i object!

Confession. Every time I hear someone I don't know speak about the Bible, my first and immediate position is to be wary. Call me a snob, call me an elitist, or call me closed-minded, but hear me out.

Variance abounds among lay-persons, theologians, philosophers, etc. on what is absolutely true (if that's even acknowledged), what is wise, what is right and what is wrong. If we are to make an attempt at making sense of it all, we have to learn to judge the words and actions of others. If we're ever expected to judge the words and actions of those who profess to be teachers and authority figures, we've got to have a litmus test. I firmly believe that litmus test should be Scripture, above all else.

Every now and again, I find myself wondering "How did those people end up drinking the kool-aid with Jim Jones?", and similar ponderings. The examples, specifically within the 'Christian' realm, are endless! Some people are going to groan at this, but I believe it's a lack of attention to detail. Groaners, bear with me...

Today, a good friend sent me a link to a website of a 'minister' who very much reminds me of another Jim Jones. The specific example, although worth a separate discussion, is not my point here. What concerns me is that there are bits and pieces that contain kernels of truth throughout this minister's website, but the bulk of the message throughout is full of extra-biblical and/or contra-biblical teaching. However, if all you know about Christianity is that Jesus is involved...anyone can throw down a reference or two, and if you're not watching, they'll throw down a lot of other stuff (that isn't Biblical) too, and you run the risk of putting your faith in a lie.

Whether Jim Jones (or anyone else like him) had good intentions in the beginning, it all falls apart when Scripture is not Supreme. It's bad hermeneutics in the extreme - coming to the Bible with pre-conceived notions about who God is, who man is, and how the two interact, etc. A good student of the Word does everything he can to come to the Bible with nothing, and lets the Bible inform him of who God is, who man is, how the two interact, etc. The Bible should be the basis of my theology, not the other way around. I think the biggest error we fall into is getting too far down the road with our theology and/or doctrine, and not far enough down the road with Scripture. Or we forget to take Scripture with us as we walk down the road with our theology and doctrine.

But back to the main point. How do we know what to accept from a speaker (using this term to encompass teacher, preacher, writer, etc)? And how do we know what to throw out? AND, how do we know when we should reject a speaker entirely?

Because I have found that I have (historically) been too easy on speakers that I like, despite the fact that they have some pretty poor theology, I try to ask myself some basic questions about each new speaker I hear. One often has to be a very active listener to get answers to some of these questions.

1. Is this person's message grounded in Scripture?
2 Peter 1:19-21
And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

2. Does this person readily submit to the authority of Scripture?
2 Timothy 3:14-17
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[a] you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

3. Is this person boasting in himself or in Christ?
2 Timothy 4:2-5
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31
He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

Whatever the questions are, if they aren't asked...anyone could end up drinking the kool-aid. And I certainly don't want to end up being THAT girl!