Issue 1433 – How to Tell – April 27, 2024
The water was almost mirror-smooth. You could even see the reflections of the individual grasses and the seed heads of some of the shore plants. It was beautiful.
You’ll note that I said, “almost mirror smooth.” A close examination showed insects hatching and fish breaking the water. There were tiny ripples from the wind. In places, there were the wakes of ducks and muskrats. The closer I looked, the less exact the reflection was.
It can be that way with churches. They claim to be Christian and biblically sound. They look like church buildings and use churchy words. But do they stand up to close scrutiny?
Many cannot. Some will have false prophets and teachers.
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 2 Peter 2:1-3
Some will teach lies that others want to hear.
I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For 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 4:1-4
How can you tell the difference? After all, there are areas of the Bible where godly men and women can legitimately disagree. Here are a few questions to ask.
Is the bible the inerrant Word of God? If they say no, there’s no need to go further. Look for a different church.
Is there any way to salvation apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? If they say yes, there’s no need to go further. Look for a different church.
Can we earn our salvation by our works? If they say yes, look for a different church.
Was Jesus Christ born of a virgin? Did He live a sinless life? Did He die on the cross for our sins? Was He resurrected from the dead? Did He ascend to heaven to be at the right hand of God? Is He coming again? A no answer to any of these is the sign of a church to avoid. If they start to give you some story about the crucifixion and resurrection being an “analogy,” it’s time to flee.
Do they accept the Trinity as truth? Notice I didn’t say can they explain the trinity because, in some ways, it will always be a mystery. If they don’t believe in the Trinity, keep looking.
This isn’t an exhaustive checklist but will help you find a true church. Asking your pastor and elders these questions is an interesting exercise. You might be surprised at some of the answers.
There are many good Christian churches out there. Find one that’s solid and comfortable for you, and support them wholeheartedly. There are also many counterfeits out there. Be diligent and avoid them
Until next time, rejoice that God’s truth has been revealed to us and that we can know Him.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
Never let the enemy tell you that you are worthless or insignificant. Your value in God’s eyes is so great that it was worth dying for. You are a blessing to the world. You are so precious to God that his plan for heaven will not be complete without you.
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV)