True and False Prophets:Differences
Topic: Discernment
Red Flag Notes on False Prophets

A. They will come telling about themselves, with great letters
of recommendations, And a list of their accomplishments.
II Cor. 3:1-3, II Cor 11:13, Jer. 29:8-9, Jer. 29:20-21

B. They will not come under the Churches authority, beware
of independents, Use Paul as our example: Gal. 2:1-11,
Eph. 5, James 5:14-15, I Cor 16:16, I Peter 5:5

C. They will not anoint with oil. James 5

D. They will be teachers who will do anything to get your
money. II Peter 2:3, II Tim. 3:1-5

E. They will be liars with straight faces and no consciences,
So even to cause you to distort the truth.
I Tim. 4:1-12, Acts 20:30-32

F. They will promise liberty in the flesh, II Pet. 2:1-3,
II Peter 2:12-19

G. They will stare at women and flirt with them.
II Peter 2:14-19, Micah Chpt. 3

H. They will make sporting of themselves and merchandise
of you. Isaiah 57:4-8

I. They will act as though they can control the Holy Spirit.
Ecc. 8:8

J. They will not preach or teach unless they are paid.
II Peter 2:14-16.


Knowing True Prophets and Teachers

1. They will fearlessly announce God‚s punishments for sin.
Micah 3:8

2. They will Love God more than Gold! Psa. 119:118

3. They will Rock your Spiritual Boat, and then invite
you to safe harbor. Psa. 107:20-32

4. Their words will sound like poems that come from the
heart, they will always Stand beside the church. Psa.45:1-8

5. They will encourage cause for the Holy Spirit to answer
our prayers. Acts 2:42-47

6. They will exercise submission to one another.
Eph. 5:21-22, Heb. 12:9.

7. They will produce miracles used for the purpose of
Salvation, through Jesus, to Gods, Glory only!
Phil. 3:17-21, Acts 3:1-6

Fruit Bearing(Christians produce fruit)
Topic: Discernment


Matthew 7:17-20 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (NKJV)

Every life bears fruit. What do I mean by fruit? It is the result, what is produced, what is grown, what is the harvest of something that is alive and growing. Humans are live and growing organisms. Each of us "produce" something from our lives. Each individual life can be observed and it is usually very obvious what that life has produced (its fruit). Sometimes it is hatred and bitterness; sometimes it's nothing but work, or maybe love for money. Sometimes a person's life may have produced only a desire for pleasure or leisure. This is the "fruit" of someone's life.

For a Christian, "fruit" is defined Biblically as the good and Godly things that come from your life, choices and behavior. On the negative side, a Christian can be devoid of fruit, or their "fruit" can be described as thorns, thistles, weeds or hay; worthless unwanted things that should be discarded and burned away.

I am often asked, "how can I know I'm saved?" or "how do you know if someone is really a Christian?". In our world of political correctness, and tolerance of all things (except for the exclusive message of Jesus Christ), you will quickly get labeled "judgmental" and "unloving" if you simply declare the plain truth about how to determine if a person is a true Christian or not. We have come to such a state of "easy believism" and "social Gospel" that any declaration, no matter how plainly Biblical, that Christians can be identified as such with a fair degree of simplicity and accuracy, is met with the typical accusations of "legalism", "judgmental", "holier-than-thou" accompanied with an avalanche of anecdotal evidence about people who "really are" Christians even though they show no signs of it.

How do you know if you are a Christian? How do you know if some else truly is? There are many ways, but very simply, "if there's apples on them there branches, then that there is an apple tree."

If there's apples on them there branches,
then that there is an apple tree.

Poor grammar, yes, but it is a simple and irrefutable concept. The Bible clearly says that every Believer, every authentic Believer, will bear Christian fruit to some degree. If not, then the tree is cut down and burned. Many people argue about whether or not this fruitless tree that is burned represents a Christian who still makes it to heaven (1Cor 3.15) but that's a distraction for most people. We don't need to spend time arguing about the EXCEPTION when it has become the RULE that the typical professing Christian today bears no fruit in their life, and yet this does not alarm them in any way. Our social Gospel still affirms them, and assures them, that if they have "walked the aisle", "been baptized", or "prayed the sinners prayer"... then they have nothing to worry about. All the while, they live lives that not only are devoid of Christian fruit and any consistent sign of true Christianity, they go on day after day seeing nothing wrong with this contradiction, abusing God's graces and taking for granted their salvation. Far from being judgmental, the Bible is abundantly clear that many people will CLAIM Christ, but end up in hell for eternity (Matt 7.23; Matt 13.30) and we do NO favors by sugar coating this fact.

We aren't doing anyone any favors by sugar-coating
the fact that many people will claim Christ,
and still end up in hell.

That fact should cause EVERY Christian to evaluate, examine and test their faith against God's Word on a routine basis (Phil 2.12). We should never take our salvation for granted (which is not the same as lacking assurance, or trying to earn your salvation).

