A wise man said to me "Faith must be tested." The Word says "Test the spirits." I often watch video clips on religious topics. I have some litmus tests for them.
How long is the video? (the first Truth test)
Does the speaker align with the WORD?
What are their credentials?
Does he/she acknowledge Jesus as Messiah?
Are they encouraging?
It does not take very long to tell the Truth. If a speaker goes on and on without coming to a point I begin to doubt their veracity. I just listened to this man who sounded so good, but then he talked about past lives and reincarnation. The Word says "it is appointed to man once to die." Once you hear a lie, then stop listening! Chances are there were other lies and your thinking will become confused if you continue to absorb half truths.
I listen for words that come from the Word to see if they are accurate. Many people take the Bible out of context or misquote it. I have also heard people say a statement is in the Bible but they are wrong. One person said "neither a borrower or a lender be" was in the Bible. No, sir! That was Shakespeare. God's Word says we can lend but not charge our brother interest. Another popular phrase taken out of context: "money is the root of all evil." Money is not the root of anything. The correct quote says "THE LOVE of money is the root of all evil." Big difference.
One does not need a PHD to be a Bible scholar, but they should reference some affiliation. I researched the popular movie and the man on whom the movie is based. Good story to raise awareness about a serious problem, but I don't want to support that group as they are not Christian.
This brings the next issue. Many people say Lord Lord, but are not true believers in God the Father and His Son, Yeshua/Jesus. Mormons call themselves Christian, but their religion is about works. They have some very strange beliefs about the afterlife that do not align with the Bible.
Encouraging one another is Biblical. Today many well-meaning people are out there telling us all the things to be afraid of. No matter what is happening in the world believers have the assurance of Jesus' Salvation. Paul said "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." Jesus said "you will have tribulation... but I have overcome the world." If the message is negative and scary turn it off and read the Psalms or the Book of John and get lifted up.
If you don't know Jesus ask God to show Him to you. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding."
Read the Word daily to get to know Him better. Your discernment of Truth will increase as you become more grounded in the Word: "My Sheep hear My voice."
PHILIPPIANS 4:8 (NIV)
"FINALLY, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WHATEVER IS TRUE, WHATEVER IS NOBLE, WHATEVER IS RIGHT, WHATEVER IS PURE, WHATEVER IS LOVELY, WHATEVER IS ADMIRABLE--IF ANYTHING IS EXCELLENT OR PRAISEWORTHY--THINK ABOUT SUCH THINGS."
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