discernment principle no. 2  | 

Worldly, Relative, Ever-Changing, and Fashionable “Truth”

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

[Matthew 7:13-14]

Discerning questions to ask:  

1.    Is the ministry, book, idea, or individual popular? [This is usually a big red flag.]

 

2.    Or, is it seemingly against what is popular but, in reality, a trendy but temporary movement?

 

3.    Is the idea that is presented also being taught and believed by the world? 

 

4.    Could the concept be taught to non-believers (or even believers for that matter) without challenging them to transform their hearts?  [e.g., “anger management”; “parenting skills”; or other types of behavior modification - such as improving “communication skills” (the symptom of the problem) without dealing with the hearts of the individuals in communication (the cause of the problem); aka Pharisee-ism.]

Luke 6:45 | Psalms 19:14 | Romans 12:2 | Proverbs 4:23; 16:21; 18:15

5.    If there is instruction to change one’s heart, is it designed to conform us to the world’s current (yet soon to change) understanding of the heart or mind; or is it fully and truly biblical training on what to change about our hearts and what to change them into? [ i.e., "sanctification;" more like God, less like the world...all according to the only Source that can achieve this.]

 

6.    Is the Word being influenced and shaped by the current culture, trendy ideas, and relative “truths”?

[Note: The Word should be impacting the culture,

not the other way around! Christians are

commanded to be “set apart” from the world, not

adapting its ideas, “wisdom,” and cultural mind-

sets. We are to set the standard. We are to be

salt and light, not to embrace the darkness and

corruption around us.]

7.    Is it heralded as something “new”? Is it a new “revelation” or a “new way of thinking” or a recent “discovery” or “hidden secret” or “lost secret” that has been unearthed—after all these years—by the author, teacher, movement, or ministry?

 

 8.    Do the teachers speak in non-direct, non-absolute, and even ambiguous terms? Are they hesitant to boldly define what they believe is absolutely true and right, while failing to clearly define what is wrong and in error? [If so, what is their standard? What is the source for this standard, if any?]

 

9.    Does the person attempt to add to and mix other ideologies—because they happen to be widely accepted by others—with God’s pure and perfect Word?

 Many teachers—in their attempt to appeal to the masses and not offend—intentionally avoid directly answering questions or making bold absolute statements that may, at least in their minds, push people away. They would rather draw them in by feel-good type teachings. Others evade, minimize, or alter the “negative stuff” like sin, repentance, confession, hell. Instead, they teach more of a God-is-love-but-not-angry-or-just or God-just-wants-you-to-be-happy kind of message that meets their criteria for success—getting people in the doors, selling books, and gaining the admiration of many in the church and the world alike.

Beware of the less conspicuous form of popularity—when it is “cool” to go against the norm. There may not be a lot of people tagging along, at least at first. Nevertheless, the reason they are following this trend is because it is…well…trendy. Most people are not following the cause simply because they wholeheartedly believe in it; they are, ironically, following it because of the people and the popularity involved—as well as, for example, some sort of feeling of non-conformity, elitism, victimhood, or “fighting injustice.” 

This stealth mob mentality gives people a false sense of “going against the crowd,” when, in fact, they are doing nothing less than what they say they are against…following the crowd! Pretty soon more and more people will join them, and then it will no longer be in vogue. The “cutting edge” people will already be on to the next new “hip” counter-culture revolutionary idea while often disdaining those still in the last fad. While we can easily observe this pattern in the fashion world, teenagers, music, pop-culture, artist, etc., we need to acknowledge that many of us are not that different, we all want to be a part of something special, even something elite.

Popularity is problematic whenever associated with truth, especially the essential truths for living. It is always a red flag that must be investigated. Here is the rule of thumb: the more popular it is, the less likely it is true. This is not to say that everything that has a large following is false; but, the more the numbers increase, the likelihood that it is biblical is greatly decreased. Just the opposite, however, is believed by most “evangelicals." The more others are following it, the greater the chance that they will believe and follow it as well. Yet, when has the truth ever been popular? How popular was Jesus? As usual, when we are not discerning we regularly get things backwards.

Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets.

 

[Luke 6:26]

 

What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.       

 

[Luke 16:15]