health and safety concerns.

The level of detail which goes into some counterfeit goods—the fake logo, labeling, and packaging for example—can make it extremely difficult for consumers to distinguish between a convincing imitation and the real deal. There are however some indicators that can help you identify fakes.

So, how does one spot a fake? Well, when purchasing products—especially online—it’s important to keep the following tips in mind. (Knowing how to spot a fake could help you avoid purchasing low-quality fakes by accident.)

– Price
Price can be one of the first indicators than item is fake. While not always the case, counterfeits tend to be cheaper than the genuine brand so consumers should be wary of UNUSUALLY low prices. What might seems like a bargain could leave you with poor quality imitation.

– Quality
Counterfeits are often produced using cheaper and poor quality materials such as fake leather, low quality glass, inferior cloth materials and old or used electronic parts. If the item does not look or feel authentic, it likely is not. When buying products from a reseller, protect yourself and ask them about their supplier quality assurance processes. Reputable resellers have inspection and authentication procedures in place as well as technicians to inspect the quality of the goods they are selling.

– Packaging
Inspecting the packaging is another way to distinguish an original from a counterfeit. Reputable brands and business invest in high quality packaging so if you receive an item in ill-fitting or suspicious packaging, or wrapped in what appears to be cheap plastic or flimsy materials then it could be a warning sign. Items which come without any packaging at all are almost always fakes.

Similarly, be wary of packaging which features expired “use by” dates, has broken or missing safety seals, is lacking warranty information, or producer contact details. Spelling errors, flawed logos or trademarks are further indicators that an item is a fake.

– Company
Most companies or brands list their approved retailers on their website and/or on their packaging materials.

– Payment Method
When making in-person transactions, look out for signs that your customer data or credit card information are handled securely. For online purchases, check that your payments are submitted via websites which begin with “https.” Legitimate online retailers tend to request payment via credit or debit cards, or with PayPal. So, consumers should be suspicious if they are asked to make a payment through a direct money transfer, such as a bank transfer.

Now, when shopping online, one is unable to physically inspect an item for the subtle signs of poor quality materials and packaging, which can make it even more difficult to tell if a product is fake.

Shoppers should also be wary of websites which are in English but with a foreign domain, or which feature spelling mistakes, poor quality pictures or dead links.

Before making an online purchase, check out the websites “About Us” or “Contact Us” page. Where this information is lacking or where details of a returns policy or terms and conditions are missing, then the seller is likely not genuine.

With online auction sites like eBay, the seller reviews can also help consumers spot a fake. In addition to reading feedback from previous customers on the services and goods, you can see what types of products the seller has sold in the past. If a seller usually deals in one specific type of product, it can be suspicious if they suddenly have a completely different product available. However, on the other hand, a regular supply and high turnover of a product also doesn’t guarantee that the products are genuine.

Fake reviews can be problematic for online shoppers, too. Sellers, including counterfeiters, can find ways to create dummy accounts and have fake reviews posted. (Note: There are online tools out there which can help consumers identify fake reviews, such as “Fakespot,” which analyses Amazon reviews to spot fakes.) Pay attention to how closely together the reviews were published and be suspicious of reviews which are similarly worded or where the user photos look similarly staged.

Today’s consumers even face similar challenges when it comes to making purchases through social media or mobile apps. Heavily discounted goods or flash sales are the first indicator that the featured products could be fake.

So, when it comes to the Internet, sites that do not carry ‘verification’ or ‘authentication’ signs (like a ‘lock’ symbol in the address bar and “https,” and an icon (usually in the footer of the website like “VeriSign,” “TRUSTe,” “NortonSecured,” etc.), or which request users to disclose sensitive information SHOULD NOT to be trusted.

In general, whether you are buying on the “high street” or shopping online, DO SOME ‘RESEARCH’ in advance and know what the market is like for fakes in the item you want to buy.

“FAKE NEWS”
There are two kinds of fake news: One that is entirely invented stories designed to make people believe something false, to buy a certain product, or to visit a certain website. The other kind is stories that have some truth, but are not 100% accurate.

To confuse matters further, there are also people who claim that factually accurate stories are fake news, just because they don’t agree with them or find them uncomfortable.

Now, “fake news” is nothing new. However, what is new is how easy it has become to share information—both true and false—on a massive scale.

Social media platforms allow almost anyone to publish their thoughts or share stories to the world. The trouble is, most people don’t ‘fact check’ the source of the material that they view online before they share it, which can lead to fake news spreading quickly or even “go viral.”

At the same time, it has become harder to identify the ‘original source’ of news stories, which can make it difficult to assess their accuracy.

Now, not all “fake news” stories are found online. Co-workers who gossip by the ‘water cooler’ or while browsing print publications that fail to check their facts, for example, are also guilty of spreading misinformation, even if inadvertently. (Some people mistrust ALL information altogether—unsure of who and what to trust.)

Fake news can affect behavior, too. It encourages people to invent excuses, to dismiss others’ ideas, to exaggerate the truth, and to spread rumors.

Misinformation and fake news can also harm your business. Invented reviews of your products or inaccurate financial updates, for example, can do serious ‘reputational’ damage.

– Develop a Critical Mindset
Before you click or share, ask yourself, “Why has this story been written?” Fake news is often designed to elicit an emotional response such as shock or anger. One of the main reasons fake news is such a big issue is that it is often believable, so it’s easy to get caught out. Much fake news is also written to create “shock value.” So, try to keep your emotions in check. Ask yourself, “Am I being ‘triggered’?”

– Check the Source
If something’s suspicious, do some digging! If you come across a story from a source that you’ve never heard of before, do some digging!

Check the web address for the page you’re reading. Spelling errors in company names, or strange-sounding extensions like “.infonet” and “.offer,” rather than “.com” or “.co.uk,” may mean that the source is suspect. Impartial fact-checking websites are a good place to go if you’re still unsure. Stop to consider their reputation and professional experience. Are they known for their expertise on the matter, or do they tend to exaggerate? Be aware of “doctored” images that look official.

– Find Out Who Else Is Reporting the Story
Can you find the same information from other sources? If not, that’s a good indication that it may not be real.

– Examine the Evidence
A credible news story will include plenty of facts—quotes from experts, survey data, and official statistics, for example. They also have detailed, consistent, and corroborated eye-witness accounts from people on the scene. If these are missing, question it!

Does the evidence prove that something definitely happened? Or, have the facts been selected or “twisted” to back up a particular viewpoint?

– Do Not Take Image at Face Value
Modern photo editing software (i.e. Photoshop, etc.) has made it easy for people to create fake images that look real (and even with video, i.e. “deep Fake”). In fact, research shows that only half of us can tell when images are fake. However, there are some warning signs you can look out for. Strange shadows on the image, for example, or jagged edges around a figure.

Images can also be 100% accurate but used in the wrong context. For example, photos of litter covering a beach could be from a different beach or from 10 years ago, not the recent alleged event.

You can use tools such as “Google Reverse Image Search” to check where an image originated and whether it has been altered.

– Does It “Sound Right”?
Finally, just use your COMMON SENSE! Fake news is designed to “feed” your hopes, fears, and biases.

For example, it is unlikely that your favorite designer brand is giving away a million free dresses to people who turn up to its stores. Equally, just because your colleague believes that two married co-workers are having an affair, does not mean it is true!

Now, some stories that you will encounter will just “sound wrong,” but will not necessarily be fake news. They could be intentional satire or something that comes from a humorous website, like “The Onion” or “The Babylon Bee” (https://babylonbee.com/), for example. Don’t let it get the best of you!

Now, some people claim that truthful stories are “fake news” just because they do not agree with them. This can lead to the dangerous ignoring of vital advice.

Fake news can have a ’NEGATIVE’ IMPACT, so IT’S ‘VITAL’ to know how to separate the real from the fake!

THE ‘PSYCHOLOGY’ OF DECEPTION
Psychologists have long been concerned with how to determine when someone is telling a lie.

Some liars have been found to exhibit one or more, or none of, a wide range of physical and/or verbal behaviors, both continually and/or intermittently when lying, while others do not. For example, laughing and smiling, moving hands and fingers, self-touching (often referred to as self-adaptors), stuttering, gaze aversion, feigning a lack of memory, and taking a long time to answer questions have all been observed in liars, BUT not always. Furthermore, some or all of these behaviors are also regularly exhibited by truth-tellers, but again, not always.

Generally speaking, research reveals that humans are not good at detecting deception. People usually can tell about 50% of the time—so may as well toss a coin. Psychologists believe this may be, in part, because people have a truth bias and so do not ‘look’ for lies in everyday interactions, while professionals have been found to exhibit a lie bias and look too hard for indicators of lying. Biases such as these interfere with the way people understand the world around them, which in turn affects their decisions and judgments.

People are, however, often far better at spotting when a family member or another person they are very familiar with is being deceptive. Here, people can sometimes recognize that the person is behaving differently, or that something isn’t quite right, which can alert them to deceit. Indeed, parents are often able to detect when their children are being deceptive significantly above chance because children’s truthful behavior is well known and regularly observed, so changes in these usual behaviors immediately seem odd.

Verbal cues are known to be far more diagnostic of deception than physical behaviors or body language. Relying on body language alone interferes with our ability to accurately detect deception because it is not a reliable cue.

However, because lying is typically more mentally demanding than telling the truth, this extra mental load can be exploited to improve the detection of deception. Research reveals several effective questioning approaches for detecting lies (one approach is “AIM,” the “Asymmetric Information Management”). These techniques have emerged from laboratory work, and, more recently, using immersive gaming to effectively mimic the real world plus working in the field alongside professionals and members of the public in real security contexts.

So, ask the right sorts of questions. Words are ‘carriers’ of deception, and so every question should elicit as many words as possible. This means, wherever possible, ask ‘open’ questions. For example, ‘Tell me all about your time living in New York’, rather than, ‘You say you lived in New York’. The former elicits a fuller more detailed response. The latter is a closed question, and so will only usually be answered with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Don’t ask pointless questions just for the sake of saying something. Rather, ensure that every question moves you towards your goal, which is to understand the truth of what people are telling you.

Be tactical. If you are aware of objective facts, consider asking a question about each fact before revealing that you know the answer. This will allow you to understand whether that person is being generally truthful or not. Then, when you ask questions that you do not know the answer to, you will have some knowledge about how the person behaves when being truthful, or otherwise.

Listen more than talk. Questioners should say as little as possible, to give themselves time to listen, think, and fully understand responses to their questions. Make every question count and ask as few as possible.

Be conversational and enquiring rather than aggressive, formal, and accusatory. Questioning a person constitutes a complex social interaction, which will often be more pleasant and far more productive if questioners are able to engage with people in an information-gathering manner.

Include some ‘temporal’ element to your questions. Switching between past, present, and future intentions can often be so mentally demanding for liars that they inadvertently reveal their deception by making errors, contradicting themselves, and/or contradicting objective facts known by the questioner.

Ask ‘clarification’ questions. These types of questions probe for more detail about a previous answer or initial account. Liars can struggle with detail, and can also be inconsistent when recapping or repeating detail.

Even with the use of these psychological techniques, spotting liars remains CHALLENGING. But real-world research has revealed that performance can improve significantly when these approaches are put together and systematically applied when asking questions (i.e. “AIM”).

Now, one of the professionals that we actually ‘WANT’ to be deceived by are magicians—especially when one just ‘let’s go’ and allows them to ‘amaze’ one with their ability to “fool” us.

Magicians are very good observers of human behavior and of human perception. One of the major ways in which magicians are able to ‘manipulate’ their audience’s attention, is by getting them to ‘multitask’.

Multitasking is a ‘myth’. We may think that we are able to do several things at once, but the fact is, when we are dividing our attention, we become a lot less effective than if we are doing just a single task at a time.

So magicians take this “divide and conquer” approach with attention. Typically, they are going to ask one to divide their attention in many different focus ‘points’, whether it is on stage or an internal dialogue they ‘make’ one start, so that one is having a conversation with themselves inside of their head.

Asking questions like, “What is happening?” and “What was the situation right now?” You are driving your attention inward and/or allocating it in competing places, so that you become a lot less effective at finding out the secret behind the magical illusion.

So, how ‘exactly’ do magicians do magic? What is their secret?

Well, Penn Jillette—of the famous magic duo of “Penn & Teller”—points out that there are some basic techniques:

– Lying
If a magician says during the “patter” (the talking part of the trick) that “This is an ordinary deck of cards sealed at the factory” you can bet the deck is totally gimmicked. Most magicians lie at least once in each trick, and some lie all the time. So, don’t trust magicians.

– Misdirection
Misdirection is not trying to distract the audience. Misdirection is the art of taking the most obvious way of doing the trick and showing it could not have been done that way when it was totally done that way. If a magician has a hoop that they pass over the levitating person, you can bet your life savings that the hoop is gimmicked.

– An Unbelievably Detailed Set Up
A magician buys 19 identical decks of cards and takes out the same three cards from each deck. They then have a deck of 52 cards, plus a few extras. They riffle through the deck and ask you to remember the card. You can’t tell it only has three cards in it so when you identify one of the three cards they can pull it out of their jacket pocket.

– Taking Advantage of People’s Limited Perception

You would think you could spot a thread or dark black backdrop on a stage. You are wrong. You also are incapable of tracking both of a magician’s hands at the same time.

– Taking Advantage of People’s Limited Memory
People convince themselves that the magician could not have possibly pulled a switch because their hands were always elsewhere. They are almost certainly wrong and the switch most likely took place long before the trick was revealed.

Unfortunately, it is difficult to detect lies accurately. Lie detectors, such as polygraphs, which work by measuring the level of anxiety in a subject while they answer questions, are considered “theoretically weak” and of dubious reliability. This is because, as any traveler who has been questioned by customs officials knows, it is possible to be anxious without being guilty.

One such approach is the Asymmetric Information Management (AIM) technique. At its core, it is designed to provide suspects with a clear means to demonstrate their innocence or guilt to investigators by providing detailed information. Small details are the lifeblood of forensic investigations and can provide investigators with facts to check and witnesses to question. Importantly, longer, more detailed statements typically contain more clues to a deception than short statements.

Essentially, the AIM method involves informing suspects of these facts. Specifically, interviewers make it clear to interviewees that if they provide longer, more detailed statements about the event of interest, then the investigator will be better able to detect if they are telling the truth or lying. For truth-tellers, this is good news. For liars, this is less good news.

Indeed, research shows that when suspects are provided with these instructions, they behave differently depending on whether they are telling the truth or not. Truth-tellers typically seek to demonstrate their innocence and commonly provide more detailed information in response to such instructions.

In contrast, liars wish to conceal their guilt. This means they are more likely to strategically withhold information in response to the AIM instructions. Their (totally correct) assumption here is that providing more information will make it easier for the investigator to detect their lie, so instead, they provide less information.

Liars tend to withhold information. So, if the investigator is presented with a potential suspect who is providing lots of detailed information, they are likely to be telling the truth. In contrast, if the potential suspect is lying then the investigator would typically be presented with shorter statements.

Thomas Ormerod and his colleague Coral Dando—at the University of Wolverhampton—identified a series of conversational principles that should increase one’s chances of ‘UNCOVERING’ DECEIT:

– Use Open Questions
This forces the liar to expand on their tale until they become entrapped in their own web of deceit.

– Employ the Element of Surprise
Investigators should try to increase the liar’s “cognitive load” – such as by asking them unanticipated questions that might be slightly confusing, or asking them to report an event backwards in time – techniques that make it harder for them to maintain their façade.

– Watch for Small, Verifiable Details
If someone says they go to a specific place, ask them to tell you about the ‘specifics’ of their journey.

If you do find a contradiction, though, don’t give yourself away—it’s better to allow the liar’s confidence to build as they rattle off more falsehoods, rather than correcting them.

– Observe Changes in Confidence
Watch carefully to see how a potential liar’s style changes when they are challenged: A liar may be just as verbose when they feel in charge of a conversation, but their comfort zone is limited and they may clam up if they feel like they are losing control.

For a bit more detail on this, a contributing writer at “The New Yorker,” Maria Konnikova, wrote a new book is called “The Confidence Game.” In it, she sat down with real con artists to see how they think and act.

In the book, Konnikova presents her insights from the research on how one can get better at spotting lies and dodging fraud. First off she mentions that detecting lies is hard, and there’s NO ‘magic bullet’. She says that, “There’s no Pinocchio’s nose of lying. There’s no telltale sign no matter what we might think, nothing that always signals a lie no matter what. There’s so much folk wisdom about how you spot a liar. They avert their gaze. They sweat. They blush, all this stuff. In truth, when you’re talking with good liars, it just doesn’t happen.”

So what can we do to detect lies and avoid being scammed?

– Use ‘Cognitive Load’
Telling lies is tricky. You need to balance the truth, the falsehood, and try not to get caught. That means your brain has to work overtime.

Lying can be cognitively demanding. You must suppress the truth and construct a falsehood that is plausible on its face and does not contradict anything known by the listener, nor likely to be known. You must tell it in a convincing way and you must remember the story. This usually takes time and concentration, both of which may give off secondary cues and reduce performance on simultaneous tasks.

So if you want to make a liar reveal themselves, you want to increase their cognitive load. The more they have to think, the more likely they are to make a mistake.

Note that police detectives ask open-ended questions that make them keep talking. Unexpected questions they’re not prepared for are the best. Anything that mentally exhausts someone is good.

Good liars will also attempt to distract you from the facts. Don’t let them. Ask questions to keep things simple so you can focus on what’s important. Konnikova mentions that, “Our cognitive load affects our ability to spot deception, so when we have a lot of things going on, we stop being able to notice as much. What we can do is try to avoid the cognitive load ourselves because they’re going to try to cause cognitive load for us. They’re going to start saying all of these things that disorient us and so we become more reliant on emotion rather than rational reasoning.”

Now, increasing cognitive load isn’t always easy in an informal situation, and this method also has a bigger problem. It DOES NOT work on professional liars like con men and psychopaths. Here’s Konnikova again: “Unfortunately, when we’re dealing with con artists, we are dealing with a lot of those types of people for whom there is no cognitive load because they live this. This is who they are. They’re not lying to you. They’re not trying to juggle anything. They really live their identity as a con artist.”

– Get Motivated
Con artists and other very experienced liars are quite motivated to deceive you. However, you can improve your chances of detecting deception just by being motivated like they are.

A simple bit of motivation to detect lies can make a real difference. Konnikova cites that, “When your motivation is high, you actually become much more accurate at judging other people accurately. Most of the time, our motivation isn’t very high because that takes more of our resources, but when we’re motivated, we suddenly become much better judges of character. We become much better able to read cues. Then you start being able to discern certain things.”

So, if you really want to resist someone’s attempt to deceive you, you might want to pay a little more attention to YOURSELF! (remember what the magician Penn said?)

– Watch your emotions
When we are emotional, we pay less attention. Our brains take shortcuts. We get roped in. Konnikova says that, “Emotions are the single most powerful driver of our behavior, because when we are in an emotionally aroused state, we start taking mental shortcuts that we wouldn’t otherwise take and we don’t even realize we’re taking them. That’s exactly what a con artist wants, so they draw you in emotionally and then you stop asking questions. You stop seeing red flags.”

We will question facts. We will question logic. BUT, we rarely question our ‘feelings’—and when we start trusting our feelings when someone is deliberately manipulating them, that can lead to bad decisions.

Why? Because we all secretly believe that we deserve to have good things happen to us. And when people give an emotional presentation that might be a little too good to be true, we want to believe it. Konnikova mentions that, “We are really good at saying, ‘if it seems too good to be true, it is’—when it applies to someone else. We never think when good things are happening to us that they’re too good to be true. We think they’re just good because, of course, we deserve good things to happen to us. If you invested with Madoff, you didn’t think his huge returns were weird. You think you picked the right person with whom to invest. You said, ‘See, I told you he was good’.”

So keep a ‘cool head’. Don’t get swept up by big promises and start fantasizing before you’ve examined the facts.

– Stories Are Dangerous
So, when people tell us ‘stories’ we tend to let our guard down. We don’t think we’re being “sold” on something, so we tend to go along for the ride. We quietly lose motivation to detect lies.

Research shows stories are actually the most powerful way to deceive and to get you to change your mind.

The most engaged people were also more likely to agree with the beliefs the story implied…

Our brain is ‘wired’ to respond to stories and Neuroscience research shows nothing beats a story when it comes to convincing you of something.

Paul Zak (a neuroeconomist at Claremont Graduate University, and director of its Center for Neuroeconomics Studies), has repeatedly said that, “Nothing compels us to receptivity, emotional and behavioral, quite like the neat, relatable narrative flow.”

– Know Thyself
When our lives are unstable and shifting we’re open to change—and that can mean bad things if someone is deliberately trying to influence you. Here’s Konnikova again: “The one thing that I found that tends to make everyone a more attractive mark is when they are at a point of change in their life. It could be job loss, job gain, getting a divorce, getting married. Our world is destabilized then and then that quest for meaning becomes much more pressing and con artists are very happy to provide that meaning.”

Ironically, what makes us unsuccessful at lie detection makes us happier and more successful as human beings in the big picture.

Research shows trusting people more and seeing the world as a little better than it is leads to a better life. Konnikova says that, “It’s actually not good to spot deception. It’s much, much better to go through life with slightly rose-tinted glasses, to use a cliché. The best evidence of how incredibly important and adaptive that is is that the only subset of the population that doesn’t have this bias are clinically depressed. It’s one of those great ironies of this human condition: the very thing that makes you not just a successful, but a happy human being is the exact same thing that makes you vulnerable to con artists. Research shows extensively that being trusting actually correlates with all sorts of great things. It’s correlated with high intelligence. It’s correlated with happiness, with better health, with better life outcomes, so it’s very psychologically protective in some sort of way. We need to trust one another. We need to forge relationships, build connections.”

So, when you’re dealing with that “used car salesman,” get motivated to detect lies, use cognitive load, watch your emotions, don’t get swept into stories, and keep a strong sense of who you are.

Even though ordinary people typically pay attention to the behaviors they should focus on when trying to figure out if others are lying—that is, they are using the right cues to deception—those cues are insufficient. If you have heard that there is no Pinocchio’s nose, no behavior that always occurs when people are lying and never occurs when they are telling the truth, you have heard correctly. That’s one of the truest statements ever made about the psychology of lying and detecting lies.

You need to know how to ‘steer’ the interaction in ways that ‘trips up’ the liars.

It is all about understanding, reading symptoms, assessing certain factors in life, and determining what is wrong, and determining what is right to do with what is wrong so that it can be made right. Discernment in the Christian religion is considered as a virtue, a discerning individual is considered to possess wisdom, and be of good judgment; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others.

– Taking Time in Making Decisions
Time has been considered necessary in the process of making a smart choice, and decisions made in a hurry can be altered by lack of contemplation. When time is available to assess the situation it improves the discernment process. When time allows the tentative decision can be revisited days later and external people can be consulted to make sure that the individual is satisfied with their choice.

– Using Both Logic and Emotions
Making decisions is involved with discernment and they require both the ‘head’ and the ‘heart’. Making decisions with the ‘head’ means to first reflect on the situation and emphasize the rational aspect of the decision-making process. In order to make a decision with the ‘heart’ the individual needs to make decisions based on feelings as well as rationality.

– Weighing Values
Every individual’s value system is different which affects both the head and the heart. Combining values, using both the head and heart, and taking sufficient time when making decisions are the main steps for a successful discernment process.

Group discernment is a separate ‘branch’ of discernment. In group discernment, each individual must first undergo their own discernment process. The individual must keep in mind what is best for the group as a whole as well as the individual when making a decision. The same principles of values, using the head and heart, as well as giving the decision-making process ample time all still apply in group discernment. Group discernment is different because it requires multiple people to have a unanimous decision in order to move forward. Group discernment requires discussion and persuasion between individuals to arrive at a decision.

So, what are some of the practical ‘reasons’ why one makes one decision over another? Well, the following are some of the decision-making criteria people use to make their decisions:

– Some people make decisions based on what will bring them the most happiness in the moment
– Some people make decisions based on what will bring them the most happiness in the long term
– Some people make decisions based on family…or tribe…or nationality…or ethnicity…or race
– Some people make decisions based on politics and political ideology
– Some people make decisions based on what feels right
– Some people make decisions based on what will do the greatest good—or as many people as possible—or based on what will do the least harm to the fewest number of people
– Some people make decisions based on revenge, hate, anger or rage
– Some people even make decisions out of a chemically induced fog of some kind, as the result of drugs or alcohol
– Some people make their decisions based on faith, on what God might want them to do

Life is full of decisions. Some decisions are ‘either/or’ that require one to make a ‘CHOICE’ between two things, which abrogates the other—sometimes forever!

[ FYI: For more details about making the ‘right’ choice, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/two-choices-one-way-v254/ ].

The Westminster Confession of Faith clearly recognizes the ‘formula’ of Scripture and sound reason as the basis of discernment. The Confession states: “The whole counsel of God… is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequence may be deduced from Scripture” (Chapter 1, Section 6). In other words, sound and careful logic must be applied to Scripture to yield a full and mature understanding of the spiritual truth God has revealed. This is no denial of the sufficiency of Scripture. The formula is not Scripture plus philosophy, but Scripture interpreted by careful, sensible, discernment.

Biblical faith, therefore, is rational. It is reasonable. It is intelligent. It makes good sense. Spiritual truth is meant to be rationally contemplated, examined logically, studied, analyzed, and employed as the ONLY ‘RELIABLE’ BASIS for making wise judgments. That process is precisely what Scripture calls discernment.

In modern usage, the word discernment carries powerful ‘negative’ connotations. But the word itself is not negative. Discernment simply means “to make a clear distinction.” We used to call someone “a discriminating person” if they exercised keen judgment. “Discrimination” signified a positive ability to draw a ‘line’ between good and evil, true and false, right and wrong. In the heyday of the American civil rights movement, the word was widely applied to racial bigotry and, indeed, people who make unfair distinctions between races are guilty of an evil form of discrimination.

Sadly, anyone today who is bold enough to suggest that someone else’s ideas or doctrines are unsound or unbiblical is dismissed at once as contentious, divisive, unloving, or unchristian. It is all right to espouse any view you wish, but it is not all right to criticize another person’s views—no matter how patently unbiblical those views may be. When tolerance is valued over truth, the cause of truth always suffers.

People no longer look at truth the way they used to. In fact, we live under a prevailing philosophy that has become hostile to the very idea of absolute truth.

From the beginning of recorded history until the last century, virtually all human philosophy assumed the necessity of absolute truth. Truth was universally understood as that which is true, not false; factual, not erroneous; correct, not incorrect; moral, not immoral; just, not unjust; and right, not wrong. Practically all philosophers since the time of Plato assumed the objectivity of truth. Philosophy itself was a quest for the highest understanding of truth. Such a pursuit was presumed to be possible, even necessary, because truth was understood to be the same for every person. This did not mean that everyone agreed what truth was, of course, but virtually all agreed that whatever was true was true for everyone.

Sadly, that all changed in the nineteenth century with the birth of existentialism. Even though it defies precise definition, it includes the concept that the highest truth is ‘SUBJECTIVE’ (having its source in the individual’s mind) rather than ‘OBJECTIVE’ (something that actually exists outside the individual). Existentialism elevates individual ‘experience’ and personal choice, and minimizes or ‘rules out’ absolute standards of truth, goodness, and morality. We might accurately characterize existentialism as the ‘ABANDONMENT’ of objectivity. Existentialism is inherently anti-intellectual, against reason, and irrational.

THE ‘CHALLENGE’ of DISCERNMENT
With discernment comes division. Sadly, a person who seeks to be discerning must be willing to suffer the effects of this division. It will divide not only believer from unbeliever, but it may even divide a discerning believer from one who is undiscerning. It will separate the mature from the immature, the naïve from the prudent.

All this reminds me of C. S. Lewis’ fantasy novel “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” which describes sin and evil. The White Witch (the story’s primary evil character), is unable to ‘create’, so she relies instead on ‘imitation’, and part of her magic is that “she could make things look Iike what they aren’t.” (The ‘winter’ imposed upon the land of Narnia is not a ‘real’ winter, but a mere imitation of the real one.)

Regarded as one of the best Narnia authorities, Thomas Howard said that it is “a counterfeit, exactly like the real thing but a cheat… Evil can only parody goodness, it cannot invent new forms of real beauty and joy. That is why in fairy tales you have to beware of attractive disguises—nice old crones selling apples in the forest, say, or angels of light.” This is a recurring theme in the story—the forces of evil attempting to deceive the innocent by ‘COUNTERFEITING’ what good and right and true.

Consider an example of Satan’s subtle works of counterfeiting and undermining the truth. The book of John begins in this way: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” [ John 1:1 ]. We learn a great deal from these few words. We see that Jesus is eternal, for He (the Word) existed in the beginning, so that before God created anything, Jesus already was. We learn about Jesus’ divinity, for He was with God and really was God. These verses are critical to the Christian understanding of the Trinity and the person of Jesus.

BUT, let’s now look at the translation of these verses used by Jehovah’s Witness in their “New World Translation.” “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. Right off, if you are discerning reader, though it is a single word, a single letter, a single “indefinite article,” the word “a” makes all the difference. Where John 1:1 clearly affirms the divinity of Jesus Christ (in ALL ‘authorized’ versions), the Bible of the Jehovah’s Witnesses denies this critical doctrine, teaching instead that Jesus was merely one of many gods created by the Father. Where an accurate rendition of this verse teaches that Jesus is eternal, this ‘counterfeit’ translation makes Him a ‘created’ being. The difference is subtle but profound. It is the difference between beautiful truth and a gross error. It is the difference between salvation and damnation!

Now, this is how Satan works: He is always subtle, always crafty, always seeking to draw us away from what is true! Satan is fully committed to the human’s downfall and is committed to keeping us confused. He seeks to cause chaos and destruction by leading everyone away from discernment.

Thankfully, Scripture is not silent and describes for the believer the “whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13-18a). We can wage ‘war’ against and defeat the spiritual forces that seek to lead us away from discernment by offering a clever and subtle counterfeit of the truth.

CULTURAL INFLUENCES
Just as Christians must be prepared to deal with influences that come from within and from the spirit realm, we must also be prepared to deal with influences arising from the culture in which the believer lives. We all inhabit a ‘fallen’ world, one that, though under the power and authority of God, is opposed to Him. It should come as no surprise that even though we are called to live within this culture, the culture itself hates God and seeks to destroy those who love Him. Yet, this culture has influenced the Church perhaps more than the Church has influenced the culture. There are at least four cultural influences that have led to a decline in discernment among Christians.

– Secular Worldview
The sad fact that the worldview of many who profess to be Christians is no different from that of those who do not. Research by The Barna Group (a market research firm specializing in studying the religious beliefs and behavior of Americans, and the intersection of faith and culture) has determined that as few as 9% of those who consider themselves “born-again” Christians have a Christian worldview premised upon these six basic truths of the Bible:

– Jesus Christ lived a sinless life
– God is the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator of the universe and He stills rules it today
– Salvation is a gift from God and cannot be earned
– Satan is real
– Christians have a responsibility to share their faith in Christ with other people
– The Bible is accurate in all of its teachings

Sadly, many who consider themselves Christian have a worldview that is completely ‘INCONSISTENT’ with their profession of faith. It is a worldview premised not on the truths revealed in the Bible but on a person’s flawed understanding of the world. It is ultimately a worldview rooted in a person’s own sinfulness. The worldview we see around us is one that refuses to delineate an antithesis between good and evil. Conversely, a biblical worldview is rooted in an affirmation of the opposing forces of good and evil.

– Low View of Scripture
Just as many Christians have abandoned a Christian worldview, many have also abandoned the ‘doctrines’ of Scripture. Many Christians have too ‘low’ a view of the power and uniqueness of the Bible. They have absorbed the culture’s skepticism and disregard for any person of book that claims authority over them.

Back in 1977, the doctrine that states that the Bible is without error came under attack from both within the Church and without. A group of evangelical leaders and scholars created the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy (ICBI) to clarify the Bible’s teaching about itself, and to defend against those who sought to defraud it of its unique position. Some 240+ evangelical scholars (such as J.I. Packer, R.C. Sproul, James Montgomery Boice, John MacArthur, Francis Schaeffer, and Josh McDowell) signed the “Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy.”

Years later, in his last book, Boice had this to say: “Inerrancy is not the most critical issue facing the Church today. The most serious issue, I believe, is the Bible’s sufficiency.”

While all Christians are eager to embrace the Bible and to treat it as a precious ‘possession’, few are willing to give it the ‘preeminence’ it demands for itself.

– Low View of Theology
The word “theology” has been much maligned in recent decades. Both Christians and unbelievers have often rejected it, believing that theology is a somewhat ‘less-than-noble’ pursuit. Theology is increasingly portrayed as the realm of ‘fundamentalists’—“dangerous adherents” to Christianity, whose “fanaticism” makes others suspicious and distrustful. Practice is deemed important, but underlying beliefs are optional!

As theology falls out of favor in the culture, sadly so too does it fall out of favor in the Church. This makes the pursuit of discernment ever more difficult, and ever more unpopular.

– Low View of God
Many Christians—whether through their own ignorance or as a result of being poorly trained—downplay the ‘holiness’ of God. God’s name is maligned and ‘blasphemed’ in the culture around us, and it seems that Christians have increasingly absorbed the world’s understanding of a God who is ‘fun’, who exists for our benefit, who can be the ‘butt’ of endless jokes, and who is blamed for everything that is ‘wrong’ in the world today.

Sadly, as Christians have lost sight of the holiness of God, they have lost their emphasis on ‘personal’ holiness. The missionary David Livingstone used to pray that he “might imitate Christ in al His inimitable perfections.” (This SHOULD BE the prayer of all Christians, to be ‘conformed’ into the ‘image’ of Jesus!)

CAUSES
According to ‘continuum’ thinking, the mode of thinking taught outside the Church (and sadly within the Church, too) is that every idea is a ‘shade of gray’. There is no right and wrong or true and false, but only shades of right and wrong or true and false spread along a continuum The ‘poles’ of this continuum are extended so far out toward the wings, that for all practical purposes, are unattainable and therefore worthless. Nothing then, is wholly right or wrong. All is relative; most of it is subjective. Antithetical thinking (being in direct and unequivocal opposition) is dismissed as fanatical or even worse!

If true cannot be distinguished from false, right from wrong, or good from bad, then discernment is not only ‘UNATTAINABLE’, but it is unnecessary—and its pursuit is foolishness! Discernment thrives in an ‘atmosphere’ of absolutes, and among people whose minds have been molded to think antithetically.

In the Bible—where antithesis is so important—discernment is ‘ESSENTIAL’. Indeed, God says that, “The wise in heart will be called discerning” [ Proverbs 16:21a ].

Not only will you find such antithetical teaching and much more, on nearly every page of the Bible, even the ‘construction’ of the Hebrew language itself seems designed to teach antithesis. Much of the poetry, many of the proverbs, and even some of the narrative is antithetical in structure.

[ FYI: For more details about gaining a ‘deep’ understanding of the Bible, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/gaining-a-deep-understanding-v264/ ].

Today, the shift away from antithetical thinking and toward humanistic thinking has contributed much to the ‘softness’ of the church and its ‘frightful’ lack of discernment.

The Apostle Paul said, “Be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you’ve been following. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly” [ 1 Timothy 4:6-7 ]. This was an epithet describing his contemporary philosophy, and sadly, describes what we have today.

HOW TO GET DISCERNMENT
King Solomon was given the opportunity by God to ASK FOR ANYTHING. Giving much credit to him (at least at that time of his life), He requested “an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil” [ 1 Kings 3:9 ]. God was definitely pleased by Solomon’s request and promised him that, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you” [ 1 Kings 3:11-12 ]. BOOM!

He was given discernment such as no mere human has possessed before or ever since! We might even say that Solomon requested discernment, but because of the ‘connectedness’ of wisdom and discernment, God gave him both what he requested and its important ‘prerequisite’. Solomon became both ‘WISE’ AND ‘DISCERNING’.

In the Book of Hebrews it says, “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” This draws a clear ‘line’ connecting a lack of discernment with spiritual immaturity, so that those who lack discernment are those who are spiritually immature. Scripture makes it plain: if you are not a person who exhibits and exercises discernment you ARE NOT a mature Christian!

Until people learn to practice discernment and do it constantly, they will not be able to handle “solid ‘food’.” Then, until they practice discernment and learn to distinguish between what is good and what is evil, they will continue to ‘backslide’ (a falling away or committing apostasy, pursuing their own desires rather than God’s). Thus a lack of discernment is not only a ‘mark’ of spiritual immaturity, but also a mark of those who may NOT be ‘of’ the faith at all!

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them” [ Romans 1:28-32 ].

These verses ought to strike ‘terror’ in the heart of all who forsake God and ought to cause one to pause and acknowledge the depth of the evil that inhabits the hearts of men.

It points not only to the sinfulness of a lack of discernment, but to the inevitable conclusion that a lack of discernment—utter foolishness—is a mark of one who is spiritually ‘dead’ and bankrupt, and probably NOT on their way to Heaven!

This shows just how much God values discernment. An absolute lack of discernment and a lack of concern for discernment is sure proof of spiritual death.

The Apostle Paul tells us of the dire consequences of ignoring discernment: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” [ 1 Corinthians 2:14 ]. Those who are unsaved—who do not have the Spirit of God within them—are UNABLE to be discerning! (The ways of God and the truths of God are utter foolishness to such people.)

This is BAD ’NEWS’! Scripture portrays those who lack spiritual discernment in three ways: They are spiritually immature, they are backslidden, and they are spiritual ‘dead’! Those who lack discernment or do not care for it will fit into one of these three categories. These are the ‘DANGERS’ of ignoring discernment!

HOWEVER, there is ‘GOOD’ NEWS! The Bible declares that there are MANY ‘BENEFITS’ stored up for those who desire discernment, those who seek after it and practice it (Which will be discussed later in this post).

The Apostle Paul also prayed for discernment (for the believers): “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” [ Philippians 1:9-11 ].

Discernment is something we need to ASK FOR and seek if we truly desire to live righteously. “Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them” [ Hosea 14:9 ]. One CANNOT follow the ways of the Lord without discernment!

Primarily, one needs discernment in order to understand the Bible itself. Our human minds cannot understand the Scriptures without the discernment that comes from the Holy Spirit. “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” [ 1 Corinthians 2:14 ].

The Scriptures make the believer wise, but this CAN’T HAPPEN unless we have the discernment to understand them (2 Timothy 3:12-17). There is wisdom we need for our lives contained within God’s Word. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” [ Hebrews 4:12 ].

Discernment is of ‘CRUCIAL’ IMPORTANCE in the life of a believer, and with it comes GREAT ‘BENEFITS’. Again, Solomon shows the discernment and wisdom God promised him:

“My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.

Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.”
[ Proverbs 3:21-24 ]

In addition to King Solomon, King David also asked for discernment (“I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!” – Psalm 119:25) and so should the believer. One CAN BE ‘CONFIDENT’ that God will provide one with the wisdom and discernment they need when they ASK Him for it, because He desires them to live an ‘empowered’ Christian life, filled with the understanding they need to follow Jesus (James 1:5) and be transformed into His ‘image’ (2 Corinthians 3:18).

[ FYI: For more details on how to ‘ask’ God, read this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/persistently-p-u-s-h-v261/ ].

It is the responsibility of every Christian to be discerning: “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” [ 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 ]. The Apostle John issues a similar warning when he says, “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 ]. According to the New Testament, discernment is not optional for the believer—it is REQUIRED.

Failure to distinguish between truth and error leaves the Christian subject to all manner of false teaching. False teaching then leads to an unbiblical mindset, which results in unfruitful and disobedient living—a certain recipe for compromise.

Unfortunately, discernment is an area where MOST Christians ‘stumble’. Not armed to take a decidedly biblical stand against the onslaught of unbiblical thinking and attitudes that face them throughout their day after day.

Discernment is ‘INDISPENSABLE’ to an ‘uncompromising’ life. It is incumbent upon the Christian to seize upon the discernment that God has provided for in His precious truth! Without it, Christians are at risk of being “tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine” [ Ephesians 4:14b ].

Spiritual immaturity makes ‘victims’ out of people. They don’t know what’s right. They don’t know what’s wrong. They’re yanked all over the place, blown all around. They are easily deceived.

Discernment and maturity go hand in hand. Engaging in spiritual practice trains your senses to discern good and evil. “Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning” [ Proverbs 14:33 ], “The wise in heart are called discerning” [ Proverbs 16:21 ], and “A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth” [ Proverbs 17:24 ]. The undiscerning just ‘wander’ all over the place, but the discerning are focused.

Some people are very discerning about what ‘investment’ they are going to make, and they read all the “fine print”—in advertisements, in agreements, in contracts, and associated with their stock purchases.

Most people are good at discerning these things. Some are very careful when they are going to have surgery. They want to find a doctor who knows the way in and the way out. They are very, very careful. They pick somebody who has been analyzed carefully, and has many ‘great’ recommendations. They might even get a second opinion.

Some people are highly analytical politically, and they can assess the issues of the day, can quote editorials from all kinds of national magazines, and they have got it all figured out in terms of the government and foreign policy.

Some people are absolutely unequaled as “armchair quarterbacks.” They can assess any offense, any defense, and can discern the whole problem of winning and losing. Some know the batting average of everyone in the league, why they hit the way they do, and how they do it.

These people analyze things to the “Nth degree.” HOWEVER, they never get around to using their fantastic analytical skills to discern what the Bible says about ‘discernment’. HOW SAD!

All this to say, believers should want to be discerning. They should want to be like the noble Bereans, who search the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. They should desire to be as discerning as they were—especially since they have been given the Holy Spirit!

Discernment, then, is not an ‘end’ in itself. Rather, discernment is the ‘means’ to a far greater and nobler end. By practicing spiritual discernment, we ‘guard’ the Gospel, the ‘message’ of eternal life.

In the Apostle Paul’s final letter, he reiterates, “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you” [ 2 Timothy 1:14 ]. With the power of the Holy Spirit, Timothy was to ‘guard’ the Gospel and, in turn, become MORE ‘MATURE’ in his faith.

Going back to King Solomon, his early verses of Proverbs are a ‘call’ for both discernment and wisdom:

“My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding
yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.”
[ Proverbs 2:1-5 ]

Solomon then writes:

“For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.”
[ Proverbs 2:6-8 ]

Now, other forms of judgment are explicitly commanded throughout Scripture. The people of God are urged to judge between truth and error, right and wrong, good and evil. Jesus said, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” [ John 7:24 ]. The Apostle Paul wrote, “ I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say” [ 1 Corinthians 10:15 ]. Clearly, God requires the believer to be discriminating when it comes to matters of sound doctrine.

Discernment is the ‘duty’ of every believer. The Apostle Paul plainly says that one must “Examine everything carefully; hold fast to what is good” [ 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ].

Now, the Greek here is by no means complex. The word “carefully” has been added by the translators to make the sense clear. If we translate the phrase literally, we find it simply says, “Examine everything.” But the idea conveyed by our word “carefully” is included in the Greek word translated “examine,” “dokimazō.”

Theologian Donald Grey Barnhouse tells about how, “In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal heated until liquid, poured into moulds, and allowed to cool. When the coins were cool, if was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft and, of course, many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens to stop the practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money; they were men of honor who put only genuine, full-weight money into circulation. Such men were called dokimos or approved.”

We are also supposed to judge one another with regard to overt acts of sin. The Apostle Paul wrote, “For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you” [ 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 ]. That speaks of the same process of church discipline outlined by Jesus Himself in Matthew 18 (verses 15-20).

WHAT WE MUST NOT JUDGE
The Bible says that we may judge doctrine and behavior by the objective standards of right and wrong that are given to us in Scripture. What we MAY NOT do, though, is judge a person’s ‘heart’ and motives. Just as we may not judge motives and personal piety, we may not judge matters of conscience where the Bible offers no explicit directive.

Then, there are certain things that one should not and thus cannot judge. We cannot pass judgment on matters that are ‘hidden in darkness’. We cannot judge motives, personal piety, nor the conscience in matters where Scripture is silent. Were a believer to do these things, they would be guilty of ‘legalism’, sinful judging systematized, or creating moral standards beyond what the Scripture has revealed.

If one were to judge on the basis of what is hidden to them, they would be guilty of sinful judging. Pastor Dave Swavely defines sinful judging as, “negatively evaluating someone’s conduct or spiritual state on the basis of non-biblical standards or suspected motives.” Said more colloquially, to judge others is to decide that they are doing wrong because they do something the Bible doesn’t talk about or because you ‘think’ you can guess what is in that person’s heart.

Elsewhere in Scripture, it says that we are not “able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). That is a divine prerogative. Only God can judge the heart, because only God can ‘see’ it (1 Samuel 16:7). He alone knows the secrets of the heart (Psalm 44:21). He alone can weigh the motives (Proverbs 16:2). He alone “will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus” (Romans 2:16).

Again, this is NOT our role. “Therefore, do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts” [ 1 Corinthians 4:5 ].

Clearly, then, the command “Test everything,” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) in NO WAY contradicts the biblical ‘restrictions’ against being judgmental. The discernment called for here is ‘DOCTRINAL’ discernment. (The conjunction at the beginning of this verse, “but test everything,” ties it to the “prophecies” mentioned in the previous verse (1 Thessalonians 5:20). [ Remember what I said about the three ‘rules’ for biblical interpretation a few months ago? “Context, context, context.” ].

All throughout the New Testament, we see believers testing, proving, and approving. All manner of life and faith are tested. Any teaching to which we are introduced is to be tested. Any decision we face is to be tested. There should be no belief, no teaching, no action in the life of the believer—or in the Church—that has not been thoroughly tested or scrutinized. The Bible provides many examples of those who tested. Some of these areas to test are teachings, prophecy, the ‘spirits’, and Church leaders. In short, we are to TEST EVERYTHING! Everything that relates it to Christian life and spirituality is to be thoroughly tested and approved. Nothing is excluded!

Though we are to test everything, there are some areas of the Christian life and doctrine that are of ‘greater’ consequence than others. Dr. Albert Mohler (theologian and president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) proposes three ‘levels’ of theological urgency.

While it may not always be perfectly clear which category a doctrine falls into, this structure can, at the very least, guide one toward the issues that are of greatest importance. (Debate that is most helpful will be that which takes into consideration the relative importance of the particular issue.)

First ‘level’ issues are those that are most central and essential to the Christian faith. This includes the doctrines of the Trinity, atonement, the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, justification by faith alone, and the authority of Scripture. Those who deny any of these doctrines arc denying truths that are absolutely and fundamentally essential to the Christian faith. Denial of these key doctrines represents the abandonment of biblical Christianity.

Second level issues are doctrines that believers may disagree on but which still represent important issues and will form significant ‘boundaries’ between Christians. (These are often the doctrines that have defined or divided denominations.) Some examples of these might include the mode and meaning of baptism or the continuing miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit. While Christians from either ‘camp’ will affirm that those on the other side of the disagreement are “brothers or sisters in Christ” and will share fellowship with them on some level, these people will always experience a level of disagreement that will likely preclude greater unity.

Finally, third level issues are those over which Christians may disagree even while maintaining close fellowship and remaining in the same local church. These may include doctrines such as the “end times” or whether Christians may consume alcohol in moderation.

Now, Mohler writes that there that is a caution is in order here. “A structure of theological triage does not imply that Christians may take any biblical truth with less than full seriousness. We are charged to embrace and to teach the comprehensive truthfulness of the Christian faith as revealed in the Holy Scriptures. There are no insignificant doctrines revealed in the Bible, but there is an essential foundation of truth undergirds the entire system of biblical truth.”

So, for believers of discernment, they should focus their efforts on matters of the greatest consequence—the issues at the ‘heart’ of the Christian faith. However, they must ensure that they do not become distracted by smaller issues when foundational matters are being disputed and are under attack.

Even though this was ‘THE’ Apostle Paul, Luke STRONGLY ‘COMMENDS’ the Bereans: “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica” [ Acts 17:11a ]. Luke then says that because they checked up on Paul to determine whether or not his message was biblical, “as a result, many of then believed” [ Acts 17:12a ].

Now, the Pharisees also searched the Scriptures (John 5:39) but did not believe. Why? Well, they did not search in the same ‘way’. The ‘source’ which the Pharisees and the Bereans searched was identical, so the variables must be connected with the ‘goal’ and ‘manner’ of their searches. The Bereans looked to see if what Paul and Silas said was true; when they found it so, they believed. They were searching for ‘TRUTH’. In contrast, the Pharisees were looking for ‘error’. They wanted to find passages to prove Jesus wrong. They sought Scripture that would lend support to their traditions which they had ‘overlaid’ upon the Scriptures like a coat of thick ‘paint’, obscuring the beauty of the truth beneath. (They had ‘made up’ 613 Mitzvot (rules/commandments) to perform to be a ‘good’ Jew!). However, Jesus said to them:

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” [ John 5:39-47 ].

Coming to the Scriptures for any purpose other than to discover and believe truth is contrary to and utterly defeats the discernment process. Through discernment, error is detected in order to enable a person to distinguish it from truth so that he may learn and live by the truth.

The greatest American preacher of the early 1700s, Jonathan Edwards, made this point very clear in his sermon on Hebrews 5:11-14. He said that even Christians who is “sluggish and dull is condemned for not being able, instead, to teach the fundamentals of the faith.” Again and again, he drove home the point that knowing the Scriptures is the business not just of the clergy but of EVERY Christian!

In the absence of a reliable standard, counterfeits fill the void. These counterfeits deceive, distract, and ultimately destroy those plans God has designed for individuals and for the furtherance of His Kingdom (Ephesians 2:10). So how does truth work with discernment? Truth operates as a “COUNTERFEIT DETECTOR.”

One would think (at least I did) that to identify counterfeit money, one need only be trained to look for errors or mistakes on the fake bill. To the contrary, agents of the government are trained instead to recognize what a ‘GENUINE’ bill looks like. The approach used for distinguishing a genuine bill is summarized in the phrase “touch, tilt, look through, look at.” In each step, the examiner knows the characteristics of the genuine bill. Thieves are continually at work to improve their counterfeit techniques so the fakes often “change.” However, the genuine bill never changes—it always the same.

This is also the case with God’s truth (which includes His character)—it never changes (Malachi 3:6). God’s truth is found in two places—His Word (the Bible) and His Holy Spirit. These two “truth standards” remain unchanged—regardless of time, circumstance, or social deviations (Hebrews 13:8; Isaiah 40:8). God’s Word and Spirit allow us “to separate truth from error,” providing us a foundation on which “to base our understanding” and equips us “to determine the right course of action.”

When we spend time with God and become familiar with His Word, we will be able to quickly identify His truth and His will for whatever situation we may encounter in our life. Truth, God’s truth, is the ONLY STANDARD by which spiritual discernment is possible.

It is evident that we live in a ‘broken’ world. However, that does not negate our ability to recognize and utilize God’s truth and authority in guiding our choices and lifestyle. With God’s truth and the Holy Spirit, spiritual discernment is possible. Without these two, spiritual discernment is impossible (1 Corinthians 2:14-15).

When one chooses to disregard the authority of Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit, they are inviting chaos and disorder into their world and even willing ‘participants’ in Satan’s plans.

One does not have to dig too deeply into the pages of Scripture to see the central role TRUTH plays in Christian thought:

– The Christian worldview claims to be true (Luke 1:1-4; John 20:30-31; Acts 17:24-31; Romans 1:18-20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-9)
– The Gospel message claims to be true (Galatians 2:5; Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5)
– Jesus Christ claims to be the truth (John 14:6; John 1:14, 17; 18:37)
– The Holy Spirit claims to be the Spirit of truth (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 1 John 4:6; 5:6)
– God’s Word claims to be truth (2 Samuel 7:28; 1 Kings 17:24; Psalm 119:43, 142, 151, 160; John 17:17; 2 Corinthians 6:7; James 1:18; Revelation 21:5; 22:6).

Furthermore, Christians are to believe:

– The truth (John 8:32; 1 Corinthians 13:7; Ephesians 1:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15; John 20:30-31; 1 Corinthians 15:1-9)
– Be grounded in the truth (Ephesians 6:14; Titus 1:9; 2 Peter 1:12)
– Speak the truth (Exodus 20:16; Psalm 15:2; Proverbs 8:7; 12:17, 22; Zechariah 8:16; Ephesians 4:15, 25)
– Teach the truth (2 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Timothy 2:15; Titus 2:1)
– Rejoice in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6)
– Love in truth (1 John 3:18)
– Live according to the truth (Psalm 25:5; 2 John 4)
– Worship in truth (Psalm 145:18; John 4:24)

Believers are, in fact, ‘saved’ by THE ‘TRUTH’ of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (John 8:31-32).

It should be clear, then, that the ‘CENTRALITY’ OF TRUTH is ‘foundational’ to biblical Christianity. Unfortunately, however, despite Scripture’s focus on the centrality of truth, many Christians today have failed to consistently practice biblical discernment in their daily lives, leaving them susceptible to a world of fake news and false views that can be detrimental to their faith.

Christians today have been all too quick to accept anyone and anything which bears the “Christian” ‘label’. Whether it be some ‘new’ teaching circulating on the Internet, the newest book to hit the shelves of the Christian bookstore, something a celebrity said that just sounded so spiritual and even Christian, or the latest song to pop up on the Christian radio station, many of us have fallen into the trap of not taking the time to critically examine what we hear before accepting it. And yes, I do believe it is just that: a ‘trap’—one set by the father of lies himself, Satan.

We are told time and time again in Scripture that not everyone or everything that claims to be or even has the appearance of being of God is, in fact, of God (2 Corinthians 11:13-15; 2 Timothy 3:5; and Titus 1:16). The early church father Irenaeus rightly said: “Error never shows itself in its naked reality, in order not to be discovered. On the contrary, it dresses elegantly, so that the unwary may be led to believe that it is more truthful than truth itself.” We are even warned that “the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” [ 2 Timothy 4:3-4 ].

Scripture is also chocked full of specific warnings about:

– False messiahs (Matthew 24:24)
– False prophets (Ezekiel 13:9; Jeremiah 23:16; Matthew 7:15-20; 24:24; Luke 6:26; 1 John 4:1; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 2:1-22)
– False teachers (Matthew 16:11-12; Acts 20:28-30; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Timothy 1:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:16-18; 4:3-4; Titus 1:9-16; 2 Peter 2:1; 3:16)
– False apostles (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)
– False disciples (Matthew 7:21-23)
– False doctrine (Ephesians 4:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Timothy 1:3-4; 2 Timothy 2:16-18; 4:3-4; Titus 1:9-11; Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 2:1-22; 3:17)
– False gospels (Galatians 1:6-9).

Such falsities were a danger not only to the early church but has been a persistent danger to all believers throughout history.

So, the key point to remember when receiving information from outside of divinely revealed truth such as we have in Scripture is this: extra-biblical truth will not contradict biblical truth (1 John 4:6). This is because truth is by nature objective, absolute, and non-contradictory. Since the Bible is God’s Word and God cannot lie (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18) or teach what is false (Psalm 119:60; John 17:17; Romans 3:4), it follows that everything God’s Word teaches is true and anything opposed to it is false.

The Bible is the ‘STANDARD’ of discerning truth from falsity, and rather than allowing ourselves to become conformed to the pattern of the world by uncritically accepting anything and everything it offers us, we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds (cf. Romans 12:2) and show wise discernment with our feet firmly rooted in God’s revealed standard for truth. We must be like the noble Bereans, searching the Scriptures every day to see if what we are being told is true (Acts 17:10-11).

The Apostle Paul said that, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” [ 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ].

The believer needs to STUDY Scripture. We need to know and understand the standard of truth which God has given to us. This is how we will combat falsity. This is how we will discern truth in a world of fake news and false views.

[ FYI: For more details about how to study Scripture, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/gaining-a-deep-understanding-v264/ ].

LEARNING TO DISCERN
Basically, it is the Spirit who, when you fervently ask Him, will lead you out of error into truth. He is called the “Spirit of truth” (John 14:17) because of His peculiar concern for imparting truth both by enabling its writers to produce an inerrant Bible (2 Peter 1:21), and enabling its readers to understand and apply all its truth (1 John 2:27).

The following are some principles that will enable you to exercise spiritual discernment.

– Regularity
As we have seen, the capacity for discernment grows when it is regularly exercised. It is “by reason of use” that one’s spiritual “faculties” become sensitive to the differences between truth and error. Spiritual discernment is a ‘HABIT’ formed by using Scripture under the Spirit’s power and direction to distinguish good from evil. Like any other habit of mind, it is established by regular, REPETITIVE action.

At first, before any act, whether mental or physical, becomes habitual, it is difficult to perform. You feel awkward in attempting it. You do not perform it well, and the act must be done as the result of a ‘conscious’ decision. But, after much practice, you perform skillfully, smoothly, unconsciously, automatically, and comfortably. It is merely a matter of getting over the ‘hump’. But this takes regular, daily effort in doing the right thing again and again over an extended period of time.

You probably remember how it was when you first learned to drive. That first day, seated behind the wheel, you looked at the dials on the instrument panel, the gearshift lever, and the pedals on the floor, and you knew that somehow you had to learn how to coordinate your hands, feel, and eyes in order to drive. I’m thinking some of you wondered if you would ever ‘get it’.

Well, now after all these years, you don’t even give the slightest thought to any of these actions. You now perform them skillfully, smoothly, automatically, unconsciously, and comfortably. Now, your mind could be occupied with some ‘intense’ conversation with the person seated beside you, and you will be still driving safely down the road.

So, how did you get so proficient at driving the car? Well, by committing yourself to the task. The same is true in developing any habit, including theology. Hebrews 5 says that you can learn to “discern truth and error” with the same or even greater proficiency if you will ‘COMMIT’ yourself to the task—and how ’BADLY’ you want it!

– Necessary Commitment
There are five ‘elements’ that are essential to a genuine commitment: Knowledge; Desire; Capability; Time; and Effort. Let’s look briefly at each one of these.

Knowledge:
If you don’t understand what it is that you are committing yourself to, desire, capability, time, and effort won’t do a bit of good. You simply must know what it is that you are getting into in order for any commitment lobe fruitful.

Desire:
You will need to look ‘inside’ to determine whether you truly want to become discerning. I don’t say that you must want to become discerning for discernment’s sake. You must want it for Jesus’ sake. (Just like when you ‘desired’ to learn to drive).

Capability:
Often people fail right here. They know what is expected of them and they really want to do it, but they lack the resources and skills for ‘pulling it off’. Here is where you may founder if you are not careful. It IS possible to acquire the skills already learned them to some extent and because you have seen that God requires you to learn them. He requires nothing of His children that He doesn’t provide all the resources and all the skills to accomplish—so long as they are WILLING to avail themselves of them.

Time:
Unless you schedule a time, every day, to work on developing discernment skills, your good intentions will be worthless. You must state the exact time you will work on developing the requisite habits or else your desire, knowledge, and accumulation of resources will count for nothing. You must find the time (Don’t tell me you don’t have the time. Like everyone else, you have 24 hours a day, and you can ‘choose’ to do what is important to you!) Yes, you may have to eliminate other ‘good’ things. God gives each of us exactly enough time to do everything He wants us to do.

Developing a new pattern involves regularity, and the BEST way to find time and achieve regularity is to DO ‘SOMETHING’ every day.

Effort:
By this I mean that you must actually ‘expend’ the effort. It does no good to schedule a beautiful program if you don’t keep it. If you keep it only sporadically, that won’t work either. I’m talking about commitment here! When you learned to drive, somehow or other you found the time and you REGULARLY devote yourself to the task of learning to drive—not missing an opportunity unless absolutely necessary. If you only will, you CAN learn to discern.

So then, what is required? Well, there are some ‘main’ activities: Prayer; Bible study; and Church participation. Let’s discuss each.

PRAYER is fundamental. Solomon prayed for discernment. Saul asked God for discernment for the Philippians. Underlying al 1 else there must be a commitment to regularly ask God for discernment. You can go through all the motions according many ‘programs’ available, but if God’s Spirit isn’t in it, permeating all you do—because you have asked Him to—you will act in your own wisdom and strength and the result will be habits of sinful self-reliance. What you want are habits ‘formed’ by the Spirit.

[ FYI: To learn more about prayer, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/persistently-p-u-s-h-v261/ ].

BIBLE STUDY is essential. You must study your Bible because it is the ‘standard’ against which you must measure all teaching. If you are not thoroughly familiar with your ‘Yardstick’, you will not be able to make good judgments about the things you are reading and hearing.

[ For more details on how to study the Bible, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/gaining-a-deep-understanding-v264/ ].

CHURCH PARTICIPATION is another ‘requirement’. The ministry of the Word in preaching and in counseling was designed to help you become more discerning. Listen to the Apostle Paul’s words in :

“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds[a] and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood,[c] to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” [ Ephesians 4:11-14 ].

These activities are a part of God’s ‘program’ for promoting discernment among His ‘children’. As you ‘join in’ to these, you will discover your ‘powers’ of discernment grow!

Again, here’s the Apostle Paul’s ‘encouragement’ in all of this:

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent” [ Proverbs 2:9-10a ].

So, here are some ‘habits’ that believers should desire to attain to enable the Holy Spirit to impart more discernment and wisdom upon them.

1) Discerning people live in right relationship to God.
They are humble. They know how much they don’t know.

Remember, that our minds are limited and our hearts are easily led astray. Proverbs 1:7 says that, “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” In other words, discerning people know that God—not their own mind’s experience or instinct—is the source of wisdom and ultimately the source of safety. From this place of humility, discerning people are able to ask for help from the One who gives it freely and abundantly.

2) Discerning people focus on finding goodness in the brokenness.
Discerning people know that God made the world good and that He sustains it in goodness. Yes, the world is cursed by sin but through Christ, God is redeeming it and us. “I would have despaired, unless I had believed I would see the goodness of God in the land of the living” [ Psalm 27:13 ]. Discerning people have confidence in God’s goodness.

3) Discerning people know the difference between the way things are and the way things should be.
They evaluate everything by the authority of the Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ, testing it to see whether it meets God’s standard of goodness. Sometimes this means rejecting the status quo or questioning their own long-held beliefs. But through it all, they know that God is the ultimate standard of what is right and they must submit all things—even their most deeply held customs and practices—to him.

4) Discerning people invest in things and relationships that will last.
Discerning people know that lasting happiness comes from things that are eternal. They are not immune to suffering in this life, but they invest in relationships and things that bring long-term stability instead of short-term relief.

5) Discerning people know the importance of truth.
Discerning people know that truth is not a private matter and that we must have shared truth to flourish. They are willing to submit themselves and their ideas to scrutiny, knowing that opinions and commentary are no replacement for facts. Then when they encounter information they’ve never heard before, they test it—not by their own opinions or emotions—but by the larger body of shared truth. Ultimately they know that we all must submit to the One who “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” In this sense, discerning people are honest people—honest with themselves; honest with the facts; and honest with others.

6) Discerning people listen to experts.
Discerning people defer to those who have more experience and knowledge than they do. In a world of search engines and social media, it can be tempting to believe that everyone’s opinion on any given subject is equally valid. But access to information is not knowledge, and tips and tricks are not skill and expertise. Discerning people know that it takes years of study and life experience to become an expert and they honor that. They also know the difference between an expert and an elitist. (An expert is a person who has expertise in a particular field of knowledge while an elitist is a person who thinks that they have expertise in every field of knowledge.) The Apostle Paul tells us to give honor to those who deserve honor. Discerning people know to honor those whose life experience or education give them particular insight—whether it’s a mother who knows her child better than anyone else or a doctor who knows her field. In both cases, a discerning person will honor the specific expertise of each (Romans 13).

7) Discerning people pay attention to words and actions.
Discerning people know that people with mixed-motives will be unstable and so they don’t trust them. They pay attention to the difference between a person’s words and actions and are not easily swayed by lip service.

James describes this as being “double-minded” and says that double-minded people are unstable in all their ways (James 1:8).

8) Discerning people embrace goodness wherever they find it.
Discerning people know that both good and bad exist in every space. That’s why Paul tells us to think on “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and of good report.” Rather than toeing the party line, discerning people are committed to finding goodness wherever it may exist. “If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” [ Philippians 4:8 ].

9) Discerning people pursue the best possible solution, knowing that no solution is perfect.
So discerning people know how to make pragmatic decisions. This doesn’t mean that the ends justify the means or that we can do whatever we what. It means learning the difference between “unprincipled pragmatism” and “principled pragmatism.” Unprincipled pragmatism takes advantage of the brokenness using and manipulating it for self-serving purposes. Principled pragmatism, on the other hand, accepts the reality of brokenness and tries to make decisions that promote healing and wholeness. All with an eye to the day when God sets all things right again.

10) Discerning people use their wisdom to help others.
Discerning people use their insight to serve the people around them. To build up and unify—not tear down or create division. Sometimes this means having the patience to wait while others think through discerning people know the difference between what’s good and what’s not, they also know to evaluate their own actions. They resist the temptation to flaunt knowledge or prove themselves right. At the end of the day, they know that any wisdom they have is given to them for the common good.

Through the Holy Spirit and the Scripture, God is renewing our minds so we can discern what His holy and perfect will is.

Practicing discernment means going beyond the face of what you observe and hear around you.

Knowing and understanding God’s Word equips the believer to make better choices when they are faced with tough decisions, questions, or situations. Having the wisdom of the Bible ingrained in our minds can help solve those problems.

Best of all, that wisdom is available to anyone who asks: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” [ James 1:5 ], and “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes” [ Psalm 119:125 ].

Practicing spiritual discernment helps you learn to hate what is evil and love what is good (Romans 12:9). Having developed spiritual discernment will help protect you from temptations to sin and from stumbling unknowingly into sinful situations (James 1:5; Philippians 1:9; Hebrews 5:14).

The Holy Spirit is like a spiritual ‘trainer’ for believers, but we have to be a part of the process! By studying the Bible, we can learn what real righteousness looks like, thus learning to recognize both truth and falsehood. By constantly practicing spiritual discernment, we can improve our discernment skills, thus moving toward a more righteous life and faith.

While the Bible does provide a ‘framework’ for the method of discernment, it is ‘scattered’ about in many verses, and some people do well with point-to-point to step-by-step instruction.

[ FYI: Challies’ book, that this came from, is in the “Resources” section below ].

The following is a brief summary of each of the ‘points’ Challies gave:

– Verify
Write down a statement you would like to verify by the Bible. Ask what is being said.

– Clarify
Write down your understanding of the issue(s) at hand. Include both your understanding and the ‘opposing’ understanding you have gleaned from another teacher.

– Assess the Issue(s)
Write down what issue may be at stake. Determine just how important this issue is (Is it first, second or third ‘order’ doctrine?).

– Pray for Wisdom
Admit your dependence upon God in all matters of discernment and in understating the truth of Scripture. Note whether your mind/heart immediately reacted with acceptance or with hesitation.

– Assess Your Instinct
Write down your first ‘instinct’ on the topic at hand, and why you feel this way. (While the conscience is not infallible, it can be valuable—particularly if the Holy Spirit is ‘guiding’ you)

– Assess Your Conscience
Does it feel right and good to proceed, or is your conscience ‘nagging’ you, making your uncomfortable Test the teaching by ‘holding it up’ to Scripture.

– Search the Scriptures
Search the Bible for relevant passages and make a list. Observe each singularly, carefully, thoroughly, systematically, and intimately.

– Observe the Scriptures
Observe each passage asking God to reveal His truth to you. Compare several sound Bible translations to see the differences.

– Compare and Contrast
If certain passages seem unclear, compare them with another passage. Investigate what others have discovered.

– Research
Turn to your Bible reference ‘tools’ to find out what others have said about the passage(s). Ask, “What does this mean?”

– Summarize
Write a sentence or two summarizing the clear sense of what the passage means. Seek the consensus of other Christians, in particular of the Church in ages past.

– Expand Your Research
Search for books, articles, sermons, and other resources by discerning Christians. Note their Scriptural basis for their conclusions.

– Conclude
Now knowing what you believe about the issue, look for points of agreement.

– Make a List
Write down a list of points which the true and the false teaching agree upon. Look for potential points of departure (Just as counterfeit money bears a certain ‘resemblance’ to genuine money, what is false often bears a passing resemblance to what is true.)

– Judge
Jot down the point at which the false teaching departs from the truth. Assemble all the evidence and make a judgment. (Of course, if you were ‘acting’ on the error, you must now abstain from it.)

– Hold Fast
If the doctrine or action was unbiblical, write down what it is that you will be abstaining from. One must also from abstaining from ‘downplaying’ the seriousness of the sin, and the gravity of defying God and His laws (Psalm 37:27-29; Romans 12:2).

– Apply
If the doctrine or action is shown to be biblical, write down what you will do and what truths of Scripture you will ‘hold fast’ to. Alternatively, if a doctrine or action is wrong, write down what you will substitute for it (1 John 1:9).

Our first parents were tempted through Satan, the “father of lies” (John 8:44). It is no wonder that God would establish His concern for truth in His Word. In his well-known hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” Martin Luther wrote:

“Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also;
The body they may kill:
God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.”

We face decisions daily: What to eat, what to wear, how to educate our children, what to purchase, where to work, where to live, and what TV show to watch on Netflix next.

There is so much in our world grappling for our attention. Because of this, discernment is more necessary now than ever before to protect against false teaching and to walk a path of holiness.

As Christians, we are all ‘called’ to seek and utilize discernment. “The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth” [ Proverbs 17:24 ]. We are to set our ‘gaze’ on wisdom. With thousands of details vying for our attention, we must know where this wisdom comes from and how we are to attain it.

Even today, many people don’t know where to find truth, and, increasingly, they don’t even know how to search for it, believing that it can be found in the tweets of their favorite celebrities, at the top of a Google search, or on a Wikipedia page. However, the real problem for this and future generations is not fundamentally where and how they find the truth but their failure to recognize the truth. For this reason, we must train the next generation to discern truth not only from error but from half-truth, from distorted truth, and from partially-erased truth.

Throughout history, certain men have lead people away from the Word of God, using scholarly-sounding terminology to impress people with fresh new ways of interpreting the supposedly unenlightened ideas of biblical Christianity.

Sadly, what was once the work mainly of those outside the faith is now quickly becoming the norm in many churches try to reinterpret biblical truth to make their version of Christianity more palatable to the culture. They are seldom so foolish as to delete certain culturally unwanted theological realities from Christianity. Instead, they avoid mentioning such things in order not to offend the culture, hoping to win a hearing. This is a fool’s errand.

We must refuse to allow the ‘lords’ of our culture to change the truth of God, as if they ever could, and we must not allow some in the church to attempt to erase the truth, even partially.

Pastor and author Sinclair Ferguson rightly noted that discernment is not simply to be exercised with regard to false teaching that threatens the truth of God among believers. He writes,

“Most of us doubtless want to distance ourselves from what might be regarded as ‘the lunatic fringe’ of contemporary Christianity. We are on our guard against being led astray by false teachers. But there is more to discernment than this. True discernment means not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the primary from the secondary, the essential from the indifferent, and the permanent from the transient. And, yes, it means distinguishing between the good and the better, and even between the better and the best.”

Another ‘pastor’ writing to a congregation beset by the threat of their own sin within as well as the persecution from the Jewish community without—the author of the Book of Hebrews—brought an indictment against those who were listening to false teachers. He observed,

“You have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” [ Hebrews 5:11-14 ].

The believers to whom the letter was written needed to “have their powers of discernment trained.” They needed the solid ‘food’ of Scripture. In this context, the solid food is tantamount to the deep things of Christ (Hebrews 6:1). Heed the warnings about departing from the faith, by a willful embrace of their former sinful lives (Hebrews 6:4-8; 10:26-31).

Discernment must be exercised by Christian both in the personal and public realm. As the writer to Hebrews makes clear throughout the letter, believers must discern the sin within their own hearts––in order to guard against it––while recognizing the threat of false teachers and persecution from without. An “evil heart of unbelief” and “sinning deliberately” is the ‘INWARD’ enemy (Hebrews 3:12). The temptation to concede to false teaching in order to avoid “being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction” is an ‘OUTWARD’ enemy (Hebrews 10:33).

Of course, all believers are susceptible to running the risk of limiting the exercise of discernment to one of two directions–either outwardly or inwardly. I have known individuals who were once consumed with refuting theological error without who now are no longer walking in the truth. They failed to give a discerning eye to their own sin. One can so fixate on refuting the sin of others—even the theological errors of cults and charlatans—to such an extent that we fail to address our own sin and need for grace. Believers must guard against hiding their personal sin under the cloak of ecclesiastical discernment.

Projection of tolerated sin within often takes the form of vocal disdain for distinct but related sin without.

At the same time, believers can fall into the error of only focusing within—while neglecting to exercise right discernment about false teaching and sinful living without. It has sadly become common for many Christian leaders to downplay the need for discernment about false teaching and false living without under the guise of fostering humility and gentleness. The two are NOT diametrically opposed. The same apostles who called believers to foster Christlike humility and gentleness are the apostles who rejected the false teaching that threatened the church in the strongest possible language. Their tone in doing so was far from the soft and dismissive tone that so many parade today. If one’s tone about false teaching falls short of the tone of the Pauline epistles (2 Peter and Jude), then we have failed to exercise biblical discernment. If we are so jaded by the vitriol of the “discernment bloggers” and the “gatekeepers of orthodoxy” that we ourselves fail to exercise biblical discernment in relation to false teaching, then we run the risk of opening ourselves and others up to the influence of falsehood. The saints need to be equipped to understand the dangers of false teaching, in order to avoid it and to help rescue others out of its destructive grip (Just what I am trying to ‘equip’ you to do!)

Sinclair Ferguson sets out four benefits of exercising discernment:

“1. It acts as a means of protection, guarding us from being deceived spiritually. It protects us from being blown away by the winds of teaching that make central an element of the gospel that is peripheral or treat a particular application of Scripture as though it were Scripture’s central message.

2. Discernment also acts as an instrument of healing, when exercised in grace. I have known a small number of people whose ability to diagnose the spiritual needs of others has been remarkable. Such people seem able to penetrate into the heart issues someone else faces better than the person can do. Of course, this is in some ways a dangerous gift with which God has entrusted them. But when exercised in love, discernment can be the surgical scalpel in spiritual surgery that makes healing possible.

3. Again, discernment functions as a key to Christian freedom. The zealous but undiscerning Christian becomes enslaved—to others, to his own uneducated conscience, to an unbiblical pattern of life. Growth in discernment sets us free from such bondage, enabling us to distinguish practices that may be helpful in some circumstances from those that are mandated in all circumstances. But in another way, true discernment enables the free Christian to recognize that the exercise of freedom is not essential to the enjoyment of it.

4. Finally, discernment serves as a catalyst to spiritual development: “The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning” (Prov. 14:6, NIV). Why? Because the discerning Christian goes to the heart of the matter. He knows something about everything, namely that all things have their common fountain in God. Increase in knowledge, therefore, does not lead to increased frustration, but to a deeper recognition of the harmony of all God’s works and words.”

This letter draws a clear line connecting a lack of discernment with spiritual immaturity so that those who lack discernment are those who are spiritually immature. Scripture makes it plain: if you are not a person who exhibits and exercises discernment you are not a mature Christian. I have been blessed with two children, so I know, first hand, that children have VERY LITTLE understanding of what is good for them—and will sample any kind of food (as I did when I was young, eating the ‘appetizing’ berries on the bush behind the large, landing me in the hospital to have my stomach ‘pumped’!).

Only with maturity will children learn that what looks good may not truly be actually good. Children need to learn to differentiate between what will hurt them and what will make them healthy. Eventually, they learn to discriminate—they learn to discern.

In the same way, mature Christians have learned to differentiate between what is pleasing to God and what is not, between what is consistent with Scripture and what is not. The Bible places great emphasis on spiritual maturity because, like children, immature believers are prone to sample anything. They are attracted to what looks good to their untrained ‘eyes’. Only as they grow in maturity are they able to differentiate between what pleases God and what does not. Because of this, there can be no growth without discernment.

A lack of discernment is given as proof of spiritual immaturity, but this is not all. Those who are not discerning may also be those who are backsliding, whose faith is diminishing rather than increasing. “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child” [ Hebrews 5:12-13 ]. While the subjects of this letter should have been growing in their faith, progressing from milk to solid food, they were instead moving backwards, returning to baby food. As children grow and mature, they begin to be able to eat and digest solid food. Most children are weaned quickly and encouraged to enjoy food more substantial than mere milk. Even while they are still tiny, children long for substantial food. It is good and natural that they desire that which will sustain them more than milk.

We would not consider a child healthy who, at six years of age, still drinks only milk, for that child would be weak and sickly. The same is true in the spiritual realm. A person should pass quickly from spiritual milk to solid foods, from the basics to what is more advanced. A person should hunger to quickly learn and understand what is elementary and should soon long for what is more advanced. This is a sign of maturity and the mark of one who has been ‘truly’ saved.

On the other hand, a person who regresses from solid food to milk is a person who is desperately unhealthy, and who will soon wither away and perish. (The recipients of the letter to the Hebrews were regressing rather than progressing in their faith.) There had been a time when they were able to hear what the author was so earnest to share with them but sadly now they are no longer at such a place. Their lack of discernment has caused them TO LOSE ‘GROUND’. They are moving backwards rather than forwards. They were ‘backslidden’, for “solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” [ Hebrews 5:14 ]. Until these people learn to practice discernment and to do so constantly, they will not be able to handle solid ‘food’. Until they practice discernment and learn to distinguish between what is good and what is evil, they will continue backsliding. Thus, a lack of discernment is not only a mark of spiritual immaturity, but also a mark of those who are backsliding.

Now, those who have professed faith in Christ cannot backslide indefinitely. Sooner or later it will become clear that they are not believers at all and surely never were. Scripture tells us elsewhere what happens to those who harden their hearts against God, rejecting his good gifts. Romans 1:28-32 is a damning indictment of the unregenerate human heart. It shows with terrifying clarity the evil of which humans are capable. These verses make plain the extent of the sinfulness of those who have rejected the true God in favor of false gods of their own making: Since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a ‘debased’ mind to do what ought not to be done.

[ FYI: For more details on the damning indictment of the unregenerate ‘heart’, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/protection-removed-v256/ ].

They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. These verses ought to STRIKE ‘TERROR’ in the heart of all who forsake God and ought to cause us all to pause and acknowledge the depth of the evil that inhabits the hearts of men. As men turn from God, he gives them up to do those things their hearts, filled with evil, cry out to do: envy, murder, hatred, gossip, boasting, and all manner of evil. In the midst of this list is one word that seems almost unexpected.

God gives people up to foolishness. Most Bible translations render this word as “without understanding” or “undiscerning.” Regardless of how it is rendered in English, this word points to a type of moral foolishness that should not be present in the life of one who considers himself a Christian. It points not only to the sinfulness of a lack of discernment, but to the inevitable conclusion that a lack of discernment, utter foolishness, is a mark of one who is spiritually dead and bankrupt. A complete lack of discernment or lack of concern for the discipline of discernment is a mark of spiritual death.

It is categorized with sins that somehow seem far more serious. That a lack of discernment appears in this list seems shocking, but it shows just how much God values discernment. An absolute lack of discernment and a lack of concern for discernment is sure proof of spiritual death. We see also in 1 Corinthians 2:14 the dire consequences of ignoring discernment: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” Those who are unsaved—who do not have the Spirit of God within them—are unable to be discerning. The ways of God and the truths of God are utter foolishness to such people.

To lack discernment is to sin against God. It is an inevitable result of turning from him. It is easy to look at those who have turned from God and to look at their lustful and angry hearts and affirm that this is the result of their sin.

BUT, there is good ‘news’, too! The Bible declares that there are many benefits stored up for those who desire discernment, those who seek after it and practice it. Interested?

Christians are warned that, “evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” [ 2 Timothy 3:13 ]. However, sadly, so many Christians act as though there’s no need to be careful. The Apostle Paul warned the church in Ephesus, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing ourselves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” [ Acts 20:29-30 ]. Yet, so many Christians act like gullible sheep, willfully walking into the wolves’ den because they lack the discernment to recognize a wolf in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15).

Impostors, as Paul said, go around deceiving people, but they are also deceived. That means that they think they are being sincere. They may speak out of their own personal experience and say things that you have felt but have been afraid to admit. They may be witty or captivating as a speaker or author. However, please understand that without discernment you will not be able to escape their allure. They will say what you want to hear, and they will say it in a way that sounds like it came from the Bible!

So, how does one recognize impostors? Well, “Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered” [ Proverbs 28:26 ]. The word for “mind” here is more often translated “heart.” So, another way to translate this might be, “Whoever follows his heart is a fool.” That’s counter to the wisdom of our age, but the Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” [ Jeremiah 17:9 ]. The first key to discernment is knowing who to trust, and it starts with recognizing that we CAN’T trust ourselves!

The second line of Proverbs 28:26 points to what we should trust—wisdom. The book of Proverbs is clear from beginning to end; wisdom starts with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7). The fear of the Lord is a response to knowing the truth about the Lord. We know the Lord by hearing from his Word. Scripture reveals who God is, and we respond to that knowledge with a proper reverent fear. This is where discernment begins.

In Acts 20:32, Paul’s solution to the problem of imposters was to point the Ephesians to God’s Word. Since we cannot trust our hearts with natural discernment, Hebrews 4:12 directs us to the Word of God which can discern our hearts. Through the Word, our minds will be renewed by the power of the Spirit so that we can discern God’s will (Romans 12:2). As one is ‘fixed’ in God’s Word, they should be in constant prayer for discernment (Philippians 1:9).

If you don’t look to God’s Word, then you will be at the mercy of your deceptive heart and deceptive imposters. You may find ‘comfort’ in the introspective and seemingly insightful advice of other professing Christians, but that comfort may simply be the ‘appeasement’ of your sinful heart!

Realize that your heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and longs to hear what in the end is simply ‘poison’ masquerading as medicine. If there is no ‘fear’ of the Lord, you will suffer the consequences of foolish, undiscerning choices (Proverbs 1:28-33). SO, seek true wisdom at all cost through prayerful dependence on God’s Word!

Pastor and author John MacArthur suggests that the ‘culprit’ of the scarcity of discernment in the contemporary church is the devastating consequences of the “watered-down message.”

Back in the Old Testament, the prophet Hosea records God’s estimation of spiritual leaders who fail to faithfully proclaim His message: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because you have rejected knowledge I reject you from being a priest to Me” [ Hosea 4:6 ].

A quick summary of modern preaching reveals that many contemporary pulpits deserve similar assessments. Why? Well, it is because they have exchanged the full counsel of God for doctrinally shallow, seeker-friendly “TED talks” that focus on fairly ‘insipid’ subjects like human relationships, ‘successful’ living, emotional issues, and other ‘practical’ but worldly themes. When warm and fuzzy moral message—peppered with cute antidotes and an associate’s skit—replace the ’solid food’ of God’s Word, the consequences WILL BE DEVASTATING!

The following is John MacArthur’s distilled list of 15 negative effects of the superficial brand of preaching that is so rife in today’s Church as a warning against superficial marginally-biblical preaching:

1) It usurps the authority of God over the soul
2) It removes the lordship of Christ from His church
3) It hinders the work of the Holy Spirit
4) It demonstrates appalling pride and a lack of submission
5) It severs the preacher personally from the regular sanctifying pace of Scripture
6) It clouds the true depth and transcendence of our message and therefore cripples both corporate and personal worship
7) It prevents the preacher from fully developing the, mind of Christ
8) It depreciates by example the spiritual duty and priority of personal Bible study
9) It prevents the preacher from being the voice of God on every issue of his time
10) It breeds a congregation that is as weak and indifferent to the glory of God as their pastor is
11) It robs people of their only true source of help
12) It encourages people to become indifferent to the Word of God and divine authority
13) It lies to people about what they really need
14) It strips the pulpit of power
15) It puts the responsibility on the preacher to change people with his cleverness

Some people have blamed television, the media, the Internet, or their nosy neighbor for all the fake news in the world, but while such information outlets have no doubt accelerated the spread of misinformation, the problem of fake news has existed since ancient times. However, in the modern age of astounding technological advances that allow virtually any information to be accessed and spread like wildfire, it is not only impossible to take it all in, but it is also very often difficult to recognize what information is true and what is false.

[ FYI: The earliest known fake news report traces back to ancient Egypt when, in the 13th century BC, Rameses the Great falsely propagated the idea that the Egyptians achieved a great victory in the Battle of Kadesh when, in reality, the battle actually ended in a stalemate. In William Weir’s book, “History’s Greatest Lies: The Startling Truths Behind World Events Our History Books Got Wrong,” Weir calls the battle “at best a face-saving draw.” ].

One of the famous Greek stories relating to a ‘fake’ that most of you have heard is the story about the conquering of the city of Troy. The Greeks laid siege to the city of Troy for over 10 years. They were unable to capture it. In exasperation, a man by the name of Ulysses decided to have a large wooden horse built and left outside the city walls ostensibly as a gift to the unconquerable Trojans. Then the Greeks sailed away in apparent defeat, leaving this horse there.

The curious (and proud) Trojans felt confident enough to drag the horse inside the walls, though a priest named Laucoon warned them not to. He said, “I fear the Greeks, even when they bring gifts.” That night, Greek soldiers crept out of the horse, opened the city gates from within and let the rest of the Greek forces into Troy. The Greeks massacred the population of Troy, looted, and burned the city. Throughout history, since that time, the “Trojan Horse” has been the symbol of infiltration and deception.

The Church has embraced many ‘Trojan Horses’, enemies disguised as ‘gifts’. The church opened the doors and pulled in the Trojan Horse of rationalism, intellectualism, and the Enlightenment.

Today the church is still opening the ‘gates’ and pulling in more Trojan Horses filled with deceitful and devastating enemies. The ‘world’ is seeping into the church in myriads of ways. Examples are the erosion of moral values, pragmatism, and mysticism.

Satan will market his lies and his deceptions subtlety, deceptively luring people away from the truth of God in to destructive error. He will mix in a little truth.

Christianity has its own share of ‘fake news’ and false views infiltrating congregations and, oftentimes ever so subtly, in the form of false teachings contrary to biblical teachings.

The Apostle Paul said to Timothy, some will fall away from the faith because they have paid attention to deceitful spirits, and doctrines of demons spoken by hypocritical liars.

The Apostle Peter says the same thing. False prophets, false teachers will introduce secretly destructive heresies (2 Peter). People will follow their sensuality. In their greed, they will exploit you. They are greedy, they are sensual, they exploit through deception. The only ‘defense’ against this is to be discerning and discriminating.

Years ago when C.S. Lewis wrote “Screwtape Letters,” which is an imaginary encounter with Screwtape, the chief demon, who is developing a strategy to destroy the church. And he’s trying to train another demon by the name of Wormwood on how to destroy the church. In one little scenario, Screwtape instructing Wormwood tells him, “Here’s how to keep Christians totally confused. Keep his mind off the plain antithesis between true and false.”

Lewis was dead on. If you can get Christians to abandon critical antithetical teaching, and knowing the difference between true and false, you can have them so totally confused, you can teach them absolutely anything.

The situation in the Church today is kind of like the California “Gold Rush” back in 1849. Over 100,000 of these “forty-niners” traveled to California to set up mining camps and to dig for gold.

As they traveled out to their various destinations, prospectors quickly learned that not everything that looked like gold actually was. Riverbeds and rock quarries could be full of golden ‘specks’, and yet most were entirely worthless. This “fool’s gold” was called iron pyrite, and the miners had to be able to distinguish it from the real thing. Their very livelihood ‘depended’ on it.

Experienced miners could usually distinguish pyrite from gold simply by looking at it. But in some cases, the distinction was not quite so clear. So they developed tests to discern what was genuine from what wasn’t. One test involved biting the rock in question. Real gold is softer than the human tooth, while fool’s gold is much harder. A broken tooth meant that a prospector needed to keep digging!

A second test involved scraping the rock on a piece of white stone, such as ceramic. True gold leaves a yellow streak, while the residue left by fool’s gold is greenish-black. In either case, a miner relied on tests to authenticate his findings—both his fortune and his future depended on the results!

Now, doctrinally speaking, today’s Church is in a similar position to the California gold rushers. Spiritual ‘riches’ are promised at every turn. New programs, new philosophies, new parachurch ministries—each glitters a little bit more than the last one, promising better results and bigger returns. BUT, as was true in the mid-1800s, just because it ‘glitters’ doesn’t mean it’s good! Christians need to be equally wary of ‘fool’s gold’ in the Church. Believers must not accept new ‘trends’ (or even old traditions) without first ‘TESTING’ them to see if they meet with God’s approval—His written Word. If they fail the test, they should be discarded and others should BE WARNED! However, if they do pass the test—in keeping with the truth of God’s Word—they should be embraced and endorsed wholeheartedly.

California gold miners would only cry “Eureka!” when they found ‘true’ gold. Believers should be careful to do the same.

People do not usually accept false doctrine purposely. They err because of laziness, ineptness, carelessness, foolishness in handling the Scripture. The Apostle Paul mentions that, “Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some” [ 2 Timothy 2:17-18 ].

The Greek verb translated “gone astray” is “astocheó,” which literally means, “to miss the mark.” It suggests that Hymenaeus and Philetus we ‘aiming’ at the truth, but they just missed it. They weren’t trying to devise error, but were just being careless and unskilled in handling the truth—they turned to “worldly and empty chatter” (1 Timothy 2:16), which led them to conclude that the resurrection had already taken place. Their error, absurd as it was, had already ‘upset’ the faith of others.

[ FYI: For more details on “missing the mark,” view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/missing-the-mark-v222/ ].

That is precisely why the Apostle Paul urged Timothy to be a diligent student of the Word, and “rightly handle the Word of truth” [ 2 Timothy 2:15c ].

What the Apostle Paul was calling for is exactly the opposite of the shoot-from-the-hip ad-Iibbing that takes place in many contemporary pulpits today. You can see this daily on religious television. It is one of the chief reasons some of the celebrity televangelists come up with so many novel doctrines. If you are reasonably ‘solid’ in your faith, you can hear many of them improvise their theology as they speak—and then ‘contradict’ what they just said a few minutes later!

That is a dangerous, ‘deadly’ approach to preaching! It tends to ‘CORRUPT’ God’s Word. It perverts the truth, and it subverts people’s ability to differentiate between sound doctrine and error.

SADLY, the church today is filled with people who lack any ability to differentiate the very worst false doctrines from truth. Christians are constantly at a loss to answer the most profound errors they hear from cultists, unorthodox media preachers, or other sources of false doctrine. Too many people are like the man fashioning a patch-work religion, sifting through stacks of religious ideas, looking for what is good in all of it. This is INEXCUSABLE!

HOWEVER, Scripture DOES WARN that the Church will be inundated with doctrines of demons, destructive heresies, myths falsehoods, perverse teachings, commandments of men, human traditions, empty philosophy, vain deceit, speculations, lying spirits, worldly fables, false knowledge, and worldly wisdom. Jesus said false prophets would come as “wolves in sheep s clothing” (Matthew 7:15). The Apostle Paul told the elders at Ephesus that “savage wolves would enter in, not sparing the flock” [ Acts 20:29 ]. He then added that, “and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” [ Acts 20:30 ]. Paul then wrote to Timothy and said, “Evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived” [ 2 Timothy 3:13 ]. He also wrote, “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” [ 1 Timothy 4:1 ].

YET, the contemporary church is virtually ‘IMPOTENT’ to face such an onslaught. An almost inexhaustible gullibility has destroyed people’s will to be discerning. The visible church is ‘shot through’ with confusion and error. You might think that the televangelist scandals that began in the 1980s would have made people wary, but that does not seem to have been the long-term effect! As soon as one televised charlatan is discredited, someone even more bizarre comes along to ‘fill’ the time slot—with higher-than-ever audience approval ratings! ;^(

It is sad that it is not obvious that such doctrinal shallowness undermines people’s ability to be discerning—and that is precisely why the Apostle Paul told his protégé Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” [ 2 Timothy 2:15 ]. The contemporary assault on doctrine is a ‘rejection’ of this command. It is ultimately a ‘denial’ of God Himself! Or, as Christian philosopher Gordon Clark wrote, “Since God is truth, a contempt for truth is equally a contempt for God.”

When doctrine declines, people’s thinking grows ‘fuzzy’. People who are confused about the truth have absolutely no hope of being careful discerners. When doctrine is relegated to secondary status, it is inevitable that discernment will wane.

Unfortunately, compromise has become a virtue while devotion to truth has become offensive.

One of the greatest theologians in the 20th century, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, called the modern distrust of polemics “very loose and very false and very flabby thinking… The attitude of many seems to be, ‘We do not want these arguments. Give us the simple message, the simple gospel. Give it to us positively, and do not bother about other views.’”

Lloyd-Jones later responded to those sentiments in this way: “It is important that we should realize that if we speak like that, we are denying the Scriptures. The Scriptures are full of arguments, full of polemics.”

The modern ‘canonization’ of compromise represents a detour down a dead-end ‘alley’. Both Scripture and Church history reveal the danger of that kind of compromise.

It is interesting to speculate what the Church would be like today if Martin Luther had been prone to compromise. The pressure was VERY ‘HEAVY’ on him to “tone down his teaching,” soften his message, and stop poking his finger in the ‘eye’ of the papacy. Even many of his friends and supporters urged Luther to come to terms with Rome for the sake of harmony in the Church. Luther himself prayed earnestly that the effect of his teaching would not just be divisive—but that the truth would triumph. When he nailed his “Ninety-five Theses” to the door of the “Castle Church” in Wittenberg, Germany, the last thing he wanted to do was split the Church.

Discernment demands that we hold biblical convictions with the most fervent tenacity. The Apostle Paul says that a basic requirement for even elder is that he be the kind of man who “[holds] fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict” [ Titus 1:9 ]. It is thus mandated by God that we take issue with error. True believers must refute those who contradict, or they do not fulfill their ‘divine calling’.

In other words, truly biblical ministry MUST hold forth truths that are ‘ABSOLUTE’. They must take an ‘unmovable’ stance on all issues where the Bible speaks plainly. So, what if people don’t like such dogmatism? Well, the Bible says that sound doctrine divides, it confronts, it separates, it judges, it convicts, it reproves, it rebukes, it exhorts, it refutes error. Sadly, NONE of those things is very highly esteemed in modern thought. However, the health of the church ‘DEPENDS’ on holding firmly to the truth, for where strong convictions are not tolerated, discrimination CANNOT ‘SURVIVE’!

The “Charismatic Movement,” which is sweeping the world, basically says that you just read the Bible and somehow Jesus will ‘tell’ you what it means. Somehow it ‘rises up’ from within you mystically, which eliminates the need for interpretation at all. (By the way, virtually every cult and false teaching ever spawned was begun on the premise that Jesus gave them some “new revelation.”) In other words, ignore your mind, forget your beliefs, disregard your theology, reject your common sense. The necessity to interpret the Scripture has been eliminated! Wow, that’s really ‘efficient’! NOT!

Sadly, people have been ‘bamboozled’ by this movement because of their ineptitude in dealing with Scripture. When the Word is properly interpreted, it will yield all necessary truth precisely for holy living—if rightly understood.

The Apostle Paul, again speaking to Timothy says, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed handling accurately the word of truth” [ 2 Timothy 2:15 ]. That is very straightforward. “Be diligent,” has been translated “study to show yourself approved to God,” a “workman,” a “skilled ‘craftsman’,” and “cutting straight” the Scripture.

[ FYI: For more details on hermeneutics, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/gaining-a-deep-understanding-v264/ ].

DISCERNING ‘FALSE LEADERS’
Few travelers would be aware of the number of security features in their passports, tickets, bank notes and other official documents. These range from complex ultraviolet or infra-red designs, threads and fibers, to watermarks, security threads, micro-line printing, optically variable ink, holograms, scrambled indicia, and hidden, or “intaglio” images. Syndicates of good forgers know the features and spend a lot of effort in richly resourced laboratories producing some of the best fraudulent documents in the world. Competition is fierce. Teams of highly trained experts sometimes miss the best forgeries, because they are of such high grade. Banks, licensing agencies, national governments, insurance companies, educational institutions and employers acknowledge fraud and counterfeiting to be one of the largest money-spinners in the world at the present time.

Linked to growth in the forged document industry are the complexity and sophistication of imposters. There are clear advantages to being an imposter. For one thing, imposters do not need to obtain forged documents that can potentially be detected by wary specialists. Also, it takes the skilled eyes of an expert to look at a photograph, assess the size and location of the subject’s ears, eyes, nose, mouth, chin and moles, scars and other identifying features, compare them forensically to another photograph or the person in question in a fraction of time and decides whether the two are one and the same. Increasingly, biometrics, retinal scanning, DNA, electronic fingerprint analysis, voice mapping and tools that do not rely on the subjectivity of people to tell the truth from the false are being used to identity imposters.

It is in the nature of people to design cover-ups to ‘mask’ their true identities, character and other defining features, and to have all their defenses worked out in advance of questioning. Everything is not always as it appears. Those who try to get past the experts spend a lot of money and undertake training to do so. What’s more, people smugglers usually coach their victims with biodata and histories designed to deceive interviewers.

The Bible reveals that ‘counterfeits’ exist in religious circles, too. In the Old Testament, King David lamented when a friend betrayed him (Psalm 55:12-14). Worse than that, was that his son, Absalom, worked behind his back and fomented a civil war that plunged the kingdom into chaos, resulting in great loss of life.

In the New Testament, we read that one of Jesus’ inner-circle disciples (Judas Iscariot) colluded with his enemies to betray Jesus, even while he functioned in close relationship, was a trusted colleague, managed the group’s finances (siphoning off part of it for himself), and operated as a valued member of the ministry team (he was even considered an apprentice apostle – Acts 1:25). The worst manifestation of fraud is when the enemy emerges from ‘within’.

So, how do we detect counterfeit Christians? Well, in an ‘extra-biblical’ account of the life of King Solomon, it relates that the Queen of Sheba presented him with real flowers and copies that were so close in appearance that no one could tell the difference. She then put the challenge to him. If he were as wise as people commonly believed, could he tell which were the genuine flowers? Solomon instructed his assistant to “Open the windows.” Soon enough, bees came in and went straight for the genuine flowers and ignored the false ones! Brilliant!

Like the wolf in the account of “Little Red Riding Hood,” initial appearances can be deceptive. The bared ‘teeth’ of hostility are not always the first thing we notice. By nature, we usually look for the good and prefer to believe the façade. That’s why we need divine discernment to know what is going on.

The ‘mature’ Apostle John wrote to his generation to warn them about false believers saying, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us” [ 1 John 2:19 ]. One ‘sign’ was an independent spirit.

The Apostle Paul also warned his friends to be on the look-out for false believers, “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” [ Acts 20:29-30 ]. He said some of the worst offenders would come from their own ‘community’!

Counterfeits do not look obvious. They are subtle, sophisticated, and invasive. They can be persuasive and often they are divisive.

So, how should we respond? The parable of the wheat and tares reveals one of Jesus’ approaches. While the ‘Planter’ (God) knows there are false Christians among us, He does not tear down the Church in order to extirpate those who are not genuine, lest real believers be destroyed. So He says, “Give it time. There’s no hurry”, he tells his workmen. The day of judgment, of separation, will come soon enough:

“Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’” [ Matthew 13:24-30].

The Apostle Paul also warns us of ‘false’ Christians that threaten to divide and ‘deceive’ the Body of Christ, and the Biblical processes for responding to them (see Romans 16:17-18; 19-20; Titus 2:7-8; Philippians 1:9-10; Ephesians 4:14-15; 2 Timothy 4:2-4).

All believers are called to be like ‘fruit inspectors’, assessing the evidence in the lives of other people:

“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” [ Matthew 7:16-20 ].

Many people follow counterfeits because they are spiritually ‘hungry’ and because versions of Christianity to which they have been exposed are tame and boring. Counterfeits often resonate with those who are searching for “something more.” People need life. If our faith flows from life, it will be regenerative and dynamic.

The believer must allow the Holy Spirit to give us understanding to discern what is not of God, sanctify what is (not mistaking the two in our zeal or pride) and work in our lives to make our character more truly like that of Jesus Christ, the only One whose identity is truly worth imitating.

Since false “prophets” and false “apostles” clearly are slick and deceptive, it is highly important to keep growing in discernment. One must cultivate their spiritual ability and wisdom to discern and handle situations that are not ‘from’ God (in the Bible).

Again, pastor Charles Spurgeon pointed out that discernment is not just knowing the distinction between obvious right and wrong, rather, it is knowing the difference between right and almost right. When somebody is almost right, but not entirely, the question is whether they are ‘masking’ serious issues or whether they basically have a good heart and can be helped and guided.

In discerning whether something is off or not, the following checklist summarizes various discernment points to consider.

– Are they real servants to others, or do they expect to be served and honored by others?
– Are they scriptural, or does what they preach and teach not line up with the Bible?
– Do they confess and point to Jesus, or do they take the emphasis off Him and highlight other things instead of His death and resurrection for forgiveness of sins?
– Are their prayer lives apparent and robust, or do they not care about the prayer meetings or their own time with God because they are just “too busy” with other “important” work?
– Do they evidence the fruit of the Spirit or the sins of the flesh? Are they prickly? What readily oozes out of them behind teh stage or in stressful situations or when they don’t get their way?
– Do they live holy lives, or are they toying with various immoral behaviors or questionable ethics? Is their speech unclean; do they tell off-color jokes?
– Are they humble, preferring others above themselves, or are they prideful, drawing attention to themselves and wanting always to occupy center stage?
– Do they desire and seek out appropriate covering and accountability, or do they spurn such, preferring instead to bring around them their own friends who are unlikely to confront them? Do they go to others like Paul did going to Jerusalem to submit his revelation, or do they function independently?
– Do they work within the church structure, or do they spurn the working of the local churches and try to set up their own little empire outside of the church, drawing sheep away from their local fold?
– Do they not seek monetary gain, or are they out to see how much they can be paid or pull in by marketing their wares?
– Are they willing to suffer for Christ’s sake and pay the price that comes with their calling, or are they looking for ease and fame?
– When they have a tough message to give from God, do they share this with pain and the fear of the Lord or with haughtiness and a judgmental spirit, evidencing a self-righteous attitude?
– Are they willing to deal with the spiritual pushback that will occur when they move into Satan’s territory, or do they run when “all hell breaks loose”?
– Do they want to move toward unity, being peacemakers and drawing people together, or are they divisive and leave factions in their wake?
– Are they no respecter of persons, clearly loving everybody no matter their race, culture, gender, looks, health, or financial status, or do they try to get into the graces of the “right folks”?
– Through the grace of God, do they move in the gifts of the Spirit and follow His leading, or are they not sensitive to the Holy Spirit and His direction, desiring to be in personal control?
– Are they teachable and open to correction, guidance, and growth in their ministry, or are they “above” any of these things, acting as if they really don’t need anybody else telling them anything?
– Are they full of integrity, transparent, and humanly “real,” or are they masquerading, hiding their inner selves, full of deceit?
– Do they honor people, complementing the other roles in the fivefold ministry and allowing them to shine in what they have been called to do, or do they demean other ministers or try to eclipse them?
– Are they real servants to others, or do they expect to be served and honored by others?
– Do they speak and do what God would have them do, no matter what, or do they make decisions independently of God’s direction, appealing to itching ears and telling people what they want to hear?

SO, BEWARE!
With the statement, “Beware of false prophets” (Matthew 7:15), Jesus affirms two truths: first that there are false prophets, and second, that they are dangerous. As people become more accustomed to gravitating to preachers who tell them what they want to hear, we should not be surprised that false prophets are everywhere. Many of them have wide followings, and their lifestyles are supported by earnest Christians.

There are two different kinds of false prophets and four different kinds of false prophecies. “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds” [ Jeremiah 14:14 ].

False visions may come from the heart of a false prophet or from Satan himself. These visions are actually “seen” by the prophet but they are false and devilish. I think of a woman, a self-proclaimed prophetess, who had a vision of the man one of her children would marry. She believed that this was a revelation from God to her mind, but the vision was misleading and it did not come to pass.

Divinations may refer to palm reading and the like.

Idolatry refers to those prophets who lead people to worship other gods or ask them to bow before graven images. Or, perhaps they encourage the worship of a god who is the figment of their imagination.

Delusions, which also might not be from the Devil but instead be fabricated from within the mind of the “prophet” who himself believes their silly revelations.

Now, despite the large following of the prophets who said they were prophesying in His name, God said that He “did not send them” (Jeremiah 14:15).

What were these prophets prophesying? Exactly what the people WANTED TO HEAR! They were saying that there would be neither war nor famine in the land, but that there would be prosperity (Jeremiah 14:13). They argued that since the Israelites were the people of God, they should claim their inheritance We can almost hear them say, “Let’s not let the Devil rob us of what is rightfully ours. We belong to Jehovah, God of the Universe. Let us live accordingly!”

Yet, God said that they themselves would be destroyed by famine or sword (Jeremiah 14:15-16). Elsewhere in Jeremiah, God says, “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?” [ Jeremiah 23:25-26 ]. No wonder the Lord says, “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes” [ Jeremiah 23:16 ].

Now, listen to the ‘bottom line’: “The house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly treacherous to me, declares the Lord. They have spoken falsely of the Lord and have said, ‘He will do nothing, no disaster will come upon us, nor shall we see sword or famine. The prophets will become wind; the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them!’” [ Jeremiah 5:11-13 ].

The prophets are but “wind”! They speak delusions from their own minds! They are filling the people with false hopes! That is what God says false prophets do (Jeremiah 14:14) They claim to have knowledge that is denied to the rest of us. They claim to receive messages from God directly, unfiltered. Today, in extreme cases, they will actually ignore the Bible in favor of fresh ‘revelations’. They claim to have power to have the ability to perform “signs and wonders”—and the people believe them!

RECOGNIZING FALSE PROPHETS
We are struck by the similarities between the false prophets in the Scriptures and the false prophets of today. The first-century Church was infiltrated with false teachers of various kinds, men who claimed to have special revelations from God. Paul describes them as “super-apostles,” who believed themselves to be superior to the Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 11:5). They were apostles who gained acceptance by using letters of recommendation and claiming to lead the Corinthians into a “fuller relationship” with God. They did not dispute the need for faith in Christ, rather they said that if you become Jewish, you will get “all that God has for you.”

Today there are many “prophets” and teachers on television, and it is our responsibility to distinguish the false from the true, or at least the false from the half-true. We are not infallible, and in some instances, we might have to simply admit that we do not have enough information to make a judgment. Yet, because Jesus warned us about the proliferation of false teachers and because some are so flagrantly ‘out of line’ with biblical teaching, we must ask: “By what criteria are they going to be judged?”

Suppose we are watching an evangelist or miracle worker on television. What criteria might we use to determine whether this man or woman is authentic, a spiritual leader to be followed and supported? Well, let me encourage you to open your Bible to 2 Corinthians 11 and follow along as we consider Paul’s description of the false teachers of his day. This will serve as a guide to discern the true teacher from the false one; or, we could say, to discern the truth from the half-truths all of us have heard. The following are some of their ‘characteristics’:

– They Have Their Own Jesus
Many proclaim a Jesus who will give you gifts and blessings. He is the Jesus of prosperity, the Jesus who heals, the Jesus who loves everyone in the same way and never would send anyone to Hell. What they do not emphasize is the Jesus who died on the Cross to reconcile us to God, and the One who will return in judgment upon all who do not obey the Gospel.

These false prophets talk endlessly about Jesus, They will pray “in the name” of Jesus, and they claim to do miracles in the name of Jesus. They preach a Jesus who will give you ‘benefits’ without repentance; a Jesus who will bless everyone no matter what they believe. They preach a Jesus who does not call us to suffer, but rather a Jesus who is “there for us,” ready to bestow the blessings that will negate any suffering that has come our way. This Jesus will give you money, remove your problems, and do practically any miracle you ask for. There also is a ‘sensual’ Jesus and an ‘entertainment’ Jesus.

What makes these “prophets” so insidious, the Apostle Paul says, is that they have “a different spirit.” That is, they actually are ‘controlled’ by an ‘alien’ spirit—in some cases, a demon lurked behind their teachings, for they use their charisma to appear to exalt Jesus, yet their teachings are ‘misguided’! the believer must keep in mind that the Jesus we ‘want’ is not necessarily the Jesus we ‘need’!

So, how do we detect this “other Jesus”? Well, as you watch and listen to a pastor, evangelist, or prophet, ask these questions:

– “Is the preaching of the cross central to his ministry?”
– “Does he emphasize the need for repentance, holiness, and submission to God?”
– “Does he preach a Jesus who calls us to suffer, with the promise that He will walk with us through the suffering?”

OR, does he present a Jesus whose primary function is to give us the blessings of Heaven right now?

Sometimes there might not be a simple answer to these questions. There are teachers who actually refer to the Gospel from time to time or, in a few instances, they might preach both the message of the Cross and the message of earthly prosperity as if the two can coexist. NOT! Then, in some cases, we must simply distinguish the true from what is half-true and withhold personal judgment. At other times, the “other Jesus” evangelists are REALLY EASY to see.

Today the “super-apostles” emphasize that you should send them money for your own personal benefit. The more generous you are, the more God will “open the windows of Heaven” to give you benefits you “will not have room to receive.” (Malachi 3:10 taken WAY out of context!). They hide their greed under the rubric of giving their adherents an opportunity to be blessed of God. In effect the message is, “Don’t you see how fortunate you are to send me your money!”

So, why has this “gospel of prosperity” found such ready acceptance in the hearts of millions of Americans? Well, first off, because like the prophets of Israel, modern-day preachers have found a message people WANT TO HEAR. No need to speak about the hard aspects of the Christian life, no need to carry one’s ‘cross’ or to bear up under suffering. No need for turning from sin or choosing to live without creature comforts.

Of course, these “apostles” will quote the Bible, claiming to believe it “from cover to cover.” However, they will omit the passages that do not fit with their mindset. I heard one false prophet actually say, “This business of Jesus dying for us… I’m not interested in what Jesus did two thousand years ago; I’m interested in the blessings He gives me today.” Wow! In the mind of this man, our problem is not sin but ignorance, we just don’t know how to ‘access’ God and get our inheritance. INSANE!!!

A second reason for this wide acceptance of the prosperity gospel is its appeal to ‘GREED’. The Apostle Peter describes the preachers of his day that, “In their greed these teachers will exploit you with ‘fabricated stories’. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping” [ 2 Peter 2:3 ]. One television preacher said that some who sent him money received letters from the mortgage company saying that their loan was fully paid! Wow, count me in on that one! NOT! The stories are ALL made up, and have NEVER been proven!

If you listen to the teachings of those who belong to the “Word of Faith” movement, you will hear occultism mixed with Scripture taken WAY out of context. You will hear that the “power to create reality” lies within yourself, and all that is needed is faith that one’s word is “imbued with magical powers,” and that “creative visualization” is needed to have faith in one’s own faith. This, of course, is the teaching of occult groups such as the “Science of Mind” and the “New Age Movement” (which are ALL false teachings!).

People are told that they can speak to their wallets and say, “Wallet, by my faith you will be filled with money.” Or they can speak to their bodies and say, “Body, you are just wonderful, healthy, and good.” This kind of magic-speak is taught to millions, who accept it as if it were from the Bible. The thing is, these people are Satan’s ‘prophets’ masquerading as prophets, not of deceit but of righteousness!

Today’s “super-apostles” also claim to do in a matter of minutes what older preachers told us could only come about by daily brokenness and submission to God—usually through suffering. However, today we are told we can have power just by being ‘touched’ by a ‘super-charged’ “apostle.” Yes, they say have their own power! (So, why don’t these “super-apostles” go into every hospital in the country and ‘empty’ them of sick people by ‘touching’ them? Hmmm.)

So, why do these false prophets exercise such control? Well, first, through ‘ISOLATION’.Often they will cut their followers off from their families, insisting that their loyalty be to the false teachers alone.

Second, there is ‘INTIMIDATION’. If false prophets get to know you personally, they will find some ‘weakness’ in your life, and then use this as a ‘lever’ to bribe you into subjection.

Third, there is ‘EXPLOITATION’. Again, the false teacher finds ways to develop ‘connections’ with his clientele. If he is a media personality, he assures them of a special favor if they write to him. He promises answers to their prayers, he promises prosperity, and he promises that God will reward them with money. He craves cultic dependency and trust. Then he can depend on their loyalty and support for years to come.

Meanwhile, false prophets will not themselves be under ANY ‘authority’. They will challenge the authority of the elders, or they will pick board members whom they know will not hold them accountable. Since they believe they get their orders directly from God, when they are questioned, they will retort, “Who are you to question the Lord’s anointed?”

Have you noticed that the crowds that come to admire the miracle workers are often the poor? Because these people are thinking, “If I could have as much faith as this ‘prophet’, God would bless me like God has blessed him.” So if they do not have their mortgage paid automatically, if they do not experience healing, then it is their own fault! No wonder I have heard of MANY disillusioned people from these ministries says that they believe that “God has forsaken them.” REALLY SAD!

Some “prophets” will draw attention to themselves by their own appearance. In the early days of the church, Appolonius wrote a document about false prophets in which he said that they could be recognized by their dress and demeanor. “Tell me, does a prophet dye his hair? Does a prophet use stibium [a bright, silvery, crystalline substance] on his eyes? Is a prophet fond of dress?” False prophets, he contended, like to be the center of attention. All of us have to keep in mind that it is not possible for us to exalt ourselves and exalt Christ simultaneously.

[ Note: For me, and MANY others, Billy Graham is ‘proof’ that fame need not corrupt, and that a ‘genuine’ humility can exist in a man who is admired by millions. His commitment to the centrality of the Gospel should be a ‘model’ for all believers. ]

So, how did the Apostle Paul look in contrast to the “super-apostles” of his day? Well, the people in Corinth had to make a choice: Did they want to be like Paul, who had no money and suffered, or did they want to be like the false prophets with their fancy clothes? Today we would say, “Do we want to be followers of false prophets with their gold chains, Rolex watches, and fancy cars? Or are we willing to follow Jesus who has taught us to suffer well?” As did the believers in Corinth, we have A ‘CHOICE’ to make!

Paul’s message and authority came from God, and those of his detractors came from Satan. He argued that the mark of a ‘true’ prophet are suffering and hardship, not health and wealth. Even Jesus did not change the world through miracles but through His suffering—and so it has ever been!

Again, don’t forget how Jesus warmly commended the church at Ephesus for testing those “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false” [ Revelation 2:2b ]. So, there IS a place for heresy ‘hunting’ when done in a biblical manner—with a discerning spirit.

When people quote Matthew 7:1 (“Don’t judge or you will be judged”) against proper attempts to distinguish and discern truth from error they misuse that important passage, which doesn’t forbid all judging but only improper judging of the kind you would not care to have applied to you (Matthew 7:5). Indeed, Jesus elsewhere commanded us to “make a right judgment” (John 7:24).

Reading further in Matthew chapter seven, you should not fail to notice that the Lord commanded, “Don’t give what is holy to dogs, and don’t throw your pearls before pigs” (Mathew 7:6). To determine who is a dog or a pig and who is not definitely requires one to make a judgment. So, in order to obey that command one must discriminate between the ‘dogs’ who shouldn’t hear, and the people who should. Now, THAT requires discernment!

Pastor and author Phil Johnson (edits most of Pastor John MacArthur’s books) said it well: “The gospel’s most dangerous earthly adversaries are not raving atheists who stand outside the door shouting threats and insults. They are church leaders who cultivate a gentle, friendly, pious demeanor but hack away at the foundations of faith under the guise of keeping in step with a changing world.”

FOLLOW DISCERNING LEADERS
Find and follow leaders who display an ability to discern, to analyze and refute error, to teach the Scriptures clearly and accurately. Read from authors who prove themselves careful handlers of divine truth. Listen to preachers who rightly divide the Word of Truth. Expose yourself to the teaching of people who think critically, analytically, and carefully. Learn from people who understand where error has attacked church historically. Place yourself under the tutelage of those who serve as ‘watchmen’ of the Church.

There have been outstanding men of discernment in virtually every era of church history. Here are a few I have read and ‘follow’:

Living:
John MacArthur, R.C. Sproul, Steven Lawson, Voddie Baucham, Paul Washer, David Jeremiah, James White, Chuck Swindoll, Ray Stedman, Michael Youssef, Erwin Luther, Chris Rosebrough, Greg Koukl, Ray Comfort, Robert Jeffress, Jack Hibbs, Don Stewart, David Reagan, Andy Woods, Tony Evans, Don Whitney, John Barnett, and many more.

Past:
John F. Wolvoord, Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, James Montgomery Boice, D. James Kennedy, Adrian Rogers, W. A Criswell, Charles L. Feinberg, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, J. Gresham Machen, G. Campbell Morgan, A.W. Pink, Donald Grey Barnhouse, Francis Schaeffer, J.C. Ryle, Leonard Ravenhill, Louis Berkhof, B.B. Warfield, Charles Spurgeon, Charles Hodge, Thomas Boston, Jonathan Edwards, John Flavel, Thomas Manton, George Whitefield, John Bunyan, John Newton, Richard Baxter, John Owen, Steven Charnock, John Wycliffe, Matthew Henry, Thomas Cranmer, John Calvin, Martin Luther, Willian Tyndale, Jan Hus, St. Augustine, Chrysostom, St. Athanasius, and many more.

[ FYI: If you are interested in my ‘full’ list of the “good, bad, and ugly” of biblical ‘teachers’ (Titus 1:9; Romans 16:17-18; 1 Timothy 6:3-5; 2 Timothy 3:5), e-mail me (mbesh@comcast.net), and I will send it to you ].

Much of the written legacy these spiritual giants left is still available today. We can all learn from these men of discernment—and we would do well to emulate the clarity with which they spoke the truth against error. Error always begets more error, and error is never isolated. Left unchecked, error spreads like ‘gangrene’.

Those who can expose and answer the errors of false teachers are set in the Body of Christ to assist us all to think critically and clearly. Learn from them.

In the Bible, Jesus and the apostles warn against ‘wolves’ who attack the flock and urge alertness on the part of elders and pastors who are to protect God’s flock (Matthew 7:15). The Apostle Paul warned the Ephesian elders, “I know that after my departure savage wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock, and from among yourselves men will arise speaking distorted things to drag away disciples to follow them” [ Acts 20:29-30 ]. The note of antithesis and the need for discrimination is struck in that warning.

In contrast, today the shift against antithetical thinking and toward humanistic thinking has contributed much to the ‘softness’ of the Church and its ‘FRIGHTFUL’ LACK of discernment.

So do not be deceived by those who either ADD to, or SUBTRACT from the Bible. Many deceivers have crept into the Church and are ‘muddy the waters’ by introducing “leaven” (false doctrines) that either cause confusion or lead those astray unto ANOTHER gospel. These are heretics and apostates, who lead undiscerning people to death and destruction. The prophet Hosea, by inspiration of the Holy Spirit stated: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6).

Notice how Hosea does NOT say my people are destroyed for a lack of faith, love, mercy, tenderness, social justice, equality, ecumenicalism, ritualism, prosperity, tradition, etc. It is true biblical knowledge, which comes by way of the Holy Spirit, which shepherds believers and guards them against the wolves who prey on them. People are gullible…like sheep.

Even notice how Jesus talked about how His sheep hear His voice? (John 10). True Christians, who belong to the ‘Good Shepherd’, don’t follow any other ‘voice’ but Jesus’.

To this incredible ability to be deceived, Paul warns before departing Ephesus:

“For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God. Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears” [ Acts 20:27-31 ].

The believer is instructed to study to show themselves approved, workmen who need not be ashamed by ‘rightly dividing’ the Word (2 Timothy 2:15). They are to be complete and thoroughly equipped for every ‘good work’ (2 Timothy 3:16-17). This means, not accepting someone who cherry-picks verses to fit their theology. They take in the ENTIRETY of Holy Scripture, then ‘rightly divide’ the Word to find out what applies to whom. The whole Bible was given FOR us, but the whole Bible was NOT written ‘TO’ us!

[ FYI: For more details about how to understand the Bible, view this previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” post:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/gaining-a-deep-understanding-v264/ ].

We also find warnings against being deceived in many places throughout Scripture. Jesus warns, “Watch out that no one deceives you” [ Matthew 24:4 ]. A little bit later in the chapter, we read another warning: “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive, if possible, even the elect” [ Matthew 24:24 ]. Then, the Apostle Peter warns: “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute… But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts, they too will perish” [ Second Peter 2:1-2; 12 ].

With many more examples to be found in Scriptures, deception is prevalent and something the Devil works very hard to do… even working to deceive the ‘elect’ (Matthew 24:24).

Since ‘blatant’ deception is much easier to spot, the Devil is a bit more ‘sneaky’ and uses some ‘unorthodox’ Bible teachers, preachers, and “Christian” authors to do his work.

Today there are some witty, charming, and very skilled writers and speakers spreading messages that at first glance, seem attractive and “right on”…and at least part of their message truly is. But if one were to use discernment (as Christians are instructed to do) and dig deeper, we can see that Scripture is being taken out of context and misapplied with some very dangerous results.

Deception is creeping into the lives of Christians who are not firmly ‘rooted’ in the Scriptures. It’s a ‘slippery slope’ leading to destruction—Hell.

The thing we need to remember about the Devil is that he sometimes disguises himself as an angel of the light (2 Corinthians 11:14). He uses things that are attractive and contains just enough truth to make them seem acceptable. But it is critical to understand that if something is 95% truth and 5% lies, it is still more than enough to throw some Christians off course, while they blissfully believe that they are on the right path. That’s how deception works.

Theologian and author J.I. Packer said something similar to what Spurgeon said: “Half-truths masquerading as whole truths are whole lies.” Just because a person is incredibly skilled at what they do, it doesn’t mean they are right in what they are saying. We need to use discernment (guided by the Holy Spirit) now more than ever! We need to be like King David and say, “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes” [ Psalm 119:125 ]. We also need to faithfully immerse ourselves in the Scriptures daily, to know exactly what is truth. The more we fill our minds with truth, the easier it is to spot the deceptions. “The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly” [ Proverbs 15:14 ], and “A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth” [ Proverbs 17:24 ]. God IS gracious with His ‘children’, and will grant wisdom and discernment for those who ask. BUT, we also need to do our part to avoid falling astray!

TRUTH MIXED WITH LIES
Every person who has ever successfully lied to their parents knows how powerful this thinking ‘trap’ can be. Here is an example:

“Yes, I was at Arielle’s house last night. We were studying. It just took us longer than we thought to get the project done. And, there were not any boys in the house.”

Well, if one ‘reads between the lines’, she was telling the truth about being at Arielle’s house, BUT just not all night (they went to the bar later). Then concerning “studying,” they probably “studied” just long enough to be able to say that “we studied” without completely lying. Then, the boys that were there didn’t actually come ‘INTO’ the house, they were on the deck, just outside the kitchen where the girls were “studying” (waiting for the girls to go to the bar with them). So, ‘technically’, she was not lying, but in the ‘true spirit’ of it, she WAS lying.

It is the truth in the middle of the story that makes the lies so easy to swallow, isn’t it? This technique is one of Satan’s best ‘moves’, and he is much better at it than any of us ever will be!

Let me remind you of how the ‘serpent’ (Satan) lied to Eve in the Garden: “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the Garden?’” [ Genesis 3:1 ].

He didn’t start with a lie, really—just a question that assumed something untrue was true. He knew it wasn’t the case, of course, but he wanted to get Eve’s mind going in a ‘undiscerning’ direction. However, to her credit, she corrected him with the truth that only one tree was off-limits, and that eating from that ONE tree would kill them.

He responded with a lie ‘wrapped up’ in just enough truth to make it believable: “You will not surety die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good from evil” [ Genesis 3:4-5 ]. (3:4-5).

Satan was partly right, wasn’t he? Adam and Eve didn’t die immediately, and they did get a sudden rush of knowing evil. BUT, they did eventually die physically, and they did ‘die’ spiritually. Satan’s mix of lie and truth was just right to get the results he was aiming for! (and that goes for false teachers today, too!).

David Koresh, leader of the Branch Davidian cult in Waco, Texas, used a similar approach to convince people of his lies (or maybe he was just being ‘used’ by Satan in a similar way, like the Antichrist will be in the future). His cult started as a Bible study. Like evangelical Christians everywhere, he taught that the Bible was God’s standard for truth!

However, slowly, over time, he began to mix in some lies with the truth. His followers eventually accepted some ‘whoppers’ like, “All the virgins need to have sex with me,” because they were convinced that this cult leader was a ‘man of God’. Sadly, the end for all of them was destruction here on earth, and additionally, for them in the time to come—eternal life in Hell!

The scary thing about these lies mixed with truth is that, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Once we wander from the truth and start exploring unbiblical ideas about the supernatural, we are ripe ‘targets’ for deception and destruction!

The key to avoiding this ‘trap’, of course, is to know the truth so well that the lies stick like eggs in a “Teflon” pan—they don’t! Studying, memorizing, and meditating on God’s Word results in being aware of the contradictions to it when we hear them, The more we know the truth, the more ‘jarring’ the lies will become. That’s what God’s wisdom is all about!

As a reminder, Jesus called the religious leaders of His day “children of Satan,” because they were lying to their followers about God. I’m sure many of them thought they were telling the truth (possibly Satan’s deceiving them), but some of them were definitely tying to protect their power and their money (just like some of today’s false TV preachers do). But, ALL were equally ‘guilty’ of speaking Satan’s ‘falsities’.

Christians today need to use just as much wisdom and discernment in judging whether religious leaders are telling truth about the supernatural as in accessing the supernatural ideas that come from TV, movies, and other entertainment sources.

In the area of the supernatural, we might assume that the word “Abracadabra” is magic, since something amazing happens every time a magician says that word. Or, one could assume that because our horoscope said, “You will encounter an interesting individual,” the same month that one met their new boyfriend, the horoscope was predicting our future. Well, that is a FALSE ‘association’!

A survey of the supernatural beliefs of U.S. teenagers revealed that 79% had consulted a horoscope at least once, and 53% thought that they might be true. A whopping 24% said that horoscopes arc probably mostly true. That’s a lot of teenagers buying into the reality of these false “prophets”!

Horoscope writers are highly ‘skilled’ at writing things that ‘could’ be true, in part, for large numbers of people. They rely heavily on the ‘thinking trap’ of false associations (and wishful thinking) to ‘trick’ people into believing they have the power to tell the future.

Religiously, Satan uses this belief in a lie to lead people away from relying on God—who REALLY controls the future. That’s why the Bible is so specific in telling us to avoid fortune tellers and mediums (Leviticus 19:31; Leviticus 20:6; 2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6).

People with this ‘gift’ of discernment are ‘specially gifted’ in distinguishing between those words, deeds, and appearances that are true and those that are false. Pastor John MacArthur summarizes the implications of the gift of discernment in this way:

“It can be said that the gift of discernment is given to tell if the other gifts are of the Holy Spirit, if they are merely natural imitations, or if they are demonic counterfeits. I believe God still empowers some of His people to unmask false prophets and carnal hypocrites. He gives them insight to expose imitations and deceptions that most Christians would take as genuine.”

WRAP UP
Criminals craft deception, pouring their talents into making counterfeit money look so similar to the genuine thing that it is often difficult to distinguish between the fake money and real. However (you have likely heard this before as it’s not a new thought), those who are best able recognize a counterfeit bill when they see it do not train by studying counterfeits, rather, they can recognize a counterfeit immediately when they see it because they have carefully studied the ‘REAL’ THING.

The point almost goes without saying. In order to be able to distinguish truth from falsehood we don’t study all the wrong messages that come our way first, instead, we study God’s Word‚the ‘REAL’ THING! Despite what the world may say, there IS such a thing as absolute Truth, and it can be found in the Word of God.

If we are to easily discern truth from error, genuine from counterfeit, we must be diligent to study our Bibles so that we can immediately recognize falsehood when we see or hear it. The ‘world’ bombards us with enticing messages that on the surface seem worthy, but in reality are contrary to righteousness. Satan attacks us with partial lies that cause us to second-guess ourselves or what we’ve been previously taught. Our own evil desires cause us to compromise our integrity and exchange the truth about God for a lie. But also well-meaning teachers, songwriters, and brothers and sisters in Christ can cause us to rest on their words because at first hearing they sound, well… “Christianly,” but in reality, they are words that miss the ‘mark’.

The good news is that our gracious heavenly Father has given us a ‘plumb line’ by which we can rightly see how far any message contrary to His perfect Word might be skewed. When we hold up every message against the ‘infallible’ Word of God, we are able to discern whether that message is genuine or counterfeit.

Now, the only way we will be able to quickly recognize a falsehood, which most often comes to us disguised as half-truths, is to have carefully studied the Word of Truth first. Because just as the completely false, counterfeit dollar bill looks mostly real, one small deception in a half-truth is what actually proves it to be a total lie.

We as Christians should not content ourselves to enjoy our standing of righteousness before God in Christ Jesus, yet fail to go on to participate in our sanctification through studying the Word of God. When we are lazy to carefully ready His Word, we are ill-equipped to quickly recognize that which is contrary to Truth. May it not be so! Let us handle the Word of God rightly, examining the Scriptures daily as the Bereans of Acts 17, seeking the whole Truth revealed to us by our LORD. May we be diligent in this pursuit, and may the Word of God penetrate our hearts so that when the world, Satan, or our own evil desires come after our minds with cunning and deceiving (and often enticing) ways, or even when misfired words from other believers land in our ears, we can recognize falsehoods and counterfeits immediately because we have already carefully studied the real thing—the ‘genuine’ Truth revealed in the Word of God:

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” [ Hebrews 4:12 ], “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” [ Psalm 119:11 ], and “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth” [ John 17:17 ].

THE ‘SOURCE’ OF DISCERNMENT
None of us have all the answers and don’t know the ‘motives’ of every single politician, professional, friend, or acquaintance (only God can truly see what goes on ‘inside’ them). However, most of us are able to ‘assess’ people by their behavior and actions—a.k.a. their ‘fruit’.

We can take note of a person’s patterns, however, really can’t know what causes them. As hard as one may try, we cannot know what is going on inside every person’s ‘heart’. BUT, we can consult the ‘One’ who does.

Even though God ‘may’ help you assess what is going on with another person, He is MORE INTERESTED in what is happening in YOUR ‘heart’! That’s when He will REALLY help you in your decisions and in your relationships. The believer CAN rely on Him to shed light where you need clarity, and in the process, probably ‘humble’ you.

So, the Bible says that it is still best to choose to trust God, even when you would rather take matters into your own hands! Allowing God to give you the ability to look at the world through fresh ‘eyes’ can reveal truth in the right time, within the right context. But most importantly, you have free access to all the answers you need, through Scripture, relationship with other believers, and a ‘relationship’ with Jesus. Ask Him to help you discern properly.

The Apostle John wrote his first epistle to help the believer become aware of false teaching, and to help them distinguish between the true and the false. He said, “These things have I written unto you, concerning them that seduce you” [ 1 John 2:26 ]. The word “seduce” means “to lead astray.”

All of us need instruction and guidance in order that we might distinguish between the false and the true, because there are seducers trying to mislead us. Certainly, if it was necessary to distinguish between the false and the truth in John’s day, it is all the MORE NEEDFUL today! Jesus warned His disciples that deception would increase as we approach the ‘end of the age’. Jesus said to “Take heed that no one leads you astray” [ Matthew 24:4 ]. He then continued saying, “For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray” [ Matthew 24:5 ], and then “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect” [ Matthew 24:24 ].

[ FYI: For more details about the “end times,” view these previous “Life’s Deep Thoughts” posts:

https://markbesh.wordpress.com/blessed-hope-v245/
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/final-tribulation-v246/
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/mankinds-destiny-v247/
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/last-generation-v249/

EXAMINE EVERYTHING
Many times the teachings presented become conflicting and bewildering and we hardly know which way to turn. Therefore one must learn the ‘art’ of discernment; one must learn to sort out the true from the false. One must “try” the spirits (1 John 4:1). The word “try” means “to prove or test.” We ARE NOT to be like a sponge soaking up everything we hear, John says, since there are too many false teachers around. We must test what we hear and read. We must examine it and analyze it and see to it that we accept only that which is true.

You might say, “But is it possible amidst all this maze of religious teaching, to know the difference between truth and error? Can we distinguish between the false and the true? Can we sort out what comes from God and what comes from the Devil?” The answer is DEFINITELY “YES.” One CAN know the difference.

John shows us three simple ‘rules’ by which we can distinguish between the true and the false:

1. The Confession of a Divine Lord
“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already” [ 1 John 4:2-3 ].

Many modern false teachers simply don’t believe that the human Jesus who lived and walked among men, was the divine Christ.

So, the first simple rule by which you can discriminate between the true and the false, is to ask the question, “What place does this teacher give the person of Jesus Christ? What does he teach about His sinlessness and His resurrection and His coming again?” Jesus Himself said, “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him” [ John 5:23 ].

Here is where the cults and the false religious systems break down. One translation of the Bible translates John 1:1 like this: “Originally the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” Now “the Word” here speaks definitely of Jesus Christ because verse 14 of the same chapter says, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” The translation quoted above says that Jesus Christ was “a god,” and “god” is spelled with a small “g.” It appears that this is an attempt to distort the truth concerning our Jesus’ deity. The translators say that Jesus Christ was a man, neither more nor less. Before He came to the world, they say, He was a created angel. Jesus was a creature. He was not the combination of two natures (human and divine), but when He was in the flesh, He was a perfect human being, nothing more. Such persons do not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh.

So, the believer must guard against the absence of true doctrine just as much as the presence of false doctrine.

2. The Indwelling of a Divine Spirit
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” [ 1 John 4:4 ].

When a person is born again and meets the conditions of salvation, the Holy Spirit actually comes into the heart of that newly-born child of God, and ‘lives’ there. Paul says, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” [ 1 Corinthians 3:16 ]. It is almost unbelievable that God would come and live inside us, but IT IS true! God dwells in the cleansed temple of the human heart. God dwells in you (1 Corinthians 6:19). Now John says, “Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” [ 1 John 4:4 ]. In other words, God the Holy Spirit, who lives in you, is more powerful than the devil, who reigns in this world.

When John speaks about false teachers, he does not say, “Believe not every teacher,” but he says, “Believe not every spirit.” John is simply saying that evil spirits are at the source of false teaching, and that men who promote false teachings are influenced by devils. And so you see, the battle against apostasy is spiritual. It’s not a matter of opposing men; it’s a matter of opposing wicked ‘spirits’. Therefore we cannot discern between the false and the true merely on the basis of our own intellectual knowledge. Paul says, “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God” [ 1 Corinthians 2:12 ]. Paul is simply saying that no man can know God’s thoughts unless God’s Spirit reveals them to him. Discernment comes NOT from our reasoning powers, nor from our intellectual ability—but FROM the Spirit’s ministry within our ‘hearts’. By maintaining a close fellowship with the Spirit who lives within God’s children, we will have light for the problems that face us, and we will be able to detect that which is counterfeit and false.

The Holy Spirit gives us a mutual ‘attraction’ for that which is true and makes us repulsive to that which is false. On a number of occasions, I’ve watched huge electric cranes unload scrap-metal from railroad cars. The crane had a tremendous magnet on it, that was dropped down into the car, and then lifted up, and huge quantities of steel would cling to the magnet. The operator of the crane would swing the magnet over to the scrap-pile, and then he would cut off the electricity and the metal would fall away. But you know, those magnets attracted only certain kinds of materials. Whatever stuck to the magnet, had to have an attraction to it. Certain kinds of materials just wouldn’t stick. An old rubber tire, for example, just wouldn’t lift, and so it is in the spiritual sense. Contact with error will be ‘repulsive’ and contact with truth will be ‘responsive’ to the person who is yielded to the Spirit of God. When the believer in contact with truth, the Holy Spirit will, so to speak “ring a bell” in your heart, and you will automatically sense that what is being preached is the truth. There will be an urge within to say, “Amen.” On the other hand, when you are in contact with error (and you are yielded to the Spirit of God), the falsehood just will not “ring a bell.” People have often said to me concerning some kind of teaching they may have heard on the radio or read in books or heard from a pulpit—”There was just something about it that didn’t seem right to me.” You might not always able to give a clear theological explanation of what was wrong, but the discerning believer knows something about it didn’t sound right. This WAS the Spirit of God making them sensitive to that which was false and counterfeit.

The Holy Spirit who lives in the believer and is greater (and wiser) than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).

3. The Authority of a Divine Word
“They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error” [ 1 John 4:5-6 ].

The Apostle John says, “He that knows God, hears us.” The words “we” and “us” are ‘emphatic’ in the original Greek, and thus these pronouns refer especially to the apostles themselves (and not to Christians in general) as the ‘authorized’ teachers of the truth. The original apostles were especially ’commissioned’ by the Lord to teach God’s truth. “One who loves God and one who is eager to teach the truth, will get his final authority and his teaching from us (from the Scriptures).” Those who are false, by way of contrast, will follow the opinions and reasonings of men.

There is then a final “test” that John calls to our attention to, and it has to do with the teacher’s attitude toward the Bible. Does he take the Bible seriously? Does he believe that the Bible is trustworthy? Does he strive to stay by its teachings? Or does he ridicule the Bible, and make light of the Word of God, and try to explain his way around certain teachings? How does the message in question ‘accord’ with the Scriptures?

The prophet Isaiah says, “If they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” [ Isaiah 8:20 ]. We must ‘TEST’ every message we hear and every message we read by comparing it with the Word of God, and if the message is not in accord with the Bible, it must be rejected. The Bereans studied the Scriptures each day to see if the things which Paul and Silas were telling them, were true. They realized that they were only to accept those things that were in accord with the Scriptures. Those teachers who ignore the Scriptures and ridicule the biblical accounts, are not from God, but are promoting doctrines of devils.

The believer needs to read God’s Word regularly, and hide it in their hearts daily, and ask God often for the gift which enables them to discern between truth and error. They need to pray like Solomon did, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart… that I may discern between good and bad” [ 1 Kings 3:9 ]. So, don’t always believe everything you hear, just because someone says it is a message from God; test it first to see if it really is, for there are many false teachers in the world.

People read a lot of things, listen to a lot of Christian radio and Christian television, download a lot of things on the Internet, and without discernment, they are really susceptible to mental chaos—which leads to spiritual ‘chaos’.

Bad decisions based on faulty reasoning, superficial understanding, shallow knowledge, widespread ignorance, doctrinal confusion, biblical infidelity—all of these things have done more damage to the church through history than did persecution. (Persecution has a way actually of ‘refining’ the church.)

Scripture warns us over and over again about ear-tickling teachers, doctrines of demons, destructive heresies, perverse teaching, myths, commandments of men, speculations, controversial issues, deceitful spirits, worldly fables, false knowledge, science so-called empty philosophy, traditions of men, worldly wisdom, the corruption of the adulterators of the Word of God. They’re all ‘pitfalls’ for Christians.

The Apostle Matthew said, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits” [ Matthew 7:15-20 ].

The Apostle Paul said, “He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” [ Titus 1:9 ]. He then said to his protégé, “O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’, for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.” [ 1 Timothy 6:20-21 ]. To the Romans, he said, “For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive” [ Romans 16:18 ].

The thing is, one can have a Bible and read it, BUT not know what God says unless they interpret it correctly (see the February 2021 post for more details about biblical interpretation). So, you have to be diligent, showing yourself a “workman,” and RIGHTLY ‘DIVIDING’ the Word of God. If you don’t rightly divide the Word, you will only get error and will be undiscerning.

It was the biblical commentator Richard C. H. Lenski who said, “The worst form of wickedness consists of perversions of the truth, of spiritual lies. However, the then said, “Many look upon these perversion with indifference and regard them as harmless.” He is saying that any perversion of the truth is evil, and anything evil is poisonous, destructive, and damaging.

TODAY’S ‘PROBLEMS’
So, what’s the biggest problem in the Christian Church today? Well, for one, unconverted people sitting in churches thinking maybe, for the most part, they are saved. Secondly, because of the lack of spiritual discernment for the believers, which weakens the doctrinal clarity and conviction.

Today’s culture is unwilling to THINK ANTITHETICALLY’ about religion. That is, they don’t think in black and white, they think on a sort of spectrum of ‘gray’, of ‘relativity’. This means that everything continues along a line of relative shades of gray. There’s no right, there’s no wrong; there’s no true, there’s no false—everything is ‘subjective’. But biblical truth IS NOT relative, it is ‘absolute’—it is sharp, black and white, antithetical. All else is lies, deception, and error.

Dean and author Jay E. Adams wrote a book called, “A Call for Discernment” (in the “Resources” section below). In that book, he wrote this: “In the Bible where antithesis is so important, discernment, the ability to distinguish God’s thoughts and God’s ways from all others is essential.” He continued by saying, “Discernment thrives when there’s a thesis antithesis, black and white, antithetical mentality.” There’s a ‘right’ way to handle Scripture, and any other way is a wrong way. God didn’t mean anything you want Him to mean, He meant EXACTLY what He intended to say.

I would suggest that there is another reason for lack of discernment is SPIRITUAL ‘IMMATURITY’. There is a lack of robust biblical doctrine being taught in churches today, so you have a lot of ‘baby’ Christians who are children tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine (Ephesian 4:14). They don’t have the power to discern. They don’t have what Hebrews 5 talks about, having their senses exercised to grow up:

“About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” [ Hebrews 5:11-14 ].

King Solomon talked about “Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning” [ Proverbs 14:33 ], that “Wise in heart are called discerning” [ Proverbs 16:21 ], and “Discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth” [ Proverbs 17:24 ].

HOW TO BE ‘BIBLICALLY’ DISCERNING
SO, how does one become a discerning person? Well, first it starts with a DESIRE. Again, Solomon advises, “My son, if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you, make your ear attentive to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding” [ Proverbs 2:1 ], and “Cry for discernment” [ Proverbs 2:3 ].

