WHY DISCERNMENT MATTERS

Everyday we use discernment.  According to Pastor John MacArthur, discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. 

We sit in front of the TV listening to politicians spewing their rhetoric and we DISCERN whether they're telling us the truth or not.  Depending upon which side of the political spectrum you sit on determines your assumption as to whether they're being truthful or telling lies.  Parents use discernment to determine whether the statements their child or teenager is making are truthful or sprinkled with lies to save their necks when they're caught in a situation they shouldn't be in.

But, this post isn't about discerning the statements of politicians or children who got caught doing something they shouldn't have.  This post is about discerning the statements of those who claim to be called by God to preach/teach His Word.

Sadly, it seems people think discernment, when it comes to double-talking politicians, is more important than with people who stand before a congregation with Bible in hand and bringing a message from God.

NEWSFLASH......just because someone is reading from a Bible and speaking words about the Triune God doesn't mean they have the proper interpretation of Scripture.

Mainstream Christianity tends to latch on to any "Christian" preacher/teacher who quotes the Bible, especially if they come across as being exciting, relevant, and inspiring because they want to present Christianity as exciting, relevant, and inspiring.  They see this young, attractive, energetic teacher/preacher and become enamored with his message but won't take the opportunity to verify what he's teaching is properly interpreted.  The most recent popular "Christian" celebrity to gain attention in the past few months is Sean Feucht.  He gained popularity amongst the younger generation and seemed to be drawing huge crowds to his concerts/events.  Many began sharing photos and posts of his events on their social media accounts.  He spoke about getting people on fire for God and declaring many had come to Christ and boasted of many baptisms.

Who wouldn't be excited about that??

Well, let's take a look at who Sean Feucht is.  Sean comes from Bethel Church in Redding, California.

Bethel Church is headed up by Bill Johnson.  Bill Johnson believes you can teach people to have spiritual gifts (you know, instead of them being endowed by the Holy Spirit).  He also believes that God doesn't want anyone sick and that healing will come to those who believe.

Yet, Bill's own wife, Beni, got cancer and died.  Also, a couple years ago, the 2-year-old daughter of one the worship leader couples died and the whole church spent SEVEN DAYS in continual prayer and worship for the sole purpose of resurrecting this little girl from the dead.  After seven days they found out all their belief and praying and worship didn't bring that little baby up from the dead......yet, they STILL insist that it's not God's will for us to be sick.

It's also true that Sean believes in "grave soaking" or "grave sucking".  He posted photos of him with his young toddler son propped up on the gravestone of some popular word of faith teacher so that he could "soak" up the power of the Holy Spirit that is supposedly "trapped" in the dead body of that person.  You can read more about this occultic practice here. 

But the purpose of this post isn't just about Sean Feucht and Bill Johnson.  There are more we should be avoiding on the basis of their bad theology and false teachings.

I used Sean as an example that not every person who names the name of Jesus or teaches from the pulpit are who they claim to be.  Many are being deceived into thinking they're saved because of inerrant teaching.

God commands us in Scripture to be discerning because there are those who are out there deceiving people, drawing them away from the true gospel.  It's our responsibility as believers to be discerning; to expose them for the false teachers they are.  God's word is being twisted, contorted, and taken out of context in so many ways, yet a large majority of Christians won't take the opportunity to check to see if what's being taught is the truth.

See, a large percentage of what false teachers teach is the truth, but they'll sprinkle a little bit of untruth in with the truth to the point that a lot of people don't catch it.  This is where discernment is important.  Don't just take what they say as the truth.  Check behind them.  Be like the noble Bereans and go to Scripture to see if what they're saying is true.

Also, check out the teacher himself/herself.  Go to their website and read up on their beliefs.  Listen to discernment podcasts like Fighting for the Faith with Chris Rosebrough.  Find out who they associate with.  That right there is a tell-tale sign.  Who they hang out with will tell you all you need to know about what they believe.  There have been those in Christian music or those who were once solid in the faith that I ended up tossing their CDs or quit listening to their sermons for the very fact they associated with questionable people.  It's disappointing, for sure, but it also angers me when someone who once had a solid faith moves away and proves their own lack of discernment by associating with people with questionable theology or teaches a false gospel.

Not practicing discernment shows lack of wisdom.  It exposes how gullible people are when they'll believe every teacher/preacher who stands behind a pulpit with an open Bible.....or even some with no open Bible.  That should be the first clue that something's amiss.

If Christians used as much discernment with those who claim to be pastors/teachers as they do with politicians, there probably wouldn't be as much false doctrine and false churches out there.