We're all learning something... but what?

A comment was posted to the last post which stirred a thought in me.  This text today will likely cause some people to rethink some things, and hopefully they will examine more closely those ideals to which they cling.  In our American culture, we are so addicted to being right that we've forgotten about being righteous.  I would like to offer some advice in that regard today, and applaud the comment left yesterday in reference to who we listen to and whether or not we cling to what they have to say.

"But test all things.  Hold on to what is good."

1 Thessalonians 5:21, HCSB

There is a commercial currently running on TV that makes fun of the idea that all knowledge found on the internet is correct.  I find it quite funny, mostly because I know some people who will believe just about anything they read, as long as they find an e-article to support it.  Steppiung back from the one article, though, you are guaranteed to find support and opposition in equal amounts for any and everything you can think to measure on the internet.  All opinions surface, and there are just as many factual articles as there are articles with twisted and mangled truths.  One looking solely to the internet could find support for anything, quite literally, and be entirely wrong in fact.  (And the commercial kinda makes me sad, because the guy using the new app on his phone points out that the young lady shouldn't believe everything on the web, but then he just leaves it at that, and allows the young lady to walk away with someone who touted himself as being a French model... no concern for the fellow citizen displayed there, and probably because she wasn't a customer of the organization producing the commercial... jus sayin.)

Examining that commercial doesn't exactly lend itself to my text here, but what if the young lady had been rebuked by the gentleman, and he asked her to find proof of what she claimed to be true from the internet?  Further, what if he asked her to seek the face of the Creator in this, as in all things, so that her conscience could remain clear?  Isn't that kinda what we're supposed to do for ourselves and each other?  I mean, if we were really tuly loving one another, asrist taught us, wouldn't we admonish all people to follow the rule of testing all things?

So now, going back to the thought from yesterday, and who we listen to, it is important to note (as a very astute reader pointed out) that testing of their messages and songs is not just a suggestion... it's a requirement.  You see, if the preacher doesn't line up with the Father, and no one calls him out on it, the entire church could be led astray.  We're all human, after all, and the only thing we are really capable of doing on our own is failing and sinning, so the pastor needs to be held accountable by the church to remain true to the Word.  Please understand, I'm not trying to suggest that you jump and scream at your pastor in the middle of a sermon if you don't think it lines up... go and visit them in private, and seek the Truth in the Word together, so that understanding can be reached by both of you, together. 

Expanding on that thought, just because someone has a big audience does not mean that they are correct and accurate in the Word.  Great inspirational speakers are not always great preachers, you know.  And while some of you may attend one of the mega-churches that exist, you need to understand that celebrity status does not a great pastor make, and that God has no concern with the number of people in the audience.  His concern is for the correct interpretation and application of the Word, and those ministers are just as liable and just as open to rebuke and discussion and correction as the minister of a 15 member church in the countryside.  It might sound crazy to some people, but there are people right now that have misinterpreted messages delivered through television, radio, and other media... and some of those people have a pretty large following.

But going back to the verse itself, you notice that it says clearly to hold on to the good stuff, the true stuff.  So then, what would that mean we are to do with things we find to be PROVEN false by the Word of God?  We should leave it!  Drop it and leave it and never, ever look back!  Anything that you do, say, hear, think, feel can be tested against the Word, and if it is proven to be false by the Creator of the universe, then guess what, folks?  That makes it FALSE, 100%, and no amount of internet-based jargon or other dreamt-up nonsense will ever change that.  Here's a little rule of thumb on that: if God says it's bad, then it is bad. 

Period.

So please, folks, make certain to be as focused as you can be, and always test and retest everything.  Don't do it because you think you'll find something wrong... do it because you need to be certain it's right!

God bless you all!!!