The question is, “Is that part of your prayer life?” Well, Solomon says that if you do seek it, “then you will find the knowledge of God” [ Proverbs 2:5b ].

Isn’t that just what James also said, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” [ James 1:5 ].

Then, one must have the necessary ‘COMMITMENT’, which consists of time, regularity, knowledge, and effort.

Now, to help with the “knowledge” requirement, it is ‘CRUCIAL for the believer ‘in training’ to follow ‘DISCERNING’ TEACHERS. The Apostle Paul said to Timothy, “The things that I have taught you, follow those things” [ 2 Timothy 3:14 ].

Then, to help with the “effort” requirement—and most importantly—one MUST ‘DEPEND’ upon the HOLY SPIRIT. Jesus said, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” [ John 14:26 ].

Then, the MOST ‘IMPORTANT’ ‘requirement’ is PRAYER and ’SUBMITTING’ to God through His Word, the Bible. Because ALL wisdom comes from ‘above’!

So, what does all this mean for those who desire discernment? Well, it means that Christians should stop endorsing or entertaining any teaching that undermines, redefines, or rejects the clear teaching of Scripture. It also means that the Bible is the FIRST ‘PLACE’ the believer should go if they want to receive ‘real’ wisdom (Proverbs1:1-7).

To be sure, discernment is about as fashionable to today’s culture as absolute truth. Making clear distinctions and judgment contradicts the relativistic values of today’s modern culture. Pluralism and diversity have been ‘enshrined’ as higher virtues than truth. We are not supposed to draw any definitive ‘lines’ or declare any absolutes. That is regarded as backward, outmoded, and discourteous. While this attitude toward biblical discernment is expected from the secular world, it is SADLY being embraced by Christianity—often choosing tolerance over truth!

With the exception of a few cults that blatantly renounce the Trinity, almost everything taught in the name of Jesus is accepted by evangelicals today—from Roman Catholicism (which denies that sinners are justified solely by faith) to the extreme charismatic “Word of Faith” movement (which both corrupts the doctrine of Christ and makes temporal health and wealth the focus of salvation).

In the name of “unity,” such matters of doctrine are expressly NOT supposed to be contested. We are encouraged to insist on nothing more than a simple affirmation of “faith in Jesus.” Beyond that, the specific ‘CONTENT’ of faith is supposed to be a matter of “individual preference.”

Of course, this general attitude of acceptance is not new. The church has waged an ongoing struggle over the issue of doctrinal discernment at least since the beginning of the 20th century. This very same appeal for broad-mindedness in religious standards and beliefs has always been at the heart of the agenda of theological liberalism. Indeed, it is precisely what the term “liberal” originally meant. What is new about today’s appeals for tolerance is that they come from ‘WITHIN’ the Christian Church!

Nothing is more desperately needed in the Church right now than a new movement to reemphasize the need for biblical discernment! Without such a movement, the ‘true’ Church is in ‘SERIOUS’ TROUBLE. If the current hunger for ecumenical compromise, pragmatic sanctification, and numerical success continues to pin a foothold within evangelicalism, it will result in an unmitigated SPIRITUAL ‘DISASTER’!

HOWEVER, sadly, today’s believers ‘soothe’ themselves with the opinion that few things are really black and white. Doctrinal issues, moral questions, and Christian principles are all cast in hues of gray. Every person is encouraged to do what is right in his own eyes—exactly what God forbade (Deuteronomy 12:8; Judges 17:6 and 21:25; Isaiah 5:21; Proverbs 21:2; Proverbs 14:12 Proverbs 12:15).

The Church will never manifest its power in society until it regains a passionate love for truth and a corollary hatred for error. True believers cannot condone or disregard anti-Christian influences in their midst and expect to enjoy God’s blessing! “Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” [ Romans 13:11-12 ].

In her 1865 book “Hans Brinker,” American author Mary Mapes Dodge chronicled the heroic story of the little Dutch boy who saved his country from catastrophic flooding by plugging a leaking dike with his finger. When the boy recognized the imminent danger of a potentially broken dike and the destruction that would occur if a small trickle of water were allowed to slowly break away into a larger inundation, he ‘jumped’ into action.

The story goes something like this: “Quick as a flash, he saw his duty. Throwing away his flowers, the boy clambered up the heights until he reached the hole. His chubby little finger was thrust in, almost before he knew it. The flowing was stopped!” Once he had plugged the leak that threatened his whole country, the little Dutch boy thought “with a boyish delight, the angry waters must stay back now! Haarlem shall not be drowned while I am here!”

This should be the ‘cry’ of every believer in Jesus: “The world’s lies, and deceit must stay back now! My family, my church, my neighborhood, my country shall not be ‘drowned’ while I am here!” Do you have enough boldness to put your ‘finger’ into the leak? Do you love God’s truth enough that you will give your all to proclaim it from the heights, lest the ‘waters’ be unleashed and destroy all that you love and hold dear? May God grant you such courage!

HOWEVER, for those who do apply biblical discernment consistently—in every area of life, are sure to ‘walk’ in the wisdom of the Lord (Proverbs 2:1-6).

May YOU be one with ‘biblical’ discernment!

[ Excerpts by: Nathalie Schrans; Adam Hayes; Warren Gammill & Associates; Emma Smith; Coral Dando Ph.D.; Stephen Macknik; Susana Martinez-Conde; Cody Porter; David Robson; Maria Konnikova; Bella DePaulo Ph.D.; Nathan W. Bingham; John MacArthur; Jay E. Adams; Tim Challies; Got Questions; S. Michael Houdmann; Cody Guitard; George A Epps; Eileen Epps-Hamilton; Hannah R. Anderson; Stephanie Englehart; Dr. Brian Cosby; Nicholas T. Batzig; Ervin Lutzer; Mark Matlock; Curt Sharbaugh; Joseph Girdler; Carolyn Tennant; Taylor Tomaselli; Dustin W. Benge; Robert Lehigh ]

RELATED POSTS:

“Being ‘Misunderstood’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-misunderstood-v265/

“Gaining A Deep ‘Understanding’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/gaining-a-deep-understanding-v264/

“Are You ‘Blind’?”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/are-you-blind-v252/

“‘Heed’ The Warning!”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/heed-the-warning-v251/

“Being A ‘Watchman’”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/being-a-watchman-v250/

“Ready For ‘Battle’?”:
https://markbesh.wordpress.com/ready-for-battle-v235/

‘PRAYER’ OF REPENTANCE
In the Bible, there is a parable that Jesus told about a Pharisee and a tax collector praying the the Temple. He notes that the tax collector didn’t even dare to lift his eyes toward Heaven as he prayed. Instead he “beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner’”—and Jesus said that the tax collector “went home justified,” he had been “born again” and ‘reconciled’ by God. (Luke 18:9-14).

If you are ‘sensing’ something like that right now, let me strongly encourage you to HUMBLE YOURSELF, CRY OUT to God, and PLEAD for Him to mercifully ‘SAVE’ YOU! None of us have a ‘claim’ on our salvation, nor do we have any ‘works’ that would cause us to deserve it or earn it—it is purely a gift of Divine grace—and all any of us can do is ask. So, CONFESS YOUR SINS and acknowledge to God that you have no hope for Heaven apart from what He provides through Jesus. [ See Psalm 51 ].

There is no ‘formula’ or certain words for this. So just talk to God, in your own words—He knows your ‘heart’. If you are genuinely sincere, and God does respond to your plea, one will usually have a sense of joy and peace.

Jesus said, “He that comes to Me, I will not cast out” [ John 6:37 ].

[ FYI: This is a great sermon on the “Call to Repentance” by John MacArthur from his book “The Gospel According to Jesus”: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-22/the-call-to-repentance (Transcript: http://www.spiritedesign.com/TheCallToRepentance-JohnMacArthur(Jul-27-2019).pdf) ].

[ NOTE: If you have ‘tasted the kindness of the Lord’, please e-mail me—I would love to CELEBRATE with you, and help you get started on your ‘journey’ with Jesus! ].

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“Liespotting: Proven Techniques to Detect Deception”

By: Pamela Meyer

GET TO THE TRUTH

People–friends, family members, work colleagues, salespeople–lie to us all the time. Daily, hourly, constantly. None of us is immune, and all of us are victims. According to studies by several different researchers, most of us encounter nearly 200 lies a day.

Now there’s something we can do about it. Pamela Meyer’s Liespotting links three disciplines–facial recognition training, interrogation training, and a comprehensive survey of research in the field–into a specialized body of information developed specifically to help business leaders detect deception and get the information they need to successfully conduct their most important interactions and transactions.

Some of the nation’s leading business executives have learned to use these methods to root out lies in high stakes situations. Liespotting for the first time brings years of knowledge–previously found only in the intelligence community, police training academies, and universities–into the corporate boardroom, the manager’s meeting, the job interview, the legal proceeding, and the deal negotiation.

WHAT’S IN THE BOOK?

Learn communication secrets previously known only to a handful of scientists, interrogators and intelligence specialists.

Liespotting reveals what’s hiding in plain sight in every business meeting, job interview and negotiation:

– The single most dangerous facial expression to watch out for in business & personal relationships

– 10 questions that get people to tell you anything

– A simple 5-step method for spotting and stopping the lies told in nearly every high-stakes business negotiation and interview

– Dozens of postures and facial expressions that should instantly put you on Red Alert for deception

– The telltale phrases and verbal responses that separate truthful stories from deceitful ones

– How to create a circle of advisers who will guarantee your success

https://www.amazon.com/Liespotting-Proven-Techniques-Detect-Deception/dp/0312611730

Interview with Pamela Meyer: https://www.acfe.com/article.aspx?id=4294972760

—————-

“Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes”

By: Maria Konnikova

The New York Times bestselling guide to thinking like literature’s greatest detective. “Steven Pinker meets Sir Arthur Conan Doyle” (Boston Globe), by the author of The Confidence Game.

No fictional character is more renowned for his powers of thought and observation than Sherlock Holmes. But is his extraordinary intellect merely a gift of fiction, or can we learn to cultivate these abilities ourselves, to improve our lives at work and at home?

We can, says psychologist and journalist Maria Konnikova, and in Mastermind she shows us how. Beginning with the “brain attic”—Holmes’s metaphor for how we store information and organize knowledge—Konnikova unpacks the mental strategies that lead to clearer thinking and deeper insights. Drawing on twenty-first-century neuroscience and psychology, Mastermind explores Holmes’s unique methods of ever-present mindfulness, astute observation, and logical deduction. In doing so, it shows how each of us, with some self-awareness and a little practice, can employ these same methods to sharpen our perceptions, solve difficult problems, and enhance our creative powers. For Holmes aficionados and casual readers alike, Konnikova reveals how the world’s most keen-eyed detective can serve as an unparalleled guide to upgrading the mind.

https://www.amazon.com/Mastermind-Think-Like-Sherlock-Holmes/dp/014312434X/

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“The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for It … Every Time”

By: Maria Konnikova

“It’s a startling and disconcerting read that should make you think twice every time a friend of a friend offers you the opportunity of a lifetime.”

—Erik Larson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dead Wake and bestselling author of Devil in the White City

Think you can’t get conned? Think again. The New York Times bestselling author of Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes explains how to spot the con before they spot you.

“[An] excellent study of Con Artists, stories & the human need to believe” –Neil Gaiman, via Twitter

A compelling investigation into the minds, motives, and methods of con artists—and the people who fall for their cons over and over again.

While cheats and swindlers may be a dime a dozen, true conmen—the Bernie Madoffs, the Jim Bakkers, the Lance Armstrongs—are elegant, outsized personalities, artists of persuasion and exploiters of trust. How do they do it? Why are they successful? And what keeps us falling for it, over and over again? These are the questions that journalist and psychologist Maria Konnikova tackles in her mesmerizing new book.

From multimillion-dollar Ponzi schemes to small-time frauds, Konnikova pulls together a selection of fascinating stories to demonstrate what all cons share in common, drawing on scientific, dramatic, and psychological perspectives. Insightful and gripping, the book brings readers into the world of the con, examining the relationship between artist and victim. The Confidence Game asks not only why we believe con artists, but also examines the very act of believing and how our sense of truth can be manipulated by those around us.

https://www.amazon.com/Confidence-Game-Fall-Every-Time/dp/0525427414/

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“The Psychology of Lying and Detecting Lies”

By: Bella DePaulo PhD.

This book is a collection of 29 of the most popular blog posts and chapters on deception written by Dr. Bella DePaulo, one of the world’s leading experts on the psychology of lying and detecting lies. Drawing from research – much of it her own – Professor DePaulo helps us understand big-time liars as well as the more ordinary liars in our everyday lives. Want to know what science has to say about detecting deception? There are 7 short chapters on that. Another 9 chapters explore the dynamics of deceit in our interactions with our romantic partners, friends, and family. Regardless of what you think you already know about deception, you will undoubtedly learn something new and surprising from this book.

CONTENTS:

I. FIRST, SOME TRUTHS ABOUT LIES 1. 6 truths about lies 2. Why do people lie to you?

II. PROFILES OF ORDINARY LIARS 3. Who lies? 4. Men or women: Who lies more?

III. BIG-TIME LIARS 5. How ordinary people become extraordinary liars 6. Big-time liars: Top 7 lies they tell themselves 7. How President Trump’s lies are different from other people’s 8. For writing about President Trump’s lies, I got called an “ugly witch” and more 9. Deception: It’s what Dexter does best (well, second best) 10. Getting suckered by a killer

IV. FIGURING OUT WHEN YOU ARE GETTING DUPED 11. Looks can kill – your better judgment 12. Why are we so bad at detecting lies? 13. How body language lets us down 14. Unconscious, gut-level lie detection? 15. Can’t keep your story straight: Maybe not such a great cue to deception after all 16. If you watch ‘Lie to Me,’ will you become more successful at detecting lies? 17. Suppose you could know exactly what other people were thinking and feeling: Would you want to?

V. LYING AND DETECTING LIES IN RELATIONSHIPS (AND NOT JUST ROMANTIC ONES) 18. Do relationships need lies to survive? 19. Infidelity: Who are the real cheaters? 20. Spotting a cheater: How long do you have to know a person before you can do it accurately? 21. Manti Te’o and the revenge of the romantic fantasy 22. When you are the last to know you’ve been duped 23. Friends and lovers: Is there a ‘knew it all along’ effect? 24. What friends know that others don’t 25. The power and peril of hurt feelings

VI. LYING AND DETECTING LIES IN SPECIAL CONTEXTS 26. Do audio-only press briefings make it easier to mislead? 27. Airport screening post-9/11 – what happens before you even get to any of the machines 28. Can a computer tell when you are lying? 29. Accused of doing something awful? Here’s how to convince others of your innocence

https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Lying-Detecting-Lies/dp/1986744426/

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“Cues To Deception”

My interest is in the lying and lie-detecting that goes on in ordinary social life, when people have no polygraphs, brain scans, or any other bells or whistles to help them figure out what is really going on. I have studied lying for more than three decades, and published dozens of papers and chapters and a few books. My research and writing address questions such as: How often do people lie? To whom do they tell their lies? Can people tell when others are lying? and How do ordinary people become extraordinary liars? I have also written about moral issues in my chapter, “The many faces of lies,” in the book, The Social Psychology of Good and Evil. The chapter is also available in the book, The Hows and Whys of Lies.

I’ve written about deception for the opinion pages of the New York Times and the Washington Post, and for books about popular television shows such as Dexter and House. I’ve also appeared on various national television and radio shows to talk about the psychology of lying. My deception research has been described in many newspapers and magazines. All that is detailed on the other sections of this DECEPTION page (see the box on the left).

[ Bella DePaulo ]

http://www.belladepaulo.com/category/cues-to-deception/

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“Logic & Faith: Discerning truth in logical arguments”

By: Jason Lisle

We all have questions. And Christians are commanded to always be ready to give a defense for their faith. This new Pocket Guide from Answers in Genesis is designed to help by effectively dealing with critical questions facing our culture today. Here you will find condensed, illustrated answers in a manageable format . . . so you can always be equipped with reliable answers. Have you ever heard an argument that just didn t seem right to you? Do you want to know how to recognize faulty arguments? Do you want to be equipped to defend your faith logically? In this Pocket Guide to Logic & Faith, Dr. Jason Lisle exposes logical fallacies that evolutionist often use to argue their case. The role of logic the study of correct reasoning is becoming a vanishing skill in our society. Here is a clear and concise guide to equip believers to refute evolutionary arguments, and to use sound reason and logic when defending their faith.

https://www.amazon.com/Logic-Faith-Discerning-logical-arguments/dp/1600924239/

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“Abracadabra: Secret Methods Magicians and Others Use to Deceive Their Audience”

By: Nathaniel Schiffman

Magicians use more than just mirrors, string, and sleight of hand to deceive their audience. Those who are masters at this trade have developed an arsenal of techniques to manipulate people. Every action and utterance on stage and off is precisely planned to achieve a specific effect.Abracadabra! is an insider’s look at what goes on at a magic show, behind-the-scenes, and in the mind of the magician. Nathaniel Schiffman explains the principles of deception, exposing those innocent-seeming motions that conceal vital actions from onlookers; how the conjurer uses misdirection of space and time to mislead the audience; how silly and simple optical illusions can fool us, and what to look for during a magic show.Also explored in detail is the world of off-stage magic. Some “magicians” use various techniques in life to deceive and influence you, yet these magicians don’t boast of their magic talent, because they are advertisers, politicians, army commanders, spies, con artists, computer programmers, movie directors, faith healers, psychics, and others. These “magicians” work to make you buy their product, believe in their cause, and influence your thinking from the time you get up in the morning, until you go to bed at night.This is not a “how to” book for aspiring magicians, but a layperson’s guide to methods used to mislead or fool you. Lighthearted and informal, Abracadabra! will fascinate anyone interested in knowing how one person can control many. Included are hands-on experiments, magic tricks, and reader participation segments. You’ll soon see that magicians don’t just manipulate playing cards and animals; they manipulate you.

https://www.amazon.com/Abracadabra-METHODS-MAGICIANS-DECEIVE-AUDIENCE/dp/1591022487/

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“The Secret History of Magic: The True Story of the Deceptive Art”

By: Peter Lamont and Jim Steinmeyer

Pull back the curtain on the real history of magic – and discover why magic really matters

If you read a standard history of magic, you learn that it begins in ancient Egypt, with the resurrection of a goose in front of the Pharaoh. You discover how magicians were tortured and killed during the age of witchcraft. You are told how conjuring tricks were used to quell rebellious colonial natives. The history of magic is full of such stories, which turn out not to be true. Behind the smoke and mirrors, however, lies the real story of magic.

It is a history of people from humble roots, who made and lost fortunes, and who deceived kings and queens. In order to survive, they concealed many secrets, yet they revealed some and they stole others. They engaged in deception, exposure, and betrayal, in a quest to make the impossible happen. They managed to survive in a world in which a series of technological wonders appeared, which previous generations would have considered magical. Even today, when we now take the most sophisticated technology for granted, we can still be astonished by tricks that were performed hundreds of years ago.

The Secret History of Magic reveals how this was done. It is about why magic matters in a world that no longer seems to have a place for it, but which desperately needs a sense of wonder.

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-History-Magic-Story-Deceptive/dp/0143130633

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“Fool’s Gold?: Discerning Truth in an Age of Error”

By: John MacArthur

“Eureka!”

In an age of open-mindedness, many believers accept too much with too little discernment, resulting in great confusion and compromise. But God’s Word makes it clear that not everything that glitters is gold. False teaching is at every turn, and the temptation to embrace it is great. As God’s people we are called to sift through the overwhelming number of traditions and trends and use the truth of Scripture to determine which are the true treasures-and which are “fool’s gold.”

General editor John MacArthur and the contributors of this uncompromising book define the principles of biblical discernment and use them to address several contemporary Christian issues. They provide straightforward, biblical critiques of some popular but unfortunate Christian trends, such as watered-down preaching and doctrinally questionable best-selling books. Dr. MacArthur ends with a practical plan for cultivating discernment in the Christian life.

It is the duty of every Christian-not just pastors and elders-to follow the biblical command to cling to what is good and to reject what is not. This book will equip you with a foundation for biblical discernment that will enable you to make careful distinctions in your thinking about truth.

https://www.amazon.com/Fools-Gold-John-MacArthur/dp/158134726X/

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“The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment”

By: Tim Challies

Spiritual discernment is good for more than just making monumental decisions according to God’s will. It is an essential, day-to-day activity that allows thoughtful Christians to separate the truth of God from error and to distinguish right from wrong in all kinds of settings and situations. It is also a skill-something that any person can develop and improve, especially with the guidance in this book.

Written by a leading evangelical blogger, <i>The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment</i> is an uplifting, scripturally grounded work that explains the need for discernment, its challenges, and the steps that will cultivate it. Author Tim Challies does not do the discerning for readers; he simply shows them how to practically apply scriptural tools, principles, and wisdom so that their conclusions about everything-people, teachings, decisions, media, and organizations-will be consistent with God’s Word.

https://www.amazon.com/Discipline-Spiritual-Discernment-Tim-Challies/dp/1581349092/

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“A Call to Discernment”

By: Jay Edward Adams

Dr. Adams shows the seriousness of the problem of lack of discernment and the effect on Christian lives. This book will help you become a more discerning Christian today.

https://www.amazon.com/Call-Discernment-Jay-Edward-Adams/dp/0890815887

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“Reckless Faith: When the Church Loses Its Will to Discern”

By: John F. MacArthur

In a society that is hostile to anyone who declares absolutes, that tolerates faith in any form, that values emotion over reason and trendiness over conviction, it’s no suprise that many American chuches have lost their ability to discern between biblical truth and doctrinal error. John MacArthur attempts to set them straight.

https://www.amazon.com/Reckless-Faith-Church-Loses-Discern/dp/0891077936/

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“Discerning Truth in a World Filled with Lies”

By: Mr. Ron Leonard

“Discerning Truth in a World Filled with Lies” is a book that addresses seeing truth clearly in all spheres of life. While the church is good at discerning spiritual errors, it often lags in its skills at discerning earthly ones. Christian Counselor and Mensa member Ron Leonard tackles the all-important and pervasive issue of discerning when your culture (and occasionally your friends and family), are trying to lie, take advantage of, and bamboozle you. After all, if Satan is the “Father of Lies” did you think he was going to stop at the church doors? Sometimes we’re fooled by our own selfish desires. Sometimes we’re fooled because we are “believers”. Since church members are rarely trained in earthly discernment, we tend to believe foolish things to the detriment of our lives and to the dismay of would-be believers. Topics covered include What is Truth, as well as Truth in Science, Politics, Advertising, and the Church. Principles for discerning truth are addressed as well as practical case studies on applying those principles. Several chapters are also dedicated to practical truths discovered while counseling married couples and individuals

https://www.amazon.com/Discerning-Truth-World-Filled-Lies-dp-0990567001/dp/0990567001/

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“Don’t Buy the Lie: Discerning Truth in a World of Deception”

By: Mark Matlock

Can psychics really see our futures? Do angels really float among us on earth? What about demons? And could the supernatural things that happen on TV and in the movies really occur? Using Barna research and biblical truths, Mark Matlock separates the truths from the lies we are told and helps teens like you avoid the traps that can lead to deception.

We all know demogorgons aren’t real, and that evil dolls can’t come to life … but are there elements of the paranormal that are really around us on earth? And if so, what does that mean? In Don’t Buy the Lie, Mark Matlock uses the knowledge he’s gained in his role as a special project analyst and presenter for the Barna Group to present clear principles and intriguing examples that show you how to respond to the supernatural with wisdom, and without being duped. He identifies “thinking traps” that lead to deception, such as letting your emotions take over and convincing yourself something could be real until it seemingly is. And with clarity, he provides biblical answers to frequently asked questions about such things as miracles, angels, demons, and psychic abilities.

Don’t Buy the Lie:

– looks at both the spiritual and “secular” sides of the supernatural to show what is real and what is false

– helps develop discernment when it comes to things you might encounter

– compares the supernatural claims in our world today with what was happening in the early church to present a biblical perspective

– contains real research and feedback from teens on each topic

https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Buy-Lie-Discerning-Deception/dp/0310258146/

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“Who Are You to Judge?: Learning to Distinguish Between Truths, Half-Truths, and Lies”

By: Erwin W. Lutzer

“This book is a treasure of biblical wisdom . . .” — Dr. R. C. Sproul, founder, Ligonier Ministries

Can I judge without being judgmental?

We live in a world that tolerates everything but judgment. What we don’t realize is that right judgment is the key to right living. Who Are You To Judge? is Lutzer’s word to a culture that hates being told how to live and to a church called to purity.

After explaining the difference between judging and being judgmental, Lutzer guides Christians in discerning various critical issues, including miracles, matters of doctrine, and godly engagement with entertainment and culture.

With a passion for biblical truth and intolerance for lies, Lutzer is compelling and gut-honest. Who Are You to Judge? calls us to not only embrace the truth, but also to live according to it, speaking the truth in love to a world so desperately in need of both.

https://www.amazon.com/Who-Are-You-Judge-Distinguish/dp/0802413269/

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“Spiritual Discernment”

By: Watchman Nee

Maturity is measured by ones spiritual discernment. In these short chapters, Watchman Nee addresses our pressing need for spiritual discernment in the full knowledge of God.

https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Discernment-Watchman-Nee/dp/0935008918/

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“Charismatic Chaos”

By: John MacArthur

The charismatic movement of the past quarter-century has made an impact on the church unparalleled in history. But one legacy of the movement is confusion and mushy thinking. In Charismatic Chaos, John F. MacArthur calls for biblical evaluation and analyzes the doctrinal differences between charismatics and non-charismatics in the light of Scripture. “My principal concern,” writes John MacArthur, “is to call the church to a firm commitment to the purity and authority of the Scriptures, and thereby to strengthen the unity of the true church.” To tough questions that seem to divide, Charismatic Chaos provides tougher answers that strive to unite. This book tackles such questions as – Is experience a valid test of truth? – Does God still give revelation? – Prophets, fanatics, or heretics? – Does God still heal? – What should we think of the Signs and Wonders movement? – Does the Bible promise health and wealth?

https://www.amazon.com/Charismatic-Chaos-John-MacArthur/dp/0310575729/

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“Strange Fire”

By: John Macarthur

In Strange Fire, bestselling author and pastor John MacArthur chronicles the unsavory history behind the modern Charismatic movement.

What would God say about those who blatantly misrepresent His Holy Spirit; who exchange true worship for chaotic fits of mindless ecstasy; who replace the biblical gospel with vain illusions of health and wealth; who claim to prophesy in His name yet speak errors; and who sell false hope to desperate people for millions of dollars?

The charismatic movement has always been a breeding-ground for scandal, greed, bad doctrine, and all kinds of spiritual chicanery. As a movement, it is clearly headed the wrong direction. And it is growing at an unprecedented rate.

From the Word of Faith to the New Apostolic Reformation, the Charismatic movement is being consumed by the empty promises of the prosperity gospel. Too many charismatic celebrities promote a “Christianity” without Christ, a Holy Spirit without holiness. And their teaching is having a disastrous influence on a grand scale, as large television networks broadcast their heresies to every part of the world.

In Strange Fire, MacArthur lays out a chilling case against the modern Charismatic movement that includes:

Rejecting its false prophets.

Speaking out against their errors.

Showing true reverence to the Holy Spirit.

Clinging to the Bible as the inerrant, authoritative Word of God and the one true standard by which all truth claims must be tested.

https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Fire-Offending-Counterfeit-Worship/dp/1400205174/

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“A Different Gospel”

By: Dan R McConnell and D R McConnell

“A Different Gospel,” a book for the heart and the mind, is must reading for those who seek reliable information about the “Word of Faith” movement.

Every Christian should read this book in order to be aware of the dangerous implications of the widespread and cultic “Word of Faith” movement preaching what is popularly known as “”Name It and Claim It”” theology. “A Different Gospel” is a bold and revealing examination of the biblical and historical basis of this movement. This new and revised edition is complete with a foreword by Hank Hanegraaff, author of “Christianity in Crisis,” and a new afterward by D. R. McConnell.

The author knows the movement first hand and has a heart for those snared by it. He is also an academically trained observer who has based his work on careful historical and biblical analysis. McConnell warns of the movement’s cultic nature in its doctrine of healing and its understanding of the atonement and demonstrates how far the movement’s doctrine of prosperity is from Scripture’s true teaching.

https://www.amazon.com/Different-Gospel-Updated-Dan-McConnell/dp/1565631323

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“The Disease of the Health and Wealth Gospels”

By: Gordon D. Fee

In Disease of the Health & Wealth Gospels, Dr. Gordon Fee looks at the treatment of these two themes as frequently found in popular Christian teaching. Based on solid exegesis of the Scriptures, looking at each theme separately, this books suggests that there may be yet a “more excellent way” in viewing these emotionally charged issues. Gordon D. Fee is Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia, and an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God. Considered to be one of the foremost experts in textual criticism of the New Testament of the Bible, Dr. Fee was a member of the editorial board that composed both the New International Version (NIV) and Today’s New International Version (TNIV) translations of the Bible. He is also the author of numerous commentaries and books on biblical interpretation, including the popular introductory work How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (co-authored with Douglas Stuart).

https://www.amazon.com/Disease-Health-Wealth-Gospels/dp/1573830666/

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“Drive by False Teaching”

By: Todd Friel

The New Testament Canon wasn’t even closed and two major heresies had already infiltrated the church. False teaching is nothing new, but the Devil loves to repackage ancient heresies to deceive the contemporary church.

Christians must be vigilant and willing to do battle with false teaching. Drive By False Teaching will give you the tools you need to distinguish the true from the almost true and contend earnestly for the faith.

You will learn about:

Five ancient heresies
Evangelical and Catholics Together
Watchman Nee/Witness Lee
Church of Christ
What’s Wrong with Wright?
Contemporary Evangelism
The Charismatic Movement
Seventh Day Adventism
Mormonism/Jehovah’s Witnesses
Scientology & Christian Science

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is glorious and well worth defending. Drive By False Teaching will help you defend our doctrines.

https://store.wretched.org/product/drive-by-false-teaching/drive-by-false-teaching

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“Living with Discernment in the End Times: 1 & 2 Peter and Jude”

By: Kay Arthur, David Lawson, and Bob Vereen

This study of 1 and 2 Peter and Jude helps believers deepen their faith and guard against false teachings. Peter and Jude exhort us to live courageously for Christ in a world that seeks to destroy the gospel’s truth.

https://www.amazon.com/Living-Discernment-End-Times-Inductive/dp/0736904468

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“The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God”

By: Jonathan Edwards

The 18th century was a wealth of knowledge, exploration and rapidly growing technology and expanding record-keeping made possible by advances in the printing press. In its determination to preserve the century of revolution, Gale initiated a revolution of its own: digitization of epic proportions to preserve these invaluable works in the largest archive of its kind. Now for the first time these high-quality digital copies of original 18th century manuscripts are available in print, making them highly accessible to libraries, undergraduate students, and independent scholars.

The Age of Enlightenment profoundly enriched religious and philosophical understanding and continues to influence present-day thinking. Works collected here include masterpieces by David Hume, Immanuel Kant, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, as well as religious sermons and moral debates on the issues of the day, such as the slave trade. The Age of Reason saw conflict between Protestantism and Catholicism transformed into one between faith and logic — a debate that continues in the twenty-first century.

The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to insure edition identification:

https://www.amazon.com/Distinguishing-Spirit-Extracted-Edwards-Wesley/dp/1385682914/

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“Counterfeit Miracles”

By: Benjamin B. Warfield

Chapters on the Cessation of the Charismata, Edward Irving and his followers, Faith Healing, and Roman Catholic Miracles.

https://www.amazon.com/Counterfeit-Miracles-Benjamin-B-Warfield/dp/085151166X

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“False Prophets Among Us: What Is the New Apostolic Reformation and Why Is It Dangerous?”

By: Kent Philpott

Kent Philpott, former charismatic/Pentecostal pastor, presents a compelling evaluation of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR). Those aligned with the NAR hold that God is doing a “new thing” in these last days just prior to the Kingdom of God being established in the world. This viewpoint was earlier known as post-millennialism and more recently as dominionism.

The NAR is not an organization but a relational alignment of churches and groups that voluntarily connect with recognized apostles and prophets. Philpott critiques many NAR leaders and their own books, although he was an acquaintance during the late 1980s of the apparent founder of the movement, C. Peter Wagner, former professor at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, now deceased, who began using the title in 2000 or 2001. A partial listing of leaders typically associated with the NAR is Che Ahn, John and Carol Arnott, Heidi (and Roland) Baker, Mike Bickle of IHOP in Kansas City, Stacey Campbell, Randy Clark, James Goll, Cindy Jacobs, Rick Joyner of Morningstar in South Carolina, Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton of the Bethel Church in Redding, California, Patricia King, Chuck D. Pierce, Dutch and Tim Sheets, and Brian Simmons (the Passion Translation).

A major aspect of this so-called reformation is the establishment of the “Five fold ministry” as we find it in Ephesians 4:11–apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. However, the NAR emphasizes apostles and prophets, the prophets declaring what God is doing and the apostles making it work out in real time.

Perhaps the most alarming aspect to the NAR is the development of a “we-they,” almost cultic mindset. Some prophets have announced a “Christian civil war” now being waged, spiritual in nature but potentially physical.

Philpott also unhappily has to warn about the dangers of these prophets’ and apostles’ methods for obtaining revelations, supposedly directly from God: the trance state, which is fraught with potential for demonic invasion.

https://www.amazon.com/False-Prophets-Among-Apostolic-Reformation/dp/1946794031/

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! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

SPECIAL ‘GENERAL’ RESOURCE

“ApologetiX Songbook”

(An interactive PDF)

It features the lyrics to every song on every CD and every “download” from 1993-2020

Special features:

– indexed by title, original song, original artist, subject, and Bible verse
– each song’s page has icons showing what albums it appears on
– each song’s page has a commentary from lyricist J. Jackson
– each album’s page includes liner notes and track listing
– print any pages you like or use for slides in church
– photos from ApologetiX’s debut concert in 1992
– discography of out-of-print cassettes
– downloadable in PDF format

New features in this edition:

– all song commentaries from J. Jackson updated and expanded
– also indexed by year when original song spoofed was a hit
– J.’s original handwritten rough lyrics to 40 ApX classics
– scads of photos from ApX 25th-anniversary concerts
– list of 40 ApX parodies most likely to be redone
– over 200 new parodies and journal entries
– list of the first ApX concerts in each state
– six new full-length feature articles
– DVD discography and synopses
– never-before-seen rare photos
– lyrics for over 700 parodies
– over 1000 pages!

Interactive features:

– click on any page number in indexes or TOC to go to that page
– click on any album icon to go to its liner notes and track listings
– click on any song title on an album page to go to that song

Note: This e-book is a download-only and doesn’t include sheet music.

The songbook is available for a donation of $50 or more. After we receive your donation, we’ll send you a follow-up email with the link.

Get the Songbook for a donation:

http://www.apologetix.com/store/store.php#songbook

Songbook Demo Video: https://rumble.com/vfazhl-apologetix-songbook-2020-demo.html

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“THE SEARCH FOR MEANING” WEBSITE

This site presents discussions on the 12 most commonly asked questions about the Christian faith.

The 12 discussions are accessed by the “tabs” at the bottom of the page. The tabs are numbered 1-12. Roll your mouse over them and you will see the question displayed at the right. Click on the number to select that question.

Within each question (i.e. tabs 1-12), there are subtopics (or dialogues) to select that appear as smaller tabs underneath the numbered tabs. Roll your mouse over them and the title of these topics is also displayed to the right. Click on the open rectangle to select that dialogue.

For each question (1-12), a link to related resources and an optional flowchart is provided. To access this material, click on the respective words, “Related Resources” or “Options Flowchart.”

To play a more detailed discussion of the subject, between two people, select the desired dialogue and click on “Play Audio Dialogue.”

In the upper right-hand corner of the page, there is an icon that looks like binoculars looking at a question mark. Click on this icon to return to the homepage.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Related Resources” page, there is an icon that looks like some books. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the resources for all of the questions. There also are additional “appendices” for most of the questions.

In the upper right-hand corner of a “Flowchart” page, there is an icon that looks like an Org chart. Click on this icon to get to an “overview” page that has links to all of the flowcharts.

http://4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q1_d1_1of10.html

[ Content by: Bill Kraftson and Lamar Smith; Website by Mark Besh ]

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“FRUITS OF THE BEATITUDES” WEB SITE

(The ATTITUDES of Jesus that produce the CHARACTER of Jesus)

CLICK ON THE LINK to view:
http://fruitsofthebeatitudes.org/

FACEBOOK PAGE:
https://www.facebook.com/FruitsOfTheBeatitudes/

[ Mark Besh ]

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[ P.S.: If you would like to investigate further discernment in the Bible, visit the following link:
http://www.4vis.com/sfm/sfm_pres/sp_q10_d3_1of10.html ].

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“Four Simple Ways to Spot Counterfeit Currency”

The Federal Reserve, U.S. Treasury and Secret Service work in conjunction to make sure our country’s currency is hard to counterfeit. Each paper note from $1 to $100 is enhanced with detailed security features designed to make it hard for criminals to reproduce.

Here are four ways to detect counterfeit money. (Spoiler alert: it can be tougher than you think.)

1. Trust your touch.

Feeling a bill can be one of the easiest ways to tell whether money is real or fake. An authentic note will actually feel slightly rough to the touch, as U.S. currency uses a unique printing process that results in slightly raised ink. Is the bill you’re holding smooth? It might be a counterfeit.

2. See the light.

On denominations $5 and higher, a security “thread”—or small ribbon—is embedded vertically inside the bill. You can see this thread when holding the bill up to a light. When held under UV light, these threads each glow a different color. No thread? Check the year it was printed; notes printed prior to 1990 did not contain a security thread.

3. Get moving.

Tilting the bill top-to-bottom or side-to-side can reveal another unique feature of our currency: color-shifting ink. Several small images on currency denominations of $10 and higher contain ink that can change from copper to green when viewed at different angles. Is your bill all one color? Check the year, or check for other counterfeit concerns.

4. Ready for a close-up.

Pull out your magnifying glass for this one. Microprinting occurs throughout our paper notes from the $5 bill on up. Words like, “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA” or “USA” appear through small, intricate lines and drawings of the currency design. Microprinting missing or messy? You might have found a counterfeit.

What the Pros Know

Currency employee sorting bills to detect counterfeit money

The St. Louis Fed is one of 12 Reserve banks around the country. Last year alone, our Eighth District Currency Operations team removed 3,041 suspected counterfeit notes (or paper money) from circulation!

The Fed is the central bank of the United States, and the Federal Reserve Board is the issuing authority for the Federal Reserve notes in your wallet. Every year, the Board determines the number of new notes needed to meet public demand, and it submits a print order to the U.S. Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Regional Reserve banks—including the St. Louis Fed—distribute those new notes to financial institutions.

The St. Louis Fed also receives deposits from financial institutions and helps to ensure that incoming cash is real. In fact, Federal Reserve cash teams are among the best in the country when it comes to spotting a fake bill.

Here’s what one of our Currency Operations employees had to say:

“We detect counterfeits with our machinery and our staff. The feel of the currency is one of the primary factors our staff uses to determine the authenticity of the note. U.S. currency is made of 75 percent cotton and 25 percent linen, and when you’re handling it every day, you definitely know what it feels like. So all of a sudden, you get piece of paper in your hand, and you’re like, oh, that’s different.”

Additional Resources

Many factors go into determining whether a paper note is counterfeit. For a full list of ways you can authenticate your money, visit the U.S. Currency Education Program. This program is managed by the Federal Reserve Board in collaboration with government partners.

[ Laura Taylor ]

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“How to Spot a Counterfeit Bill”

It’s estimated that for every 10,000 bills in the U.S.,

one of those bills is fake.

That may not sound like much,

but it adds up to millions of dollars in cold hard cash.

Counterfeit money has the potential to cause all sorts of problems,

from leaving you short $20 to destabilizing national economies.

But don’t worry.

You can help catch the counterfeits.

All you need are some simple tools and a bit of chemistry.

First up, the anti-counterfeit detection pen.

The pen looks like a highlighter

and contains a solution of potassium iodide

and elemental iodine.

It reveals of the presence of starch,

which is commonly used to strengthen regular printer paper,

but won’t be found in real money.

That’s because authentic bills are made of cotton and linen

and are threaded with tiny red and blue fibers.

That material is made by a single, highly-guarded company

called Crane and Company,

which has been printing currency

since Paul Revere asked them to help finance the Revolutionary War.

The starch in many counterfeit bills, on the other hand,

is made of two molecules:

amylopectin and amylose.

It’s amylose that gives the fake away.

Its long chain of sugar molecules connected by oxygen atoms

forms a helical structure, like DNA.

Iodide likes to squeeze inside this coil,

forming a new compound that leaves a dark mark on the paper.

However, in the absence of starch, there is no chemical reaction

and the mark will look light yellow.

So if the fake isn’t printed on starchy paper,

iodine solutions can’t help you.

That’s one of the reasons U.S. bills printed since 1996

have been chemically enhanced to include another counterfeit countermeasure:

a strip that fluoresces under UV light.

That’s the same kind of light used at black light parties

and airport security lines.

The polyester strip printed with invisble ink

is just one millimeter wide

and is found in different positions depending on a bill’s value.

If you hold your dollar up to natural light,

you can see the amount and the word USA printed on the band.

But under UV light, these strips really shine.

They contain molecules that can be excited by absorbing certain amounts of energy,

specifically, that given off by common UV light sources.

As these excited molecules return to their original states,

they lose a bit of energy as heat and then radiate the rest as light.

Energy is inversely related to wavelength,

which means that the longer wavelengths have lower energy.

So the lower energy light given off by the strip

means longer wavelengths that fall in the visible range,

and suddenly we can see that which had been invisible.

And if a glowing strip doesn’t show up on a recent bill,

you have a fake on your hands.

For times when you’re not dealing with counterfeit masterminds,

looking for simple visual cues will do.

Make sure the portrait looks lifelike and not flat,

the seal has perfectly even sawtooth points,

the inked border is unbroken,

and the serial number has precisely equal spacing between each number.

So the next time you come across some dubious dough,

have a closer look,

pull out your iodine solution,

or take it to a rave

and you just might catch a counterfeit.

[ Tien Nguyen ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLMc5OFnQRs

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“Former Secret Service Agent Explains How to Detect Counterfeit Money”

Former Secret Service Agent Jonathan Wackrow explains how the Service keeps counterfeit currency out of circulation. The Secret Service was installed to combat counterfeit money during the Civil War, and the Service still to this day works tirelessly to suppress counterfeits. Counterfeiting has been a tactic used to try to destabilize the US economy for years, and the Secret Service employs a variety of techniques to detect fraudulent bills. Jonathan goes through some publicly available techniques that they, and anyone else, can use to figure out if a bill is real or fake.

Wackrow served in the Presidential Protection Division in Washington, DC, and managed numerous high-level security operations in the U.S. and abroad.

[ Jonathan Wackrow ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa8SHubMjGw&t=104s

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“An FBI Agent’s 8 Ways to Spot a Liar”

23 years in the FBI taught this entrepreneur how to spot deception when it counts.

Last week, I introduced readers to LaRae Quy in my article “An FBI Agent’s 5 Steps to Developing Mental Toughness.” Quy, who spent 23 years as a counterintelligence agent for the FBI, now spends her time writing, speaking, and teaching others tips that she learned while working for the Bureau. As you can imagine, these tips contain great lessons for entrepreneurs — and for everyone else. (If you’re interested in more from Quy, you can visit her website or follow her on LinkedIn.)

In the wake of the Volkswagen scandal that has rocked the world (you can read my take on that here), I returned to Quy to get her insights on lying and deception. Specially trained in the art of reading individuals and uncovering hidden truths, her advice can help you tell when job candidates, negotiating partners, or major automotive executives are being deceptive.

Here are Quy’s tips:

1. Build rapport.

Experience shows that “good cop” typically gets better results than “bad cop.”

Come across as empathetic in conversation, and you’ll get the person to open up more than when you are cold and accusatory.

2. Surprise them.

A deceptive person will try to anticipate your questions, so that their answers sound instinctive and natural. They may even practice answering specific questions ahead of time.

Ask them something they don’t expect, and they’ll stumble.

3. Listen more than you speak.

Liars tend to speak more than truthful people in an attempt to sound legitimate and win over their audience. They will also use more complex sentences to hide the truth.

Be wary of the following:

Stress usually makes people speak faster.

Stressed persons often talk louder.

Cracking in the natural tone of voice usually occurs at the point of deception.

Repetitive coughing and clearing the throat are signs of tension.

This isn’t to say that a conversation partner who does one or more of the above is lying to you. But if you witness these actions, proceed with caution.

4. Pay attention to how they say “No.”

“No” is a key word to observe if you suspect someone is trying to mislead you.

A person is often demonstrating deceptive behavior when they:

say “no” and look in a different direction;

say “no” and close their eyes;

say “no” after hesitating;

say “noooooooo,” stretched over a long period of time;

say “no” in a singsong manner.

5. Watch for changes in behavior.

A subtle change in a person’s deportment can be a strong sign of deception.

Be careful if a person:

exhibits lapses in memory at critical times (despite being alert in earlier conversation);

answers questions with very short answers, refusing to provide details;

begins speaking more formally (this is a sign the person is getting stressed);

uses extreme superlatives or exaggerated responses (everything is “awesome” or “brilliant” instead of good).

6. Ask for the story backward.

Truthful people tend to add details and remember more facts as they repeat their story. Liars, on the other hand, memorize their stories and try to keep them the same. (If they add details, they often don’t add up.) If you suspect someone is being deceptive, ask the person to recall events backward rather than forward in time.

For example, start at the end of a story and ask them to explain what happened right before that point. And then, before that… and so on.

For truthful people, this makes recall easier. Liars often simplify the story to avoid contradicting themselves.

7. Beware of too many compliments.

Don’t get me wrong, there are genuinely nice people in the world. But watch out if someone is trying too hard to make a good impression.

Agreeing with all of your opinions, constantly offering praise, and laughing at all of your jokes are signs that one lacks authenticity and sincerity.

8. Ask follow up questions.

Of course, none of us want to be lied to. But it’s important to remember that people are uneasy with certain questions due to personal embarrassment, or because they are extremely dependent on the outcome of the conversation.

For example, a job interview candidate might be tempted to hide details about getting fired from a previous job. But if the person is qualified, has a great personality, and would fit great with your company, shouldn’t you keep the conversation going?

If you’re puzzled by a response, explore with follow-up questions. In the situation mentioned above, you might move the conversation forward in this way: “You know, I (or a friend/family member) once lost a job for making a really stupid mistake. Have you ever experienced anything like that? How do you think mistakes on the job should be handled?”

When in doubt, continue to ask discerning questions. In time, you’ll be able to spot deceit like a pro.

Inc. helps entrepreneurs change the world. Get the advice you need to start, grow, and lead your business today. Subscribe here for unlimited access.

SEP 23, 2015

Like this column? Sign up to subscribe to email alerts and you’ll never miss a post.

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

[ LaRae Quy ]

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“7 Tips For Spotting Liars”

Leadership Strategy

Sadly, you often discover lies and liars after you sign the faulty contract, purchase the defective product, hire the wrong person, or agree to work on that career-limiting project. Wouldn’t it be a savvy professional strategy to be able to spot liars in action, before the harm was done? From my latest book, “The Truth About Lies in the Workplace,” here are seven tips for spotting liars at work:

1. Establish a “truth baseline”

Spotting deception begins with observing a person’s baseline behavior under relaxed or generally stress-free conditions so that you can detect meaningful deviations.

One of the strategies that experienced interviewers use is to ask a series of simple questions while observing how the person behaves when there is no reason to lie. Then, when the more difficult issues get addressed, the interviewer can stay alert for sudden changes in behavior that may indicate deception around key points.

2. Watch for stress signals

Habitual or pathological liars are tough to spot because they are so comfortable lying. But, for the vast majority of the individuals you interview or work with, the act of lying triggers a heightened stress response. Blood pressure, heart rate and breathing rates all increase.

To relieve stress and anxiety, liars may use pacifying gestures (rubbing their hands together, bouncing their heels, fidgeting with jewelry, etc.) But our first response to stress (before we ready ourselves to fight or flee) is to freeze. So also pay attention if your usually animated colleague suddenly stops gesturing, has a forced or frozen smile, and locks her ankles.

3. Look at their eyes

The biggest myth around deception is that liars can’t look you in the eyes. In fact, some don’t (especially small children), but polished liars may actually give too much eye contact.

There are two eye signals that are more accurate signs of dishonesty: 1) Pupils dilate when someone is lying, and 2) Blink rates change – slowing down while someone constructs and tells the lie, and then speeding up (sometimes as much as eight times) afterward.

4. Count to four

Nonverbal cues to all kinds of unconscious giveaways tend to occur in clusters – a group of movements, postures and actions that collectively point to a particular state of mind.

This is crucially true of dishonesty, where one specific cluster of nonverbal signals has been proven statistically to accompany dishonesty. These are: hand touching, face touching, crossed arms, and leaning away. According to research conducted at Northeastern University by David DeSteno, if you see these “Telltale Four” being displayed together, watch out!

5. Notice if they aren’t really answering the question

Because of the mental effort it takes to tell a bald-faced lie (and because it triggers negative emotions), many deceivers prefer to avoid the truth with quasi-denials and selective wording. Notice how the responses below (which may be absolutely valid) never actually answer the questions.

Question: Have you ever used drugs?

Answer: I don’t take drugs.

Question: Did you steal office supplies?

Answer: Do I look like the kind of person who would steal office supplies?

Question: Did you leave your last place of employment on good terms?

Answer: I left to pursue other opportunities.

Question: Are you sure that serving on your committee will bring me to the attention of senior leaders?

Answer: You’ll be working on an important management issue.

6. Listen for vocal stress

The primary paralinguistic (how you say what you say) signal that often indicates lying is a change in someone’s baseline vocal pitch, which usually rises with stress levels as vocal chords constrict.

Under stress, people may also experience an increased need to drink water and to lick or moisten lips, as the autonomic nervous system downloads a rush of adrenaline, causing a dry mouth.

7. Detect “undercover” emotions

Smiles are often used as a polite response and to cover up other emotions, but these faked smiles involve the mouth only. Unless someone is expressing genuine pleasure or happiness, it’s hard to produce a real smile – the kind that crinkles the corners of the eyes and lights up the entire face.

There is another way that real emotions emerge, regardless of the effort to suppress them. When someone conceals any strong emotion, chances are his face will expose that information in a split-second burst called a “micro expression.” Difficult to spot because of it happens so quickly, but that instantaneous flash of anger, dismay, joy, etc. is an accurate indicator of someone’s genuine emotional state.

Please remember that none of these verbal or nonverbal cues are proof of lying. Truthful people can show signs of stress, have a naturally high blink rate, or give round-about answers. And both the liar and truth-teller may exhibit fear — one of being discovered, the other of not being believed. Nevertheless, these signals are strong indicators of heightened anxiety, possible deception, and of “hot spots” — areas that you should investigate further.

[ Carol Kinsey Goman ]

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“Penn & Teller Perform Lift Off Of Love”

Magic and comedy legends Penn & Teller revel how they perform this amazing illusion.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PoDhuIp3I0&t=138s

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“Penn & Teller Teach Conan Sleight Of Hand”

Penn & Teller teach Conan how to do sleight of hand with razor blades, grapefruit, and shaving cream.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnRlH2fl9jU

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“The Science of Magic and the Art of Deception”

“Magic takes place not in the hands of the magician but in the mind of the spectator.”

—magician’s adage

Magic is dramatized deception, lying as performance art, cons as theatre. Magicians trick our brains into seeing what isn’t real, and for whatever reason our brains let them get away with it.Turns out, you can learn a lot about how the mind works—and why it sometimes doesn’t—by looking at how magicians distort our perception.Through a mix of psychology, storytelling,and sleight-of-hand, Stone explores the cognitive underpinnings of misdirection, illusion, scams, and secrecy, pulling back the curtain on the many curious and powerful ways our brains deceive us—not just when we’re watching a magician stage his swindles, but throughout our daily lives.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpJkgVMCC-Y

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“Magic is Deception” (Deception TV Series)

Cameron Black teaches us a little bit about Deception.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEUUMJUa7gE

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“Deceive” (By Sansminds Creative Lab)

SansMind Creative Lab team is always pushing boundaries in revolutionary ways to enhance audience experience.

We are proud to present you Deceive. An revolution in-spectator’s-hand card change that not only the spectator your are performing for can feel the magic, everyone around can SEE the visual change too!

Text description doesn’t justify how powerful this is. Check out the trailer, NOW!*Fully customizable with your favourite playing card designs.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-lY3HjcnNk

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“Andre Kole – Illusion Suite”

Master Illusionist André Kole is considered to be one of the world’s greatest illusionists. André Kole is an innovator and inventor of illusions currently being used by many world renowned illusionists. He also is known for using his magical knowledge to debunk frauds and hoaxes.

He has performed in more countries than any other magician in history. In addition to performing in all 50 states of the United States, he has performed in 80 countries on five continents, including performances on national television in over 40 countries.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czsgA9S2Blg

David Copperfield, announcing André Kole: “In a moment you will witness one of the most remarkable illusions ever attempted on stage, anywhere in the world.” [ André Kole ‘invented’ the Statue of Liberty disappearance illusion ].

[ David Copperfield has called Kole’s Statue of Liberty creation “One of the most remarkable illusions ever attempted on stage, anywhere in the world.” ].

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=823GNH4Rczg

An old stage illusion by André Kole:

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czsgA9S2Blg

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“Portal – The most amazing illusion ever”

[ David Copperfield ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLfJQkIJy58

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“How Magicians Trick Your Brain: The Psychology Of Magic”

We know magic tricks aren’t real, yet we continue to be fooled and impressed by them time after time. So how do magicians still manage to keep audiences on their toes? They mess with our brains of course!

Jonathan Hsu of MTheory Magic (https://www.facebook.com/mtheorymagic) stopped by the Digg office to show off his skills, and teach us why we’re all so gullible.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86kp10cboOQ

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“How Magicians Trick Your Brain”

Siegfried Tieber, a sleight-of-hand magician, or cognitive artist if you will, takes us through some illusions (formerly known as magic tricks). Magicians use a number of psychological tricks to bring their performances to life, such as guiding attention and forcing decisions. Can you decipher what’s going on here?

[ Vanessa Hill (BrainCraft) ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YV7rmDr66RQ

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“The Art of Deception: A Magician’s View”

I have been a life-long magician, both as a performer and creator of magical effects. This art of manipulation, misdirection, and deception has taught me a sobering life lesson — be careful what you choose to believe. There is a thin line between reality and illusion, and every great trick has a flaw. The magician’s task is to minimize, disguise, or justify the flaw. Be assured that every time a mind-reader puts on a blindfold, it is so the mentalist can see and the audience can’t determine where he is looking. The very tool that is supposed to prevent trickery enables it.

Even the small act of asking someone to “take a card” is a dubious request. Why must the spectator remove a card and then replace it? The magician justifies this by saying “now show it to everyone.” How else could the entire audience appreciate the effect, and what would happen if the person who selected the card forgot or misstated its name? It is insurance to make sure more than one person knows the name of the card. Yet this simple and justifiable protocol of taking and replacing a card allows the magician to control the selected card. If one could really do magic, the performer should be able to say to someone “think of a card,” and simply name that card—without even needing a deck of cards to do so. And even then, be suspicious.

Two events in the past two days reminded me of how easily we are fooled.

Wednesday was the CNN debate among the GOP presidential contenders. Depending upon whose truth you choose to believe, they are going to repeal “Obamacare,” rescind the Iranian deal, reform Washington DC, redefine the branches of government, repudiate the need for vaccinations, revitalize the economy, rewrite the tax code, dismantle Planned Parenthood, defeat our enemies, erect giant walls, deport millions of people, and make America great again. Most of this will be accomplished on “day 1” or shortly after the winner takes office. If you buy what they are selling, I have a bridge in Brooklyn that might be of interest to you. Or you could do some fact checking. Click here to do so at factcheck.org .

And by no means is this type of behavior limited to the Republicans. Both parties have their fair share of charlatans.

Thursday, I was compelled to think about something I had not thought of in many decades, the 1964 Warren Commission Report on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I was invited by actors Doris Roberts and Jack Betts to view his portrayal of Earl Warren in a reading of a play entitled “The Commission” at the Writers Guild of America, West, in Los Angeles.

Writer William J. Gucwa has created a provocative piece that takes the audience inside the Warren Commission’s private discussions and deliberations, examining the tensions and divides among its seven members and the flawed manner in which Warren conducted the inquiry.

The Warren Report was tainted by several factors, including evidence withheld or manipulated by the CIA and by FBI director J. Edgar Hoover. Even Earl Warren was not without fault, withholding such key evidence as autopsy photos of Kennedy. In addition, confidential deliberations were leaked by Commissioner Gerald Ford to Hoover. Like good magicians, each had their justifications for doing so.

As a result, the veracity of The Warren Report is dubious, particularly on the key questions surrounding Lee Harvey Oswald, his ties to the FBI and/or KGB, and whether he acted alone. Click here to read “9 Things You May Not Know About the Warren Commission,” as summarized by the History Channel.

Ironically, The Warren Report had the unintended consequence of being the catalyst of damaging or destroying public trust in governmental institutions.

In this election season, it is good to remember Benjamin Franklin’s admonition, “It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority.”

Take a card.

[ Bernie Shine ]

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“Attention and awareness in stage magic: turning tricks into research”

Abstract:

Just as vision scientists study visual art and illusions to elucidate the workings of the visual system, so too can cognitive scientists study cognitive illusions to elucidate the underpinnings of cognition. Magic shows are a manifestation of accomplished magic performers’ deep intuition for and understanding of human attention and awareness. By studying magicians and their techniques, neuroscientists can learn powerful methods to manipulate attention and awareness in the laboratory. Such methods could be exploited to directly study the behavioural and neural basis of consciousness itself, for instance through the use of brain imaging and other neural recording techniques.

[ Stephen L. Macknik, Mac King, James Randi, Apollo Robbins, Teller, John Thompson and Susana Martinez-Conde ]

Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrn2473.epdf

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“How to Spot Fake News”

You probably hear the term “fake news” a lot.

Fake news refers to stories that either simply aren’t true or are only partially true.

Labeling something as fake news is also a powerful weapon used to discredit other people’s views.

In the workplace, fake news can cause conflict and have a negative impact on trust and morale. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to separate fact from fiction.

Here are five ways to identify fake news:

Develop a Critical Mindset: Before you click or share, ask yourself, “Why has this story been written?” Fake news is often designed to elicit an emotional response such as shock or anger. So, try to keep your emotions in check.

Check the Source: If something’s suspicious, do some digging! Spelling mistakes or unusual URLs often signal that something isn’t right. Impartial fact-checking websites are a good place to go if you’re still unsure.

See Who Else Is Reporting the Story: Can you find the same information from other sources? If not, that’s a good indication that it may not be real.

Don’t Take Image at Face Value: You might be surprised how easy it is to doctor an image. Use tools such as Google Reverse Image Search to check if an image has been altered.

Check That it “Sounds Right”: Finally, use your common sense! Fake news is designed to “feed” your hopes, fears, and biases. Don’t let it get the better of you.

[ Mind Tolls Videos ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPAW5j_L4-c

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“Expectations of the discerning consumer”

In today’s fast-moving world, time is precious. Mobile devices have become an integral part of daily life. Consumers have real-time access to unlimited amounts of information, even when they are on-the-go, and there is a round-the-clock stream of alerts and updates vying for attention. Dealing with distractions is one of the biggest challenges consumers face, and constant bombardment means many people simply tune a majority of the information out.

Attention is another scarce resource in the digital age. According to a study by Microsoft, the average person’s attention span is a mere eight seconds. Another report from Jampp indicates that the human attention span decreases by 88 percent each year. The combination of these factors limits brands’ ability to connect with their target audiences. Today’s marketing professionals must react to the new, discerning consumer to be successful.

Streamlining and enhancing the customer experience

With time at a premium, leading brands are rethinking their marketing strategies. They no longer assume that consumers are willing to give up a few minutes – or even a few seconds—to read an article or watch a video, no matter how creative and engaging the content is. A cumbersome or complicated experience practically guarantees that consumers will move on to the next bit of material that appears interesting or relevant to their needs.

If you want to make an impact with your content, there are two factors to consider. First, are you helping consumers save time? A sleek, streamlined customer experience is likely to attract and hold your audience’s attention. Examples include tools and features like Amazon Dash buttons, Apple Pay and Uber.

Next, are you creating content that is valuable enough to give customers a return on their investment of time? Brands that offer meaningful experiences by surprising and delighting their audience, personalising the experience and adapting to consumer needs are the ones that find success. For example, Patagonia has no trouble getting customers’ attention, thanks to their practice of going above and beyond by repairing clothes regardless of brand.

The bottom line is that earning your customers’ time and attention requires a carefully designed strategy. Your content must help them save time, in addition to convincing them to invest time in your message.

The power of peak moments

The digital marketplace is crowded. To be successful, brands must differentiate themselves and stand out from surrounding noise. Creating peak moments is crucial for distinguishing yourself from your competitors, and you have to combine these high-quality experiences with a commitment to make good use of customers’ time. Ensure there is no waste of priceless moments due to extraneous and unnecessary clicks, queues and calls.

In a digital environment, your strategic plan should be based on a holistic view of the customer experience. Customers are always connected and they can engage with brands and make purchases 24/7 through a vast array of channels. The consumer experience is no longer linear. It is multi-channel, multi-platform, and accessible from every corner of the globe.

Start the process of transforming your branding strategy by gaining a deep understanding of the behaviour and interests of your discerning consumers. Next, shape an experience that builds value for customers while simultaneously setting you apart from your competitors. Combine the use of advanced technology, creativity, and innovation to create consumer experiences that are authentic, differentiated and compelling.

Identifying your customers through traditional segmentation is becoming much harder. We believe the best way to reach your customer is by understanding their mindsets and thinking about how you can influence behavioural change through effective design.

[ Tim Sharp ]

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“Fake News – and how to spot it”

How can you tell what you’re seeing on social media is genuine?

Our disinformation specialist Shayan Sardarizadeh shares his top tips for spotting ‘fake news’ online.

[ Shayan Sardarizadeh ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiJXqy4Lx_k

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“Google Cannot Teach Discernment”

Between 2015 and 2016, Sam Wineburg and his team tested students in twelve states and studied 7,804 responses. The team specifically analyzed online civic reasoning, the students’ ability to judge information that streams across smartphones, tablets, and computers.

Sam Wineburg

Margaret Jacks Professor of Education and Professor, by courtesy, of History

Wineburg and his team studied middle school, high school, and college students and found striking consistency: students are unable to reason about information found on the internet. How utterly bleak.

At the middle school level, 82% of students were unable to differentiate between an ad and a news story. More than 60% were unable to question why a bank executive wrote an article about millennials’ need for fiscal advice. High schoolers did not understand the blue checkmark showing an account to be verified by Facebook, and more than 30% of high schoolers believed a fake news post to be more reliable than a verified news post. High school students viewed a screenshot of a “nuclear flower” supposedly taken near the site of the Fukushima Daiichi disaster and 4 out of 10 of them believed it to be “strong evidence” of environmental damage. This screen shot had no indication that it had been taken near the site, or in Japan.

It keeps going. College students also struggled to distinguish sites that hid their backers. For example, less than 10% of college students were able to distinguish that MinimumWage.com is a front group for a DC lobbyist. MiniumWage.com is a project of the Employment Policies Institute, which styles itself as a nonprofit organization that sponsors nonpartisan research. Very few students went beyond the site itself to do a search for ‘Employment Policies Institute’ and ‘funding,’ which would result in a series of exposes on the site. Wineburg also did a talk at a large state university where he showed the web page for the Hitler Historical Museum, which claimed to be “a non-biased, non-profit museum devoted to the study and preservation of the world history.” He asked the class how many used the Internet for research. Then Wineburg asked if any could show him in one click who owned the site. No one, including the faculty, did.

There’s more. Adults and teachers aren’t off the hook either. Middle school teachers in Rialto, CA created an exam using a set of documents that made “credible” arguments, each representing a different position on a historical controversy. In the category of the Holocaust, a number of students weighed The Diary of Anne Frank as well as an article from an antisemitic Australian website “Is the Holocaust a Hoax?” and found the Diary wanting. Students found the hoax article more credible and the Diary to be fake and made the argument “there was no evidence or prove [sic] that there were gas chambers.” The story became public, the school district required sensitivity training, the presumption being that this exam came from an animus toward Jews. But Sam Wineburg disagreed – he thinks this is a misdiagnosis of the problem. Wineburg wrote, “I believe their sin is that they, too, were overwhelmed by what the Internet spews, and they regrettable put a spurious document on the same footing as legitimate historical evidence.”

We all live in a world flooded in information, but not all information is equal. The internet is crawling with information by pseudo-scholars who invent footnotes and Photoshop images to shore up fraudulent claims. According to Wineburg, “welcome to the chilling future of learning the past, where not just our students but our teachers and textbook authors fall victim to fake history.” What information should be believed?

In an age where no one regulates the information we consume, the task of separating truth from falsehood is a significant one. Wineburg writes, “google can teach many things, but it cannot teach discernment.”

Good history encourages our tolerance for complexity. It makes us accept exceptions to the rule and requires the moral courage we need to revise our ideas when faced with new evidence. Historical thinking ensures that we will not think the same way we thought yesterday and the day before that. In Thomas Jefferson’s day, when pamphlets of dubious quality littered the streets, he understood that the expansion of expression had a cost. Yet, Jefferson never suggested an abridgment of the cherished right to freedom of speech. Jefferson’s solution is as apt today as it was in his day: “if we think [the people] not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education.”

From Sam Wineburg, Why Learn History (When It’s Already on Your Phone), Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2018; introduction, chapter 3 and chapter 7.

[ Rebecca Koerselman ]

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“Discernment & The Doctrine of Christ | 1 John 4:1-3”

The church of our time is facing an urgent discernment crisis.

Strong winds of spiritual distortion are blowing, and instability throughout the evangelical landscape is regularly on display.

The faith as it has been passed down to us, not only via the Scriptures, but via the teachers of Scripture, is under heavy attack.

The mindset of the moment that says everything evolves and improves, has now taken hold in the realm of theology. The world stands ready to instruct the church.

What does the world believe in?

The world is not necessarily against faith. It celebrates a kind of faith.

It celebrates a kind of faith that is not convinced that the CONTENT of your faith really matters — must be correct.

In fact, many are not convinced that it CAN be correct. MOST are not convinced that anyone can be certain about TRUTH.

TRUTH (as postmodernism understands it) IS NOT SOMETHING OBJECTIVE, IT’S DETERMINED PERSON BY PERSON.

There is not THE truth, there is YOUR truth.

So, WHAT you believe is not as important as it is that you BELIEVE what you believe.

“Whatever you believe — good for you!”

And when that mindset reaches its logical end, that kind of faith in personal feelings can extend even to the denial of objective reality (transgenderism).

Whatever you believe, if you believe it passionately enough, it should be respected, and you should be celebrated.

And, as I said, the church feels the pressure of this.

I would love to be able to say this mindset, that truth is found in the realm of our feelings or that it is individually determined, has only affected that which does not call itself Christianity.

But that would not be true.

Some of the worst mysticism, some of the worst examples of FAITH IN FAITH, some of the worst examples of a SELF-STYLED faith, will come from the mouths or the pens of people who call themselves Christians.

In his book entitled “Reckless Faith” John MacArthur wrote, “Reckless faith seeks spiritual truth apart from scripture – and that is the very point at which it becomes reckless… Spiritual truth is meant to be rationally contemplated, examined logically, studied, analyzed, and employed as the only reliable basis for making wise judgments. That process is precisely what Scripture calls discernment.”

If ever there was a time when the church needed discernment, it is now.

What we have in our verses today is an appeal for just that.

And what we learn is that discernment belongs to a genuine faith.

A Christian is someone who has the willingness to be discerning and the ABILITY to be discerning.

• THE CALL FOR DISCERNMENT (vs.1)

The first thing we note is that what is being called for is a responsibility entrusted to GOD’S PEOPLE.

John, as he does throughout this epistle, refers to God’s people as beloved.

They are beloved of God.

They are loved by the aged apostle.

They are the people of God, the children of God.

YOU CANNOT BE A CHILD OF GOD AND NOT BE CONFRONTED WITH THE NEED FOR DISCERNMENT.

FAITHFUL SHEPHERDS WILL BE CONCERNED THAT YOU BE PROTECTED FROM ERROR.

FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS WILL EMBRACE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PRACTICE DISCERNMENT.

You have both types of concern on display in our verses. A concern from a shepherd for the church, and the kind of concern that the church is to have for truth.

JOHN IS CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THE CHURCH TO GIVE THIS WARNING.

THE CHURCH IS TO BE CONCERNED ENOUGH ABOUT THE TRUTH THAT IT HEEDS IT.

There are three things on display in this one call for discernment.

• WHAT WE MUST NOT DO

This is an imperative. We are not to believe every spirit. As A.T. Robertson pointed out, this is a call for something to stop. “STOP BELIEVING EVERY SPIRIT.”

We must not be a spiritually gullible people. We must not be those who fall prey to spiritual fads and gimmicks and the errors that characterize the moment.

And if that has been our pattern, then we must take heed to these commands and change that pattern.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObC1GxH544I

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“Discerning Truth”

Discerning Truth in a World of Fake News and False Views.

[ Cody Guitard ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WKfdVNHVGY

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“How to Spot a Counterfeit Like Troy Brewer”

[ Chris Rosebrough ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd0-LL4q3Fg

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“Debunking Robert Morris Blessed Life”

[ Chris Rosebrough ]

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVVfoP7781g

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D42-6S79Ys

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“Fred Price Has His Mt. Carmel Moment”

[ Chris Rosebrough ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqneMbc1Ai8

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“Debunking Larry Huch on the Passover”

[ Chris Rosebrough ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZIYEyuA-GY

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“Fighting For The Faith”

Fighting for the Faith compares what popular pastors, preachers, teachers, conference speakers, self-proclaimed prophets and prophetesses and self-appointed apostles and apostlets say to the word of God.

[ Chris Rosebrough ]

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa8HxAq1zKxDZaURHxmvZrw

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“Biblical Discernment: An Interview With Justin Peters”

[ Justin Peters ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ngv0Ok-7OQ

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“Cultic Doctrines, Pagan Practices, And False Prophets”

Cultic doctrines, pagan practices, and false prophets. Justin Peters explains the prosperity gospel and the schemes of the false prophets at the top of the ponzi scheme. This is one of the most detailed exposé Justin Peters has done on this subject. Watch and be edified.

[ Justin Peters ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcgQVlj8kTs

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“Tongues of Angels”

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels…” Charismatics often cite 1 Corinthians 13:1 in which Paul references the “tongues of angels” for biblical support for speaking in tongues. But is that really what Paul meant?

[ Justin Peters ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55ohUPvUDXU&list=PLSNbxfUibb_fGIsMWl83oAPf_Ri59SCrx&index=6

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“Calling Out False Teachers By Name”

In this episode of Theology Applied, Pastor Joel and @Justin Peters Ministries from American Gospel discuss the dangers of false teaching. They also call out by name a whole list of some of the most infamous false teachers today. Subscribe to our Theology Applied podcast and our YouTube channel to get more episodes like this!

[ Joel Webbon interviews Justin Peters ]

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGkozakmsmQ

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“The Network of False Teachers – New Apostolic Reformation Connections (Episode 26)”

In this episode, I go over a fast and easy way to identify a false teacher. It is important to know who they are and who they are associated with. Protect yourself and your family from their false teaching and their doctrines of demons.

[ John Henry ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PVM_Bh_vYE

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“NAR Connections”

On this website you will find out what the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is, who is part of this organization and the affiliations and close connections with the New Apostolic Reformation.

Because the New Apostolic Reformation is not one solid organization, it is very unclear who is part of this group, who is connected with this group, or is influenced by this group. I have done in depth research and found out that birds of the same feather, flock together. Having said that, many churches and pastors even have no idea that they are part of this group called the New Apostolic Reformation and bring their blatant false heretical teachings to their church. Three of the most worldwide well known churches involved are Bethel, Hillsong and Elevation, who influence many churches across the globe through their so called worship music. But who is behind the scene pulling the strings?

During my research, I have looked at all the celebrity pastors, prophets, apostles, leaders, artists, churches and organizations and digged deep into their Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook as well as their websites and checked who they follow and endorse, made screenshots of who they endorse and are connected with, share stages with on a regular basis and proof to you they are well connected to the New Apostolic Reformation. Some of the people on this website are on the outside but heavily influenced or they have affiliating themselves with New Apostolic Reformation related organizations, churches, pastors, prophets, apostles, leaders or artists, and they might have some sort of concerning teachings to expose. We will also be showing you that the CCM music industry has been taken over, or at least extremely dominated, by the NAR.

On every page of an individual or organization you will find their connections, who they hang out with and incredible resources from credible discernment ministers and pastors such as Justin Peters, Chris Rosebrough, Steven Kozar, Costi Hinn, John MacArthur, Daniel Long, Amy Spreeman, Michelle Lesley, Church Watch Central, Phil Johnson, Todd Friel, and many many others that expose these false teachers and their heresies.

https://narconnections.com/

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“Learn to Discern: How to Recognize and Respond to Error in the Culture”

The enemy of truth is subtle and cunning. We should not be surprised by the increase in lies and spiritual error as we near the return of Christ. The Bible says this will happen (Matt. 24:11), and God wants us to be aware of false teachings and teachers so we can stand firm in His Word. We must be discerning and not simply accept what people say is true.

Be Discerning

Learn to discern between truth and error. [more…]

[ Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

Article: https://www.reviveourhearts.com/articles/learn-discern-recognize-respond-error-culture/

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“Brought To You By “Progressive Christianity””

The best selling book “A Rhythm of Prayer” has a number of prayers, including one that asks God to help you hate white people. Let’s analyze this prayer because it’s not only wrong on the surface, it’s a rather clever way to get us to embrace the very unbiblical views of Critical Race Theory, racial guilt and to replace a biblical value of impartiality and oneness in Christ with one of sectarian power dynamics.

We will look at the prayer as well as the justification that the author offers for it. It might surprise you to find out that there is a real worldview behind it. It probably won’t surprise you to find out that it’s not consistent with Jesus.

[ Mike Winger ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy6MBEaHMkg&t=404s

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“Berean Advisory: Brian Houston”

“The Bereans, “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.”

— Acts 17:11

We’ve issued a Berean Advisory to warn people about the dangers of Brian Houston of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Below you will find resources that will help you understand why we believe Houston’s teaching is dangerous and should be avoided by all Christians. Mature believers should also take the time to understand the nature of Houston’s false teaching so that they may be ready to explain to less mature believers why Houston should be avoided.

Your assignment, as a good Berean, is to listen to, watch and read the resources below with an open Bible.

The resources are as follows: Three sermon reviews from the Fighting for the Faith Radio program analyzing the content of Houston’s preaching and the way in which he twists the scriptures, Two videos by Justin Peters that explain the Word of Faith Heresy and provide an in depth Biblical refutation of it, Recommended books that will help you better understand the dangers of the Word of Faith Heresy and how to Biblically refute it.

Does God will that the true believer in Christ be in good physical health? Is a Christian promised good financial health by virtue of his or her faith in Christ? If the Christian does not experience these blessings, must we assume that he or she is outside the will of God? Gordon Fee provides a provocative discussion and a direct challenge to all who struggle with these issues. Perhaps no other issues more directly affect the lives of professing Christians as do the issues of health and wealth and their relationship to the will of God. In Disease of the Health & Wealth Gospels, Dr. Gordon Fee looks at the treatment of these two themes as frequently found in popular Christian teaching. Based on solid exegesis of the Scriptures, looking at each theme separately, this books suggests that there may be yet a “more excellent way” in viewing these emotionally charged issues. Gordon D. Fee is Professor Emeritus of New Testament Studies at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia, and an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God. Considered to be one of the foremost experts in textual criticism of the New Testament of the Bible, Dr. Fee was a member of the editorial board that composed both the New International Version (NIV) and Today’s New International Version (TNIV) translations of the Bible. He is also the author of numerous commentaries and books on biblical interpretation, including the popular introductory work How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth (co-authored with Douglas Stuart). Click here to purchase The Disease of the Health and Wealth Gospels.

I pray that these resources help you or help you help someone who has been snared by the false teaching of Brian Houston.

Will you please share this resource using the social media buttons below.

[ Chris Rosebrough ]

Teaching: https://www.piratechristian.com/captains-log?offset=1388996525204

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“Discerning False Spirits”

Preaching on how to discern between true and false teachers, Dr. Akin reminds us to always evaluate both the message and the messenger by the Word of God.

[ Daniel Akin ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIU6lAv7wsM

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“The Truth War”

Right now, truth is under attack, and it’s going on within the boundaries of evangelicalism. There’s a lot at stake and there’s no middle ground—no safe zone for the uncommitted in this war.

John MacArthur has written this book to unveil the enemy’s tactics and equip you to fight. Here’s what you’ll learn

The pitfalls of postmodern thinking.

The inherent flaws of the Emerging Church Movement.

The historic skirmishes in the truth war and their effect on the contemporary church.

The vital importance of truth and certainty in a postmodern age.

[ John MacArthur ]

Teaching: https://www.gty.org/store/books/451158S/

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“Discernment Collection”

[ John MacArthur ]

Volume 1: https://www.gty.org/store/bundles/51-11A/discernment-collection-vol-1

Volume 2: https://www.gty.org/store/bundles/51-12/discernment-collection-vol-2

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“The Wickedness of Gospel Distorters”

Well, let’s turn to the fifth chapter of the book of Galatians again; and these messages in this opening part of the fifth chapter are somewhat difficult to preach, and very infrequently will you ever hear them preached, because they are such severe denunciations of false doctrine and false teachers. The opening twelve verses are designed to make it crystal clear how the apostle Paul and God Himself feels about false doctrine and false teachers. Now I’m not talking about other religions. I’m not talking about some form of paganism or false religion – Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, or whatever else – the issue here has to do with an aberrant form of Christianity, which is no different than a pagan religion, as we will dramatically see in this passage. And what Paul is attacking in this entire letter is the idea that you can tamper with the gospel of salvation.

The gospel of salvation says that men and women are saved from sin and death and hell by faith in Christ alone, apart from any works or ceremonies or rituals or ordinances of any kind. That is the gospel. Salvation is by faith alone, and all glory goes to God. It results in a transformed life, which then produces righteous works. But there are no righteous works or religious works that contribute anything to salvation. That is the message of Galatians. And as I have been telling you, it is the first of Paul’s letters, and attacks the most critical issue in his ministry, and that is the reality of the gospel. [more…]

[ John MacArthur ]

Sermon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HMLVFE5suA

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“Fred Price Has His Mt. Carmel Moment”

[ Chris Rosebrough ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqneMbc1Ai8

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“Prophecy Update: Beware of False Prophets”

All the signs of the last days are converging at the same time. Bible Prophecy is happening right before our eyes and like birth pains, the predicted events are happening more frequently and more intently. Never, in the history throughout the world have so many forces, including economic, scientific, techno-logic, ecologic, cultural, geopolitical, moral, spiritual and religion, converged together to bring this world that’s already teetering over the edge into the abyss, to a point of no return. Jesus said when you see all these signs happening, know that I am near, even at the door.

[ Holland Davis ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEHGiRWtD7Y

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“The Modern Prophets and Faith Healers Utterly Destroyed by COVID 19”

The COVID-19 virus has utterly exposed the Word-Faith/N.A.R./prophetic/charismatic movement as a total farce and this video completely lays bare the complete bankruptcy therein. If you want one-stop, irrefutable proof that the modern “prophets” are frauds, liars, and charlatans, this is it.

[ Justin Peters ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajU5Yc-_UCY

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“2020 The Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Year For The Prophets”

January 2020 to January 2021 has been devastating for the charismatic prophets. This video documents the complete failure and utter theological and moral bankruptcy of the movement. We will also engage Dr. Michael Brown’s arguments that one who falsely prophesies is not necessarily a false prophet. There is tons of material in this video. I know it is long, but I think it will be a great resource for you. I wanted to keep it all in one place.

[ Justin Peters ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bewNWkuWuzI

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“Dangerous Doctrines”

[ Justin Peters ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jvuhOa9wY4

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“3 Tips for Biblical Discernment: What is Discernment from God – Charles Spurgeon Quote”

Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right. – Charles Spurgeon

Biblical discernment: does it even matter? If it does, what is discernment from God and how do I practice discernment in my life? Today we will look at a quote from Charles Spurgeon that points us back to the truth of God’s Word and reminds us what discernment is and how to use it in life.

Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right. – Charles Spurgeon

Hi friends! I’m Pastor Josh. I’m passionate about helping you grow on your journey to become more like Christ. Each week I share multiple quotes that God has used in my life and I know He will in yours. Will you join me on our journey to develop the mind of Christ?

Discernment has been said to be the power of the mind to distinguish one thing from another. Though you may not call it that, you practice discernment every day. You discern if you should wear that shirt or the other. You discern if you will eat breakfast or wait until lunch. You discern if you will go to bed at your normal bed time or stay up later. I think you get the idea, discernment is really the act of making choices; choosing one thing over another. But today we aren’t looking at discernment in easy areas that don’t make much of a difference in life.

I want to practice discerning God’s voice from my own. Making decisions Christian is possible, but how are you going to do this?

Charles Spurgeon had many opportunities throughout life to make decisions. He didn’t want to just make decisions in his own wisdom, but rather he wanted to discern good and evil from the Bible. He wanted to discern God’s will for his life.

Charles was born June 19 of 1834 and died in January of 1892 and thousands of people came to honor him in his death. He was born and raised in England and came from a family of preachers. Both his dad and his grandpa were ministers. Some of Charles’ earliest memories include looking at pictures in Pilgrim’s Progress and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Though he did not have much formal education, he valued learning and books. His personal library included more than 12,000 volumes.

As a teenager he thought through why he believed what he believed. It was during his teen years he became a pastor and quickly filled the church. His energy and speaking skills drew people to Him as he taught the Word of God. Many saw him as the preaching sensation of London.

He was used by God to point many people to the Lord, both through some getting saved and many growing spiritually under his preaching and influence. A big reason for this was because he learned as a teen to have discernment.

Discernment is the ability to judge well.

Philippians 1:9-11

9) And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

10) That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

11) Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHetZzSmuA0

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“What is Spiritual Discernment?”

[ Pursue God ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTQ8ee5XOfk

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“Calling Out False Teachers By Name”

[ Joel Webbon ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGkozakmsmQ

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“What Is Discernment? 6 Ways to Grow More Discerning”

Every Christian should grow in discernment. It is discernment that enables us to tell the difference between right and wrong. Spiritual discernment is a shield against spiritual deception. Without discernment we would be adrift in an ocean of differing viewpoints and pitted against one another.

In 1 Kings 3:9, Solomon asks for a discerning heart so that he could lead God’s people and to distinguish between right and wrong. He went on to lead the Israelites through a time of peace and wrote much of Proverbs. Yet he failed to discern the risks that having too many wives and concubines would bring to his life. As wise as Solomon was, he is a flawed example of discernment.

But Jesus is the ultimate example of discernment. John 2:24-25 shows us that he knows all men and the contents of their hearts. So how do we gain discernment?

God ties discernment to spiritual maturity, and spiritual maturity links to wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Discernment is an acuteness of understanding. It’s a spiritual gift as well as something to grow in.

As a spiritual gift, it’s given in special circumstances so that God’s will is fulfilled in the moment. As a skill, it is grown over time as one studies and applies God’s word.

Discernment is a desirable quality to cultivate as one who walks with God. But how do we do it?

woman in front of a white brick wall thinking, popular statement that are theologically unsound

Gain Knowledge

“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” Proverbs 18:15

Are you learning and growing? Knowledge of God’s word is key to growing in discernment. How well do you know God’s word? Are you studying it on your own or relying on others to interpret it for you? To know God’s word is to study God’s word. This means getting into the Bible on a day-to-day basis. It means digging deeper by cross referencing and seeing what else God has to say on a subject. It’s reading study notes and commentaries, if you have them available. If we don’t know God’s word, then we won’t know how to discern what is from God and what is not from him.

Apply Understanding

“My son, preserve sound judgement and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble, when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of therein that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.” Proverbs 3:21-26

I wish we could say that gaining discernment was a formula we followed in the correct order. But it’s not. It’s something that we grow into and as these verses say, it’s something that we must preserve. When I canned peaches, I needed to prep my supplies and my fruit. It was an hour-long process, but the end result was the taste of summer in the middle of winter.

So it is with discernment. On a continuous basis, we input new information and experiences to learn from and apply to future situations. And it’s often in the winter seasons of life that we experience the benefits of storing up discernment.

Grow in Wisdom

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18

It’s too easy to intertwine the world’s wisdom with God’s. Sometimes what seems best isn’t best when it’s laid next to God’s word. Godly wisdom contains attributes that are lacking in the world’s understanding of wisdom. So we must ask ourselves: Is it pure? Does it love peace? Is it considerate? Does it submit to God’s ways? Does it bring about a harvest of good fruit and mercy? Does it show favoritism or is it impartial and sincere?

These questions guide us in a discerning path. We build wisdom that leads to discernment on the foundation of knowledge and understanding.

Receive God’s Anointing

“As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.” 1 John 2:27

God gifts us with his anointing, and we get to receive it. It’s this anointing of the Holy Spirit that reveals where our hearts are pulling us and it shows us the steps to take. It corrects our course and directs our steps. The Holy Spirit is the culmination of the power of God impressed within us. It’s what makes the word of God living and active—totally appropriate for any situation we find ourselves in. To receive God’s anointing is to receive discernment.

father and child reading the Bible together, things to teach your children about the Holy Spirit

Experience God’s Grace

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5

Keeping this truth in the forefront of our minds helps us to keep growing in God’s grace. His grace is what reveals and conceals. It reveals how much we need a savior, and it conceals or covers our desperate sinful state. But it’s learning to live God’s ways and being willing to make mistakes that we grow in discernment.

Acting on our beliefs activate our faith. And as we live in righteousness before God, we learn how much we need to depend on his grace. This dependence deepens our discernment because “self” gets pushed out of the way.

Grow in Maturity

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2-3

As we grow in discernment, we wrestle with the idea that we then need to share it with everyone. We make the mistake that every one of our discerning thoughts is for their benefit. Sometimes it’s true if the Spirit directs us. Other times, it’s the Spirit prompting us to pray. Discernment is for individuals as well as the body of Christ.

This is where maturity in Christ makes a difference. Discernment and maturity grow together. We make mistakes, but we also make a difference in people’s lives. The hallmarks of maturity are humility, gentleness, patience, and forbearance supported by love. Discernment without judgment occurs through knowledge of God’s word and observation of God’s ways with men.

Discernment grows over time and our choices affect the pace and extent of our growth. Discernment is the ability to perceive and distinguish. It grows as we grow in knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and maturity. It’s our ability to know whether God is leading us in one direction or another. Discernment is a gift of the spirit and a skill we cultivate.

[ Jessica Van Roekel ]

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“Becoming a Discerning Woman, Part One”

Well-Watered Women-Blog-Becoming a Discerning Woman | Discernment Part 1

FORMING AND UNDERSTANDING BELIEFS

I believed whatever professing Christians taught me growing up in church and youth group. They claimed to be believers, they had studied Scripture, and a few of them had degrees from Bible schools. Why shouldn’t I trust them? I knew to beware of false teachers, but I assumed they would be as obvious as spoiled milk.

Once I became a believer and a woman discipled me, I started to see how false teachers had woven themselves into the church. Slowly, I began seeing how they disguised themselves. I watched them lead the strong astray. And I even witnessed the damage of their errors.

False teachers aren’t extinct. They ran rampant in the Old Testament and tried to crush the ministry of Jesus. Some lurked in the days of the apostles, propagated heresy in church history, and they continue to slither through church doors today.

The Church today must watch closely for false teachers just like the Old Testament saints and the Early Church. We can’t rely on our pastors, mentors, teachers, or favorite bloggers to tell us who is false and who isn’t. It’s imperative we remain equipped to discern for ourselves. False teaching is damaging, and we can’t allow it to linger. As maturing believers, we need to develop discernment and learn to see false teachers when they arise.

WHY THE NEED FOR CAREFUL, THOROUGH DISCERNMENT?

False teachers aren’t always obvious. Though some are, with magic tricks and greed for money, they still lead many astray with their deceptive hope. Other false teachers deceive people by blending in. They masquerade as believers, mix truth with falsehood, and say what we want to hear. Jesus describes them as wolves disguised as sheep sneaking in to devour the flock (Matthew 7:15).

With the same vivid language, Paul warned the leaders in Ephesus to guard their church: “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:29–30 NASB). False teachers can rise up within our own churches and denominations to draw people away from the truth of the gospel.

This is why discernment is a necessary skill to be nurtured in each of us. It’s not only for ourselves so we aren’t drawn away, but to help protect our fellow brothers and sisters so they aren’t led astray either. We should be propelled by a love for the body of believers to expose false teachers for what they are. The Church should also be fueled by a love for God’s Word—to see it preached and taught accurately to His glory. This is why we need careful, thorough discernment.

THE TWO TOOLS FOR DISCERNMENT

Without looking me in the eyes, women have said, “I’m not like you, I don’t know how to recognize when something isn’t in line with God’s Word.” But I am no one special. My ability to discern doesn’t come from special giftings or extensive training. It’s not because I’ve spent hours researching every single Bible teacher and memorizing which ones are false and which are solid. (I tried that, and it failed miserably.) I’m only able to discern truth from error because God is at work in my heart through his Word and the Holy Spirit—which can be true of you as well.

Scripture is the measure against which we should hold every Bible teacher—even the ones committed to sound doctrine. All people, no matter how careful and studious, make mistakes and misinterpret. But God’s Word is always perfect (Psalm 19:7–9). Rather than looking to see if Scripture agrees with a teacher’s words, we need to examine the teacher against God’s Word to see if they are aligned with it. This is impossible if we aren’t already abiding in Scripture.

THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT IN YOU

But knowledge of the Bible without the power of the Holy Spirit is useless. The Spirit is the One who applies the Bible to our hearts and brings it to mind when we need it (John 14:26, 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10–13). This same Spirit testifies of the true gospel in our souls when others try to deceive us. It’s the Holy Spirit who keeps true believers safe from eternal deception, guarding them until the day Christ returns. We can’t discern by the power of our own minds—we need the Spirit fueling us.

This power isn’t something we conjure up with enough faith or doing the right things or having the right experiences. The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity who abides in every believer upon salvation. At the moment God opens our eyes to understand the gospel and gives us the faith to believe it, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in our hearts and do the transforming work only He can do.

Sister, maybe you don’t feel like the smartest woman in your Bible study. Maybe books like Ezekiel and Revelation leave you dumbfounded and you have no idea how Leviticus applies to you. Don’t feel defeated. If you have the Holy Spirit, you have His divine help every moment, including when you open the Word. “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12). The necessary gospel truths are made available to you as a daughter of God by the indwelling Holy Spirit. He is always with you, teaching you these things as Christ promised His disciples (John 14:26).

GROWING IN DISCERNMENT

Paul described false teachers this way when he wrote to Timothy:

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these. For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (2 Timothy 3:1–8 NASB, emphasis added)

Sisters, will we be weak women who are taken captive by every sweet-sounding deception? Or will we stand strong in the Word? We need to fill ourselves with the Word of God so that we will know when we are being taught something inaccurate. We need to be led and guided by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit first, not the words of fellow fallible humans.

False teachers are everywhere. New ones will pop up demanding we believe them. We need to be able to see past their faux sheep wool to see the grey fur of the wolf underneath. Will we have the discernment to do so?

[ Lara D’Entremont ]

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“What is DISCERNMENT? What does DISCERNMENT mean? DISCERNMENT meaning, definition & explanation”

Discernment is the ability to obtain sharp perceptions or to judge well (or the activity of so doing). In the case of judgment, discernment can be psychological or moral in nature. Within judgment, discernment involves going past the mere perception of something and making nuanced judgments about its properties or qualities. Considered as a virtue, a discerning individual is considered to possess wisdom, and be of good judgement; especially so with regard to subject matter often overlooked by others.

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNQIMqT5nyc

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“SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT: WHAT IS IT?”

What is discernment? More specifically, what is spiritual discernment? We’ve described it as our error detection system and something that is needed to lighten our darkened eyes. Today we will explore in greater detail the definition of discernment and how it fits in the life of the believer.

What Is It?

John MacArthur in his book Reckless Faith: When the Church Loses its Will to Discern, describes discernment as “the ability to understand, interpret, and apply truth skillfully.” Let’s begin our study with this basic definition and how discernment is used in the New and Old Testament.

The Language of Discernment

In the Old Testament (written in Hebrew), there are three (3) key words used to describe discernment. The first (ben) refers to intervals or spaces placed between different objects. It implies a judgment that is needed in order to make the proper separation. This word is used in an earlier scripture we studied in which Solomon requested from God the ability to judge or make the proper separation between right and wrong. (1 Kin. 3:9Open in Logos Bible Software (if available))

The second (bina) translates to mean understanding; it refers to intellectual understanding. The warning is Proverbs 3:5Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) to “lean not to you own understanding” highlights the use of this translation of discernment. Daniel’s ability to understand dreams also illustrates this word in Daniel 10:1Open in Logos Bible Software (if available).

The final use (tebuna) implies skill or cleverness for determining the right course of action. In Deuteronomy 32, the central theme is the prophecy of Israel’s future apostasy as a result of their inability to discern the right course of action: “They are a nation void of sense; there is no understanding in them. If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern what the end would be.” (Deut. 32:28-29Open in Logos Bible Software (if available))

The Greek word for discernment (diakrino) in the New Testament carries similar meanings as in the Old Testament but introduces the concept of making a distinction or judging. Paul uses this translation in 1 Cor. 2:14-15Open in Logos Bible Software (if available) as he explains the inability of the “natural man” to accept (or make a distinction between) the things of God and the world because they must be “spiritually discerned”.

Truth: The Standard for Spiritual Discernment

Recognizing the various descriptions of discernment, how are we as believers to separate right from wrong? On what are we to base our understandings? How do we choose the right course of action?

On what do we base our spiritual discernment?

At the heart of discernment is truth. That is why the Church and Christians, in general, are concerned with the definition (and decline) of truth in our current society. Without a standard for moral conduct and behavior, man constructs his own definition of truth which, many times, is influenced by his personal beliefs and individual preferences.

In the absence of a reliable standard, counterfeits fill the void. These counterfeits deceive, distract, and ultimately destroy those plans God has designed for individuals and for the furtherance of His kingdom (Eph. 2:10Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)). So how does truth work with discernment? Truth operates as a “counterfeit detector”.

To Catch a Counterfeiter

One would think (at least I did) that to identify counterfeit money, one need only be trained to look for errors or mistakes on the fake bill. To the contrary, agents of the government are trained instead to recognize what a genuine bill looks like. The approach used for distinguishing a genuine bill is summarized in the phrase “touch, tilt, look through, look at”. In each step, the examiner knows the characteristics of the genuine bill Thieves are continually at work to improve their counterfeit techniques so the fakes often “change”. However, the genuine bill never changes—it always the same.

God’s Truth and Discernment

This is also the case with God’s truth (which includes His character)—it never changes (Malachi 3:6Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)). God’s truth is found in two places—His Word (the Bible) and His Holy Spirit. These two “truth standards” remain unchanged—regardless of time, circumstance, or social deviations (Heb. 13:8Open in Logos Bible Software (if available); Isaiah 40:8Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)). God’s Word and Spirit allows us “to separate truth from error”, providing us a foundation on which “to base our understanding” and equips us “to determine the right course of action.”

Truth or Error

Take a look around the world we live in today. Whose truth would you say is being followed–Satan’s or God’s? It is evident that we live in a broken world. However, that does not negate our ability to recognize and utilize God’s truth and authority in guiding our choices and lifestyle. With God’s truth and the Holy Spirit, spiritual discernment is possible. Without these two, spiritual discernment is impossible (remember 1 Cor. 2:14-15Open in Logos Bible Software (if available)).

When we choose to disregard the authority of Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit, we are inviting chaos and disorder into the world. We become willing participants in Satan’s plans.

Have we, as a nation and Church suppressed the truth in exchange for political influence? Have we chosen social correctness and financial gain over that which honors God? Have we exchanged the truth for the lie? (Rom. 1:18-25Open in Logos Bible Software (if available))

So what is spiritual discernment?

Spiritual discernment is the ability to recognize and use God’s truth and authority to guide our life. God’s Word and His Spirit is the “standard for truth” and help to identify error and deception.

[ In The Word Ministries ]

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“How To Apply Spiritual Discernment In Business”

What Is Spiritual Discernment? And what is Discernment? Why is both discernment and spiritual discernment such an important part of your spiritual journey and your spiritual business. [more…]

[ Eileen Burns ]

Article: https://spiritualmarketingclub.com/apply-spiritual-discernment-in-business/

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“What God is NOT Saying”

[ Chris Rosebrough ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRjgsekwRCc

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“Shepherds Fighting Wolves Are Shepherds Loving Sheep”

Shepherds who fight wolves are shepherds who love sheep. Conversely, shepherds who deal gently with wolves are dealing harshly with the sheep. Watch this clip with Pastor Joel Webbon and @Justin Peters Ministriesas they bring clarity to this controversial topic. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more content like this and subscribe to our podcast Theology Applied for the full interview!

[ Joel Webbon ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkwJV4gTGmU

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“A Serious Study of the Best “Name-It-and-Claim-It” Verse Ever: The Mark Series pt 43 (11:22-25)”

Honestly, I really struggled in prep for this study. At first I found myself wanting to just make sure that this passage wasn’t used for the kind of stuff Kenneth Copeland teaches.

But I sensed that, in my desire to avoid a particular interpretation, I might be blinding myself to what the passage is saying. So, I took a different approach, one that I try to always take but one that was particularly difficult for me to do this time around. I took myself out of the debate over “name-it-and-claim-it” teaching in the 21st century and instead sought to thoroughly understand how this radical passage makes sense in the context of Mark and the rest of the New Testament.

The result has been a really rewarding study on the power of prayer and the reality of faith in the midst of suffering. This passage doesn’t fit “name-it-and-claim-it” and it doesn’t fit cessationism either. My hope is that I can bring clarity with this study and stir up faith. Faith for miracles and faith for suffering.

[ Mike Winger ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvA5ZWDSdmo

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“Brought To You By “Progressive Christianity””

[ Mike Winger ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vy6MBEaHMkg&t=404

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“The Power of Discernment”

In a rapidly changing world, amid a deluge of ideas and opinions, how can we clearly see what is right and wrong? Where can we find true wisdom?

The Power of Discernment

Why is there so much confusion in the world when it comes to morality? What is good and what is evil? Who defines it? What about those gray areas where so many find it hard to decide?

Why does corruption seem to happen on all levels of government and no one bats an eye? Who is to say what is right or wrong when it comes to sexuality?

These questions boggle the minds of many. But the Bible has the answer to help us distinguish between good and evil. God also offers the power of discernment to those willing to understand.

Who’s to decide?

In some cases, it’s pretty easy to separate good and evil. Terrorist suicide bombers: evil. Helping the poor and needy: good. But in most cases recognizing good and evil seems to be a subjective judgment, with a lot of room for gray in our individual opinions. Scripture tells us that, left to ourselves, we are not always able to define good and evil by godly standards (Proverbs 14:12).

Yet there is a stern warning about knowing the difference. The prophet Isaiah boldly warned, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

But God did not leave mankind in the dark to figure out the difference between good and evil on our own. God wants us to make a distinction and to choose to do what is good. King David wrote, “Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Psalm 34:14).

The apostle John also points out where God desires His committed followers to stand: “Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God” (3 John 1:11).

So, how does God define good?

The 10 Commandments

The apostle Paul says that “the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good” (Romans 7:12). God, through Moses, told the nation of Israel to “observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God” (Deuteronomy 12:28). When Jesus Christ was on the earth, He reiterated the importance of keeping the commandments (Matthew 19:17).

The 10 Commandments listed in Exodus 20 are the basic fundamentals for doing what God defines as good. Because God loves us, He wants to show us how to truly love Him and our neighbors. The 10 Commandments teach us how to do this.

When a lawyer asked Jesus Christ what the greatest commandment in the law was, He summarized the 10 Commandments in this way: “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37-38). Taking a closer look, we see this encompasses the first four of the 10 Commandments, revealing how to worship and honor God.

Jesus continued, “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (verse 39). Loving and respecting our fellow man covers the last six of the 10 Commandments. Jesus concluded, “On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (verse 40).

If you would like to learn more about God’s 10 Commandments, we offer four different ways for you to explore the Bible’s teaching on this topic:

Articles: Begin with “The 10 Commandments and God’s Way of Life,” then scroll down to follow the links to related articles.

Videos: A 12-part series begins with “10 Commandments: Transformed by the 10.”

Free, downloadable booklet: God’s 10 Commandments: Still Relevant Today.

Audio booklet: God’s 10 Commandments: Still Relevant Today.

So, what is discernment?

Charles Spurgeon once said, “Discernment is not a matter of simply telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.” In the Bible, one of the Hebrew words translated “discern” also means to “understand, consider … perceive” (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, H995, biyn).

In the New Testament the Greek word translated “discerning” is diakrisis, which means “a distinguishing, discerning, judging” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon). Throughout the Bible, we see the importance of distinguishing between good and evil. As we use the 10 Commandments as our guide for goodness, we will also be able to more clearly see what is evil or sinful.

However, the gray areas of good and evil still confront us from time to time. We are unable to determine the motives or desires of others. At times, we may get emotionally involved in a social or political issue where we just can’t see the absolute line between good and evil. What do we do then?

Prayer: the example of Solomon

After the death of his father David, Solomon was set to be the next king of Israel. But he knew he needed help.

God asked Solomon in a dream: “Ask! What shall I give you?” (1 Kings 3:5).

Solomon responded, “Now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (verses 7-9).

When we can’t distinguish between good or evil, when we can’t discern whether the motives of others are right or wrong, the first place to go is to God, our Heavenly Father, in prayer. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

God was so pleased with Solomon’s reply that He approved his request. “I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you” (1 Kings 3:12).

Solomon asked in faith for discernment. So can you!

Exercising discernment

Discernment isn’t a permanent gift. We must “use it or lose it.”After praying for discernment and receiving God’s Spirit, which is a gift of God given after one repents and is baptized, we must exercise discernment—we must continue to obey. Again, consider Solomon’s example. He initially had wisdom and discernment, but he lost it when he allowed his personal desires to thwart his judgment and wisdom (1 Kings 11:4-10). He lost his discernment—his heart was turned, and he practiced evil—which led to disaster.

We, too, must continue to obey so that we don’t lose the power of discernment. Hebrews 5:13-14 says maturity and discernment are the result of “use” and exercise of the “word of righteousness.”

Discernment isn’t a permanent gift. We must “use it or lose it.”

The Kingdom of God

The good news is that one day in the near future, good will triumph over evil. Jesus Christ will return to earth, and at His command an angel will bind Satan (Revelation 20:2). Satan once deceived Adam and Eve into eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and the entire world followed suit (Revelation 12:9). But his rule will end when Jesus Christ returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16).

For now we need discernment to know the difference between right and wrong. But in the future the 10 Commandments will be the law of the land. God’s ways will be globally taught, and as all people learn to obey God’s laws, they will enjoy peace and prosperity (Isaiah 2:3-4). There will be no more confusion between right and wrong, and mankind will have access to the ignored tree of life (see our article “The Tree of Life”).

You, too, can be a part of this wonderful future! After going through the process of repentance and baptism, we should be eager to keep the commandments and “turn away from evil and do good” (1 Peter 3:11). God promises eternal life to those who are willing to change their lives in this way (1 John 2:25).

Jesus Christ expressly states in the last book of the Bible, “Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city” (Revelation 22:14).

[ Kevin Scarbrough ]

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“A Call to Discernment”

Hebrews 5:11-14, Hebrews 6:1

While many Christians want to know what God says, few seem prepared to do the work required to distinguish God’s truth from falsehood. Tim Challies calls this work “discernment”—judging between right and wrong based on the characteristics of the One who is truly righteous. Practicing careful judgment is a requirement for all Christians, who must protect the Gospel from distortion. Discernment allows us to root out everything that would compromise the good news of Jesus and harm the body of Christ.

[ Tim Challies ]

Teaching: https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/gs-call-to-discernment-a/

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“Discernment and Our Response to False Teachers”

Truth In Love 2021 | Session 4

[ David Doran ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF1OmbJ_Axk

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“Biblical Discernment”

An Interview With Justin Peters

[ Caleb Hilbert ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ngv0Ok-7OQ

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“How to Spot a Counterfeit Like Troy Brewer”

[ Chris Rosebrough ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd0-LL4q3Fg

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“Debunking Larry Huch on the Passover”

[ Chris Rosebrough ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZIYEyuA-GY

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“New Age, Charismatic, Prosperity “Gospel” and Word of Faith Movement”

This video will be a conversation surrounding new age, charismatic teachings, prosperity gospel and the word of faith movement with my friend and sister in Christ Melissa Dougherty. Melissa has a great channel that you’ll want to subscribe to that I’ll link below! I know this is a long video but I hope you enjoy our conversation.

[ Allen Parr ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lF_3a1pgaE

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“How False Prophesiers Get You”

A couple of those who gave failed prophesies concerning Trump getting in office have apologized. Others, not so much; they made excuses instead. I believe that they should be held accountable, and should be questioned about what went wrong. We need to work together to ensure things like this don’t continue to happen, and we don’t turn a blind eye to those who made God look like a liar.

[ John McCray ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDVMkHHOEjU

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“Subtle Ways to Abandon the Authority of Scripture”

Even while committed to God’s Word, pastors may be influenced indirectly to reduce their trust in the authority of the Scriptures. In this session, D. A. Carson gives examples of how this can occur, the dangers it represents to Gospel ministry, and strategies that pastors can employ to meet these challenges effectively. As Christian ministers hold fast to biblical truth and communicate it to their congregations, the difference between God’s truth and worldly viewpoints is made clear and the church is edified.

[ Alistair Begg ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdfZV0iNHGw

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“The Dangers of False Prophecies in the Church”

Jon McCray and I recently both posted videos discussing false prophecies concerning the most recent United States election. We both recognize that false prophecies are a huge issue in the church that extend far beyond politics. So, Jon and I will come together tomorrow to discuss some of the dangers of false prophecies as well as answer any questions YOU may have regarding prophecy in general.

[ Allen Parr ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPvebPncDns

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“Clouds Without Water”

[ Justin Peters ]

Session 1 – Dangerous Doctrines: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS0Mpa5BRzE

Session 2 – Mangled Manifestations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoU1XHrOwgg

Session 2 – Q&A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6sY4KmbSqw

Session 3 – The Hurt of Healing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKXn9-CxQwg

Session 3 – Q&A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfHIEh883ks

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“What is Discernment?”

[ Steven Lawson ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6dePU1fKUc

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“Phil Johnson: Discernment in Days of Defection”

Truth In Love 2021 | Session 1

[ Phil Johnson ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3lFdi79n0s

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“Spiritual Shipwreck of the Word-Faith Movement”

It’s good to be with you once again. I thank you very much for coming. And what we will be doing in this session is we’ll be looking at some of the more dramatic, some of the more spectacular things of the Word/Faith Movement and the gist of this, the direction we’ll be looking at how these practices that we’ll be looking at, the abuse of tongues, the practice of divine revelation knowledge, the claims of people who say they’ve been to heaven, how these things divorce people from their reliance upon the sufficient Word of God. And at the end of our time, we’ll be looking a little bit at physical healing. This seminar is about seven hours in length, I’m trying to condense it down to two. Yesterday’s session and today, so we’ll be just hitting a few of the high points and we’ll be going very quickly through this, but if you would like the full seminar, they do have my DVDs entitled “Clouds Without Water” in the bookstore, those are available for you. And so…let’s begin. [more…]

[ Justin Peters ]

Teaching: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/TM13-16

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“The Devilish Puppet Master of the Word-Faith Movement”

Well it is a joy to be with You and what we will be doing in this session and tomorrow’s session is that we will be looking at the Word of Faith Movement, more commonly known as the Health and Wealth Gospel, the Prosperity Gospel, Name it and Claim it gospel. Basically the doctrine that says it is always God’s will to be wealthy and it is always God’s will for a Christian to be physically healed. We should never be sick.

If some of you may be familiar with my previous seminar entitled “A Call For Discernment,” and this is an updated version. I’ve added a lot of new material, a lot of new false teachers out now entitled it Clouds Without Water…Clouds Without Water. And this is a reference in Jude verse 12, and Jude refers to false teachers in a number of different ways and one of the ways that he refers to them is as clouds without water. They have the appearance of having some sustenance, some nourishment, but nothing falls from them. There is no nourishment, the ground below these false teachers, these clouds without water is dry and parched. And so that’s what we will be looking at.

[ Justin Peters ]

Teaching: https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/TM13-10

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“Strange Fire Panel”

Question and Answer

Session 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhG2CBVQy3w

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“Telling the Truth in a Post-Truth World”

Session 1

[ John MacArthur ]

Teaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwDoH7VzNxA&list=PLcpTMSL-FR-djoAmKdZhOo3HbDxW80o6n

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“40 Years Later: R.C. Sproul on Biblical Inerrancy—Remembering R.C. and the Chicago Statement”

This New Year marks the fortieth anniversary of the acclaimed Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978) and the first year that we will all be without the beloved R.S. Sproul (1939-2017).

Initially signed by some 240 evangelical scholars (such as J.I. Packer, Roger Nicole, John MacArthur, Francis Schaeffer, etc.) and adopted by The Evangelical Theological Society back in 2003, the Statement continues to stand as a bastion of pure blooded Protestantism. [more…]

[ Will Graham ]

Article: https://evangelicalfocus.com/fresh-breeze/3140/40-years-later-rc-sproul-on-biblical-inerrancy

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SONGS:

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“Perfect Wisdom of Our God”

The perfect wisdom of our God,
Revealed in all the universe:
All things created by His hand,
And held together at His command.
He knows the mysteries of the seas,
The secrets of the stars are His;
He guides the planets on their way,
And turns the earth through another day.

The matchless wisdom of His ways,
That mark the path of righteousness;
His word a lamp unto my feet,
His Spirit teaching and guiding me.
And oh, the mystery of the cross,
That God should suffer for the lost
So that the fool might shame the wise,
And all the glory might go to Christ!

Oh grant me wisdom from above,
To pray for peace and cling to love,
And teach me humbly to receive
The sun and rain of Your sovereignty.
Each strand of sorrow has a place
Within this tapestry of grace;
So through the trials I choose to say:
“Your perfect will in your perfect way.”

[ Keith & Kristyn Getty ]

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APOLOGETIX SONGS:

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“Land of Delusion”
(Parody of “Land of Confusion” by Genesis)

I must have seen a thousand scenes
Of violence on the silver screen
But I didn’t see them march in the street
Till a movie showed Jesus bleed
Now Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
They’ve taken mangers off display
But I can see the Bible still is right
And turning men to the light
There’s too many sins and too many steeples Filled with too many cobwebs
And there’s not enough of us who hold our ground Can’t you see this is a land of delusion?
This is the world’s religion:
Everything else but Christian
You’d better just stop trying
To make it a place for fitting in
They sue a man for arguin’ now
That any sin is wrong somehow
But men who steal they put in power
With liars in tall ivory towers
And this is a crime, and it’s a disgrace
But the Book tells our future
And God must judge on those grounds
(I’ll) tell you why – this is a land of delusion
This is the Word He’s written
And these are commands He’s given
Do them and let’s stop lying
And making new ways to live in sin
I remember long ago
Men were prophesying
What they prophesied is all proven right
In this atheist madness that we failed to fight
So long ago
I won’t be calling darkness light
Read Revelation, He’ll put it right
‘Cause God don’t break His promises
And we know He never sleeps
There’s too many men who do many evils Thinking He’ll never stop them
But God knows what’s been goin’ down
They’re deceived – this is a land of delusion (Now) this is the Word He’s written
And these are commands He’s given
Do them and let’s start trying
To beg Him for grace ‘cause time is short
This is the world’s religion
It’s anything else but Christian
Read Second Thessalonians
Verse 2:11 ‘cause it’s true

[ ApologetiX – “Future Tense” album ]

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“Learning Blasphemies”
(Parody of “Turning Japanese” by The Vapors)

I’ve got the Scripture – I read it through
The Lord above you – He told me to
I’ll still declare when there’s nothing else that’s true
Though at some college – they tear it down
Their lies are hateful – they’re circus clowns
They call them Christians but they only mess around

I love the Scripture – you got the picture
There’s like a million Bibles up on my shelf
I learn the doctrines of sacred Scripture
So I can look at truth and divide it well
Because they’re churning out some learned men
Who certainly aren’t born again

They’re learning blasphemies, I think, at their academies
I really think so
Learning blasphemies, I think, at their academies
I really think so
Learning blasphemies, I think, at their academies
I really think so
Learning blasphemies, I think, at their academies
I really think so

There’s lot of preachers, who doubt the Scriptures
There’s like a million guys who all deny Hell
Although they’re doctors, and they can lecture
Go out and look at truth in Hebrews 4:12
Because they’re churning out some learned men
Who certainly aren’t born again

No Text, no Judge, no Bible-livin’
No Son, no Sin, no Truth, no wonder it’s dark
Everyone around there needs a personal Savior
Everyone avoids Him like an ice-cold graveyard – everyone

That’s why they’re learning blasphemies, I think, at their academies
I really think so
Learning blasphemies, I think, at their academies
I really think so
Learning blasphemies, I think, at their academies
I really think so
Learning blasphemies, I think, at their academies
I really think so

Learning blasphemies, I think, at their academies
I really think so
Turn to Second Peter – read the second chapter, please
I really think so
Learning blasphemies, they won’t be learning that from me
I really think so (think so, think so, think so)
Turn to Second Timothy – the verse is 2:15
I really think so

[ Apologetix – “Zebraic” album ]

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“It’s Not Eden”
Parody of “Superman (It’s Not Easy)” by Five for Fighting)

I can’t stand to lie; I got that from Eve
I just had a bite; You gave her, Lord, to me
I warned her at first; I more than explained
That’s more than some pretty fruit beside a snake
But it’s not easy to be deceived

I wish that I could hide, find a pile of leaves
Finally we’re wise, now my home I’ll never see
There may be a curse upon me like Eve
But even she will have a righteous seed
I may be just dirt, but once she conceives
Even we may have our rights redeemed
But it’s not easy to be with Eve

Told us get away, away from here, but it’s all alright
We can all be grounded tonight
I’m not angry or anything

I can’t stand to fight; I’m not mad at Eve
Men weren’t meant for pride; it clouds the things they need
I’m only a man, but still You said she’d
Be pregnant with kids tonight and that’s one way we
Know there’s a plan, so Lord we’ll yet seek
Looking for special things inside of Eve, in spite of me
In spite of me, inside of Eve, in spite of me

I’m only a man in Genesis three
I’m only a man lookin’ for a seed
I’m the only and there’s only just Eve
And it’s not Eden
It’s not easy to leave here

[ ApologetiX – “Adam Up” album ]

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“There Are Wolves Among Us”
(Parody of “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon)

I saw a weird wolf with a Bible trembling in his hand
Talkin’ to the sheep that don’t know where to graze
He was lookin’ for some ways to fleece those flocks
Gonna get a big church and preach ’bout faith

Aw hoo! There are wolves among us
Aw hoo!
Aw hoo! There are wolves among us
Aw hoo!

I hear ’em prowling around on Christian shows
Whenever I tune ’em in
Seen the holy Word of God mutilated late last night
They’ll do it Sunday again

Aw hoo! There are wolves among us
Aw hoo!
Aw hoo! There are wolves among us
Aw hoo!
Huh!
LEAD

If you dare to say repent
They’ll brand you a malcontent
Label me an overzealous naysayer
“You’d better stay away,” they grin
We preach on love, not sin!”
Huh, then why’d we need a Savior

Aw hoo! There are wolves among us
Aw hoo!
Aw hoo! There are wolves among us
Aw hoo!

Well, I saw the Lord Jesus warnin’ you and me
We should beware of wolves among us
I saw the Lord Jesus do it in Matthew 7:15 — uh
We should beware of wolves among us
I saw various Apostles speakin’ to people about it — I made a list
It’s filled with verses – ha!
Aw hooooooo! Acts 20:29
There are wolves among us
Jude 1:4
Aw hooooooo! 2 Peter 2:1
There are wolves among us
1 John 4:1
Aw hooooooo!
There are wolves among us

[ ApologetiX – “Only a Glorified Cover Band” album ]

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“I Found the Answer There”
(Parody of “I Saw Her Standing There” by The Beatles)

Want to read more!
Well, see, in Acts 17
The dudes were known as Bereans
And they read the Book
Each day when Paul was there
Now all of them are our brothers
‘Cause they saw the answer there
Well, 1 Pete, 3:15
Tells me – we should be
Ready for the ones
That call on us to share
Why we have plans for forever
‘Cause we saw the answer there
Well, you start that book
With a heart that looks
And an open-ended mind
Well, we can’t prove what’s right
If we don’t know what’s inside
So before too long we all should learn the Word
Now is your chance to discover
How I saw the answer there
LEAD
REPEAT THIRD VERSE

[ ApologetiX – “Isn’t, Wasn’t, Ain’t” album ]

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“Mr Don’t”
(Parody of “Mr. Jones” performed by Counting Crows)

Shi-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nar
Mmm uh huh

They’re planning the new age today
Preparin’ this mellow, better world
But they don’t like all the born-again Christians
‘Cause we’re backward — and we think so different
You know, they said there’s quite a lot of ways — to God
It sounds really beautiful
But we’ve all known someone beautiful
Who we found out was not so truthful

So, “Come dance,” the sirens shout to the poor men
Shi-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-ni-nar-yeah
Uh huh — yeah-eh-eh
Come up to see us — don’t miss out on this planning session, and
Let’s meet in Babel — Mister, don’t!
Believe you me — you can’t believe in everything
And I — I wanna discern what’s true belief, yeah-eh-eh

Mister, don’t scam me — hell is not a fairy tale
And with very exclusive religions — then two can’t be true
Ah no, no, just look and you’ll see
Smilin’ men in bright white
Connin’ you, mysterious
But if every path it was true
Truth would never need showing

Well, I’m gonna read the Scriptures
Read myself what Jesus really had to say
All of the books of the Bible are very, very meaningful
Yeah, well, you know, they do not believe it, brother
Ah ahhh, it’s all symbolic, yes, they say
If they knew the Gospel — they’d know Christ Himself proclaimed there’s just one Way

Mister, don’t jam me — look into the Scriptures
And compare them to Buddha for wisdom
These both can’t be true
I don’t think so — they don’t look alike to me
Blending them is not right
They’ve bought themselves a bridge too far
And it’s very warm and fuzzy, but it’ll never be ho-o-o-o-o-o-o-ly

I will not believe baloney
And I’m never gonna be phony
I don’t believe in lyin’
Yeah, everybody wants a path that’s fat
They all want us to think we’re God
Yeah, but — He’s got a bit of an issue with that
We need belief — but I don’t believe in everything — and I
I found in His Son the true belief, true belief, true belief, yeah-eh
Mister, don’t slam me — somewhat true is not enough
And the stairway that you built to Heaven
Seems perfect to you
But it’s not the peace with God that you need
Don’t wanna be dumb children
Mister, don’t just believe in something that’s a little more fun, see when
Anybody snubs truth — God’s Son — said death is not a fun thing, as you can read

Mister, don’t blame me — declarin’ that you didn’t know
When I look at the world’s religions
I don’t see these parallel paths you see
The Almighty is a big God
But they don’t know Christ, so they don’t know Him
But when antichrist arrives here, they’re gonna see
Things are gonna happen as Christ decreed
Yes, there’s no Plan B
It’s gonna leave a big mark

[ ApologetiX – “Decent Alternative” album ]

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“Smart Blessed Man”
(Parody of “Sharp Dressed Man” by ZZ Top)

In First Kings 2
My daddy told me what I gotta do
Real soon, Dad died
I gotta lead the Israelites
I told God to make me wise as He can
‘Cause Israel needs to have a smart blest man

Don’t want diamond rings
I need wisdom from the King of Kings
God said: “Slick pick!
Since you said that I’m gonna make you rich
They’ll come runnin’ from the farthest of lands
To hear the Lord’s wisdom from a smart, blest man.”

Got gold, got class
But I don’t care because it all will pass
Get faith, find love
If you’re smart, those are enough
Then ask God to make you wise as He can
And everyone will say that you’re a smart, blest man

I said, Lord, make me wise now, I’m just lookin’ for some … wisdom
And He did it — I don’t know how, how, how
But He did it — He’ll do anything for his people — just ask Pharaoh He’s got plagues — He knows how to use them
He never begs — He don’t bow to humans
But He’ll help you out — He’ll make you wise — yeah
You know what I’m talking about!
So I ask Him now, now, now, now — how now brown cow?
It’s hard to — hard to sing — with all this beard in my mouth
How come guy named “Beard” doesn’t have one?
Hee hee hee

[ ApologetiX – “Biblical Grafitti” album ]

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“Stay Deceased”
(Parody of “Stay with Me” by Faces)

Wooo!

Get in here!

If you’re quotin’ Ecclesiastes
Chapter 9:5, 6, and 10 at the door
I know you claim to read it
But discernment still is needed
Since when is Solomon our only source?
Get smart! Woo!

I don’t believe in what you’re stating
That those beneath the ground are waiting
And in the place they’re at you do nothing but lie about
I’ve read Philippians, yeah, and we can tell
It’s clear he don’t mean that for just himself
Let’s go right there and read 1:21
C’mon, honey

Stay deceased – stay deceased
Those who die don’t ever stay deceased
Oh, yeah!
Stay deceased – stay deceased
Those who die don’t ever stay deceased
Ahh, one more

Ohh Hoo!

Go check the story
Jesus gave ‘bout Lazarus
And the wealthy man in Luke 16 now once more
Second C’rinthians 5:8 shows
When I leave this world then I’ll just go home
And Luke 23 in verse 43 ties things up
C’mon honey!

Stay deceased – stay deceased
No, you’re not just gonna stay deceased
Sit down! Cheer up! Chill out!
Stay deceased – stay deceased
No, you’re not just gonna stay deceased

Hey, what’s your name again?

Oh-oh no-oh!

Chill out!

Whoa!

Chill out!
Oh-oh no-oh!

Whoa!

Give yourself hope!

No doubt, babe

Wooo! Woo-hoo!
Pray with me!
Woo!

[ ApologetiX – “Sandwich Platter” album ]

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“Isn’t Wasn’t Ain’t”
(Parody of “Livin’ Lovin’ Maid (She’s Just a Woman)” by Led Zeppelin)

There’s some people who will tell you we can all be gods
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
They go around sayin’ “New Age” a lot
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible

I know Satan always tells a lie
No matter how good it sounds
Take a look in your Bible
You can bet it isn’t written down

Purgatory, purgatory, wherever that is
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
Man, there ain’t no place for payin’ off your sins
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible

I know Satan always tells a lie
No matter how good it sounds
Take a look in your Bible
You can bet it isn’t written down

Good and bad karma don’t make sense to me
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
If you can’t remember who you used to be
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible

Somebody says that there are lots of ways
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
But you’ll find out different on your dyin’ day
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible

I know Satan always tells a lie
No matter how good it sounds
Take a look in your Bible
You can bet it isn’t written down

Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
Isn’t, wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible
It isn’t, it isn’t, it wasn’t, it wasn’t — ain’t in the Bible

[ ApologetiX – “Isn’t Wasn’t Ain’t” Album ]

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DEEP THOUGHTS:

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“Men make counterfeit money; in many more cases, money makes counterfeit men.”
[ Sydney J. Harris ]

“Once you know true love you will never again be deceived by its counterfeit.”
[ Kate McGahan ]

“There is no way to counterfeit courage; we either have it or we do not”
[ T. F. Hodge ]

“Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.”
[ Hosea Ballou ]

“True friends appear less moved than counterfeit.”
[ Homer ]

“It’s probably easier and cheaper to counterfeit hundred-dollar bills than it is to counterfeit Bitcoin.”
[ Naval Ravikant ]

“We must know how to discern between God’s truth and the devil’s counterfeit.”
[ Sunday Adelaja ]

“Satan tries to counterfeit the work of God, and by doing this, he may deceive many. To make us lose hope, feel miserable like himself, and believe that we are beyond forgiveness, Satan might even misuse words from the scriptures that emphasize the justice of God in order to imply that there is no mercy.”
[ Dieter F. Uchtdorf ]

“Discernment is the ability to see things for what they REALLY are and not for what you WANT them to be.”
[ Author unknown ]

“Magic is about understanding—and then manipulating—how viewers digest sensory information.”
[ Teller (of Penn & Teller ]

“The core of every trick is aa cold, cognitive experiment in perception.”
[ Teller (of Penn & Teller ]

“A magician’s data sample spans centuries, and his experiments have been replicated often enough to constitute near-certainty.”
[ Teller (of Penn & Teller ]

“Just because I’ve revealed how a magic trick is done doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to figure out every single trick because there are thousands of ways to do one single trick.”
[ Jonathan Hsu ]

“So, magicians like the fool audiences by exposing the gaps of logic in their

brains. There’s three methods that I like which are: “Attention control,” “misdirection,” and “simulation.”
[ Jonathan Hsu ]

“Obscurity is dispelled by augmenting the light of discernment, not by attacking the darkness.”
[ Socrates ]

“He who knows others is clever; He who knows himself has discernment.”
[ Laozi ]

“Sound judgement, with discernment is the best of seers.”
[ Euripides ]

“We should not fret for what is past, nor should we be anxious about the future; men of discernment deal only with the present moment.”
[ Chanakya ]

“True sincerity reveals a powerful form of clarity and discernment that is necessary in order to perceive yourself honestly without flinching or being held captive by your conditioned mind’s judgments and defensiveness.””
[ Adyashanti ]

Look at the means which a man employs, consider his motives, observe his pleasures. A man simply cannot conceal himself!”
[ Confucius ]

“Enlightenment is construed as seeing things as they really are rather than as they appear; it is a direct insight into, and discernment of, the nature of reality that is apprehended only by wisdom, which transcends and is prior to the activity of discriminative thought. In this view, delusion is defined as all that is opposed to enlightenment.”
[ Kim Hee-jin ]

“On love, not harming others, and respecting all beings. Even animals have these elements in their behavioral patterns. We should start by observing how animals act. They are honest and appreciate it when we are honest with them. If you present something nice to an animal in one hand while hiding a rope in the other, the creature will know your intention. Yet animals have no religion, no constitution. Basic nature has endowed them with the faculty of discernment. It is the same for humans.”
[ Dalai Lama ]

“Be courageous and face this moment in time consciously and with all the discernment and clarity within your power.”
[ James O’Dea ]

“Some people become so expert at reading between the lines they don’t read the lines.”
[ Margaret Millar ]

“When you learn what you can live without, you are able to ask life for the very best because you possess the gift of discernment. You are able to create an authentic life because you are able to make conscious choices.”
[ Sarah Ban Breathnach ]

“Don’t fight a battle if you don’t gain anything by winning.”
[ Erwin Rommel ]

“When a person goes into a relationship emotionally needy, they are not going to have discernment in choosing people.”
[ Jennifer O’Neill l]

“Emotional discomfort, when accepted, rises, crests and falls in a series of waves. Each wave washes a part of us away and deposits treasures we never imagined. Out goes naivete, in comes wisdom; out goes anger, in comes discernment; out goes despair, in comes kindness. No one would call it easy, but the rhythm of emotional pain that we learn to tolerate is natural, constructive and expansive… The pain leaves you healthier than it found you.”
[ Martha Beck ]

“The victim of mind-manipulation does not know that he is a victim. To him, the walls of his prison are invisible, and he believes himself to be free.”
[ Aldous Huxley ]

“The supreme end of education is expert discernment in all things-the power to tell the good from the bad, the genuine from the counterfeit, and to prefer the good and the genuine to the bad and the counterfeit.”
[ Samuel Johnson ]

“At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
[ Abraham Lincoln ]

“The firmness with which the (American) people have withstood the… abuses of the press, the discernment they have manifested between truth and falsehood, show that they may safely be trusted to hear everything true and false and to form a correct judgment between them.”
[ Thomas Jefferson ]

“It is the man and woman united that makes the complete human being. Separate she lacks his force of body and strength of reason; he her softness, sensibility and acute discernment. Together they are most likely to succeed in the world.”
[ Benjamin Franklin ]

“I have naturally formed the habit of restraining my thoughts. A thoughtless word hardly ever escaped my tongue or pen. Experience has taught me that silence is part of the spiritual discipline of a votary of truth. We find so many people impatient to talk. All this talking can hardly be said to be of any benefit to the world. It is so much waste of time. My shyness has been in reality my shield and buckler. It has allowed me to grow. It has helped me in my discernment of truth.”
[ Mahatma Gandhi ]

“Love always seeks for betterment, for ways of making life more workable, joyful, whole, and beautiful. Love examines every option available to bring about an improvement in life. This kind of discernment is an act of decency, not an act of judgment. Rigid philosophies of judgment will seek to establish structure as a substitute for decency, control as a substitute for trust, and the mind as a substitute for higher awareness.”
[ Glenda Green ]

“Discernment is a power of the understanding in which few excel. Is not that owing to its connection with impartiality and truth? for are not prejudice and partiality blind?”
[ Sir Fulke Greville ]

“There seems to be no part of knowledge in fewer hands than that of discerning when to have done.”
[ Jonathan Swift ]

“Education, properly understood, is that which teaches discernment.”
[ Philibert Joseph Roux ]

“Conscience is all about using discernment, discrimination and assessment, rather than looking to the rather crude form of advice from the judge that’s mostly attacking our sense of worth or value, instead of giving us helpful information.”
[ Mark Coleman ]

“There are big men, men of intellect, intellectual men, men of talent and men of action; but the great man is difficult to find, and it needs—apart from discernment—a certain greatness to find him.”
[ Margot Asquith ]

“Her great merit is finding out mine; there is nothing so amiable as discernment.”
[ Lord Byron ]

“The practice of discernment is part of higher consciousness. Discernment is not just a step up from judgment. In life’s curriculum, it is the opposite of judgment. Through judgment a man reveals what he needs to confront and learn. Through discernment, one reveals what he has mastered.”
[ Glenda Green ]

“If souls can suffer alongside, and I hardly know it, because the spirit of discernment is not in me, then I know nothing of Calvary love.”
[ Amy Carmichael ]

“There is a quickness of perception in some, a nicety in the discernment of character, a natural penetration, in short, which no experience in others can equal.”
[ Jane Austen ]

“A great deal may be done by severity, more by love, but most by clear discernment and impartial justice.”
[ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ]

“Discernment: Corruption’s worst enemy.”
[ George Richard Marek ]

“Where there is not discernment, the behavior even of the purest soul may in effect amount to coarseness.”
[ Henry David Thoreau ]

“The more validation I need, the less discernment I have.”
[ Kurt Hanks ]

“Wisdom is your perspective on life, your sense of balance, your understanding of how the various parts and principles apply and relate to each other.”
[ Stephen Covey ]

“Spirit discernment is rare because it is expensive. It means a sensitive conscience, an instructed understanding through study of the Book of God. It means a passion for purity, for truth, for the right, for Christ Himself, and for living uncompromisingly true in the daily habit. All this lies back of a seeing spirit eye. And these things cost. Discernment is expensive.”
[ S. D. Gordon ]

“It’s funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools – friendships, prayer, conscience, honesty – and said ‘do the best you can with these, they will have to do’. And mostly, against all odds, they do.”
[ Anne Lamott ]

“This is a time when all of God’s people need to keep their eyes and their Bibles wide open. We must ask God for discernment as never before.”
[ David Jeremiah ]

“A process for discernment: God is my ultimate source of truth and wisdom, and dwells forever at the center of my being. Therefore, any thought, emotion, or action that takes me further from my center can be neither truthful, nor wise.”
[ Bill Crawford ]

“Discernment is God’s call to intercession, never to faultfinding.”
[ Corrie Ten Boom ]

“Discernment is not a matter of telling the difference between right and wrong; rather it is telling the difference between right and almost right.”
[ Charles Spurgeon ]

“We need discernment in what we see and what we hear and what we believe.”
[ Charles R. Swindoll ]

“God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.”
[ Oswald Chambers ]

“True discernment means not only distinguishing the right from the wrong; it means distinguishing the primary from the secondary, the essential from the indifferent, and the permanent from the transient. And, yes, it means distinguishing between the good and the better, and even between the better and the best.”
[ Sinclair B. Ferguson ]

“In its simplest definition, discernment is nothing more than the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In other words, the ability to think with discernment is synonymous with an ability to think biblically.”
[ John MacArthur ]

“Everyone is prejudiced in favor of his own powers of discernment.”
[ Pliny the Younger ]

“If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea.

You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself… beg in to have spiritual discernment.

Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been.”
[ Oswald Chambers ]

“God gives His deepest discernment and sharpest marksmanship to men who aim to expose His truth before an enemy’s lies.”
[ Criss Jami ]

“The key to maturity is time and community. Discernment and godly wisdom develop in a community that spans generations. The church is called to be this place where the [God’s] Spirit uses normal patterns and rhythms of the Christian life in a community, so that we may bear fruit like a well-watered tree. Despite common appearances, the church is the place where God’s new creation is coming into existence and being sustained by the Spirit like a great vineyard.”
[ Michael Horton ]

“That very church which the world like best is sure to be that which God abhors.”
[ Charles Spurgeon ]

“To be ‘in the will of God’ is not a matter of intellectual discernment, but a state of heart.”
[ Oswald Chambers ]

“I must mention to the so-called Charismatic movement… the people who are always so subject to crazes and fashions that they go headlong into them. Rather than ‘trying’ or ‘testing the spirits’ they abandon themselves to anything which will give them a new experience.”
[ Martyn Lloyd-Jones ]

“The Holy Spirit gives liberty to the Christian, direction to the worker, discernment to the teacher, power to the Word, and fruit to faithful service. He reveals the things of Christ.”
[ Billy Graham ]

“When we discern that people are not going on spiritually and allow the discernment to turn to criticism, we block our way to God. God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede.”
[ Oswald Chambers ]

“Churches are filled with people who think they are saved by participating in religious activities and living a moral life. But if we believer this lie, we will be greatly disappointed after death. The only way to be saved from eternal disaster is to be born again by believing in Jesus.”

[ Charles Stanley ]

“If we don’t know whew Bible, if we don’t know Doctrine, if we don’t know Theology, it is virtually impossible for us to identify false prophets.”
[ Voddie Baucham ]

“False shepherds talk much about God’s love, but not His wrath and holiness; much about how deprived of good things people are, but not about their depravity.”
[ John MacArthur ]

“What do you think is the main issue facing the Church?” I’m always asked that question, and I always answer basically the same way. The main issue facing the Church is the LACK OF DISCERNMENT… The Church has gotten itself into a position where it cannot distinguish between God’s Word and Satan’s lies. That’s sad!”
[ John MacArthur ]

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RELATED SCRIPTURE VERSES:

1 John 4:1

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.

Philippians 1:9-10

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,

Hebrews 5:14

But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 4:12

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

1 Kings 3:9

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

Romans 12:2

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

1 Corinthians 2:14

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

John 7:24

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

1 Corinthians 14:33

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

1 Thessalonians 5:21

But test everything; hold fast what is good.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

Matthew 10:16

“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Colossians 2:8

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:10

To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

Psalm 119:125

I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!

Proverbs 3:1-6:35

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. …

1 Timothy 6:3-5

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.

Proverbs 2:1-5

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

Hosea 14:9

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the Lord are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.

1 Corinthians 14:29

Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

Proverbs 15:14

The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Proverbs 18:15

An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Proverbs 15:21

Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense, but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

1 Samuel 16:7

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

James 3:17

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

1 Kings 3:11

And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,

Proverbs 28:11

A rich man is wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.

Matthew 24:24

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Psalm 119:66

Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in your commandments.

John 16:13

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

1 John 2:27

But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

James 4:8

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Proverbs 1:5

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,

Acts 17:11

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.

Philippians 1:9

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,

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.

1 Corinthians 2:9-13

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

2 Samuel 14:17

And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The Lord your God be with you!”

John 15:26

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

1 John 3:2

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Philippians 1:9-11

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Proverbs 28:7

The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding, but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

Daniel 2:21

He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;

Proverbs 19:25

Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

1 Corinthians 2:10-16

These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. …

Proverbs 14:6

A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

Proverbs 3:13

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,

1 Corinthians 2:11

For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Proverbs 17:10

A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

Matthew 24:11

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

Proverbs 2:3-5

Yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

Job 6:30

Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?

1 Corinthians 2:9-16

Proverbs 17:24

The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

Ephesians 4:11-12

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

2 Timothy 2:2

And what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

2 Timothy 3:15

And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 3:21

My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion,

John 17:17

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Revelation 1:7

Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

1 Timothy 6:2

Those who have believing masters must not be disrespectful on the ground that they are brothers; rather they must serve all the better since those who benefit by their good service are believers and beloved. Teach and urge these things.

1 Timothy 3:2

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

Hebrews 13:17

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

1 Timothy 4:11

Command and teach these things.

Romans 8:16

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,

Revelation 22:4

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

1 Corinthians 2:16

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Galatians 4:6

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

2 Corinthians 7:1

Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

Proverbs 4:7

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

1 Corinthians 4:16-17

I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. …

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Matthew 16:3

And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.

Psalm 23:1-6

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. …

Acts 8:26-38

Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” …

John 21:17

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Matthew 24:45

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?

1 Corinthians 11:1

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Matthew 24:32-33

“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.

2 Corinthians 11:4

For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough.

Ezekiel 44:23

They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common, and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5

For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

Matthew 6:22

“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,

1 Corinthians 12:11

All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.

Matthew 24:23-26

Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. So, if they say to you, ‘Look, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out. If they say, ‘Look, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it.

Matthew 24:4-5

And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

Matthew 5:8

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Isaiah 59:2

But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Jeremiah 23:5

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

1 John 3:4

Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.

Isaiah 11:3

And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

Isaiah 7:15

He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.

Deuteronomy 32:28-29

“For they are a nation void of counsel, and there is no understanding in them. If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

Galatians 1:1-24

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead— and all the brothers who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

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“A quick summary of the Christian “Gospel”:

JESUS’ PROPITIATION made our SINS FORGIVEN and IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS to us so that we have GOD’S ACCEPTANCE into His Heaven and receive ETERNAL LIFE.”

[ Mark Besh ]

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Hope you enjoyed some of these insights—share them with your friends and colleagues—so we can have a larger ’pool’ to receive from, and more to share with! Also, remember to include your name as the “source,” if some of this wisdom is of your doing—I would like to give credit where credit is due!

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FOCUS VERSES:

____________________________________________________________
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“An understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil.”
[ 1 Kings 3:9 ].

“Cry for discernment.”
[ Proverbs 2:3 ]

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent.”
[ Proverbs 2:9-10a ]

“Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning.”
[ Proverbs 14:33 ]

“The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.”
[ Proverbs 15:14 ]

“The wise in heart will be called discerning.”
[ Proverbs 16:21a ].

“A discerning man keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.”
[ Proverbs 17:24 ]

“Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”
[ Proverbs 28:26 ]

“I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.”
[ Psalm 119:125 ]

“Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes.”
[ Jeremiah 23:16 ]

“I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?”
[ Jeremiah 23:25-26 ]

“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them; for the ways of the LORD are right, and the upright walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.”
[ Hosea 14:9 ].

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
[ Matthew 7:15-20 ]

“Watch out that no one deceives you.”
[ Matthew 24:4 ]

“For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive, if possible, even the elect.”
[ Matthew 24:24 ]

“Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
[ John 7:24 ].

“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.”
[ Acts 17:11 ]

“I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing ourselves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.”
[ Acts 20:29-30 ]

“For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.”
[ Romans 16:18 ]

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
[ 1 Corinthians 2:14 ].

“tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine.”
[ Ephesians 4:14b ]

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
[ Philippians 1:9-11 ].

“But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.”
[ 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 ].

“The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons.”
[ 1 Timothy 4:1 ]

“Be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you’ve been following. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly.”
[ 1 Timothy 4:6-7 ].

“By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”
[ 2 Timothy 1:14 ]

“O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called ‘knowledge’, for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.”
[ 1 Timothy 6:20-21 ]

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”
[ 2 Timothy 2:15 ]

“Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and thus they upset the faith of some.”
[ 2 Timothy 2:17-18 ]

“Evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”
[ 2 Timothy 3:13 ]

“The things that I have taught you, follow those things.”
[ 2 Timothy 3:14 ]

“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound[a] doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.”
[ Titus 1:9 ]

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

[ Hebrews 4:12 ]

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.”
[ Hebrews 5:12-13 ]

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
[ James 1:5 ]

“In their greed these teachers will exploit you with ‘fabricated stories’. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”
[ 2 Peter 2:3 ]

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.”
[ Revelation 2:2b ]

Mark

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If you have a ‘neat’ story or some thoughts about an issue or current event that you would like me to try to respond to, I would be glad to give it a try…so, send them to me at: mbesh@comcast.net

Disclaimer: All the above jokes & inspirations are obtained from various sources and copyright are used when known. Other than our name and headers, we do not own the copyright to any of the materials sent to this list. We just want to spread the ministry of God’s love and cheerfulness throughout the world.

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