It's amazing to me, how Christians suspend logic, common sense and reality when it comes to Christianity. For example, what business man would say, "oh, just pick a way to do business; it really doesn't matter if it's right or wrong; all ways of doing business are equally valuable if you are sincere and truly believe in how you are doing it." How absurd! Yet, every day I hear people say, "oh, as long as you are spiritual and follow some sort of religion, then that is all that matters. All religions are good and correct, if you sincerely practice it." ONLY CONCERNING RELIGION WILL HUMANS ACCEPT SUCH NONSENSE!

Imagine a doctor who declares, "just do medicine however you want; all methods and beliefs about medicine are equally valid if you are sincere and practice it consistently". Apply the same logic to an airline pilot, a nuclear facility administrator or a car mechanic. It's absurd to think this way, right? Yet every day, constantly, you hear people make the exact same claim about religion despite the fact that all these religions teach completely opposite, mutually exclusive and incompatible ideas. INSANITY! No, more accurately, this is a prime example of human wisdom.

Despite the ridiculous nature of the concept ("pick one; be sincere"), the majority of Christians can not present a valid argument against this mentality. Even in their own lives they avoid the truth that "you are not a Christian simply because you claim to be one, or associate with other Christians". Once again, common sense and logic are thrown to the wind when it comes to this issue. I'm specifically speaking to those who claim Christianity, but show no signs of it (fruit).

Claiming to be something, doesn't make you that something.
Claiming to be President, doesn't mean you are.

Being associated with something, doesn't make you that something.
I can live in a garage for 20 years, and it won't make me a car.

Consider this: if I claim with all sincerity that I am an Olympic gymnast, and yet you look at me and see that I don't have any muscle development, I'm overweight, I have soft hands, you've never seen me do gymnastics, attend a gymnastics event, nor can I even tell you much about gymnastics... would you believe that I was a gymnast? What if I INSISTED on it, and called you judgmental and self-righteous, and said "who are you to say what I am???" Even though it might back you off, would it change your mind?

How about if I decided to watch others do gymnastics? What if I even went to gymnastic events regularly? I might even educate myself about gymnastics, support gymnastics and volunteer to help with gymnastics. Does that make me a gymnast? What has to occur before my claim to be a gymnast is authentic? I have to do gymnastics. I have to "bear fruit". You have to come to the tree of my life, and see "gymnast fruit" hanging on my branches before you would know that I'm a gymnast which means living like a gymnast, doing gymnastics and obeying the training regimen needed to be a gymnast.

Despite the clear and obvious truth of that example, how often I see and hear those who "live like the world, talk like the world, enjoy the fleshly pleasures of the world, show no consistent signs of Christ-likeness, can't tell you much about Christ, can't defend or communicate their beliefs about Christ, rarely read the Bible, hardly pray and attend church once in a while to be entertained"... and yet claim to be Christians (Christ-followers). They'd never believe I'm an Olympic Gymnast but are incredulous if you question the state of their salvation.

Remember the old saying, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck - it's a duck. If you walk like the world, talk like world, and act like the world, does it makes sense to claim you are a Christian? Christians walk like Christ, talk like Christ and live like Christ. That's how you know they are Christ-people, Christ-followers (Christians). The same is true as we examine the state of our own salvation.

How do you know if you are a Christian? The same way you know if an apple tree is an apple tree - there are apples hanging on the branches. How do you know if someone else is a Christian? The same way you know that a blackberry bush is a blackberry bush - there are blackberries growing on it. (Don't strain the analogy; I realize that fruit bearing plants don't ALWAYS have fruit present; but over time, on a regular basis and very predictably, they do). How do you know if you are saved? The fruit of Christ will be present in your life.

Now, back to our verse, just in case you think this is nothing more than Brent Riggs' opinion. Jesus said:

Matthew 7:17-20 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. (NKJV; emphasis mine)

Good trees (Christians) bear fruit. Bad trees (non-Christians) can NOT bear good fruit. All true Believers will bear fruit which leads us to some questions that every single Christian should be consistently asking themselves, especially those Christians who routinely would have to categorize themselves as "back sliding", "straying" or any number of sugar-coated phrases that in essence mean "I claim to be a Christian but don't live like one":

Do you currently have any Christian fruit in your life?
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness and faith (Gal 5.22)
Obedience (1 John 2.3)
Humility (Matt 18.4)
Service (Phil 2.3-8)
Holiness (Heb 12.14)
Do you love to be around the things of God? (1John 3.14)
Do you hunger for righteousness? (Matt 5.6; Phil 1.11)
Do you hate evil and actively avoid sin? (Psalms 97.10)
Do you "fertlize" routinely with Bible study and prayer (2 Tim 2.15; James 5.16)
These are few things that would appear as fruit in a Christians life. If your life is routinely devoid of Christian fruit, you would do well to consider:

Has there ever been any real Christian fruit in your life?
How can you claim to be a Christian without actually living a Christian life (bearing fruit)?
Is it logical or safe for you to believe that you are a Christian if there is nothing that really identifies you as such?
Does claiming Christianity make you anymore a Christian than if you claimed to be a world class brain surgeon who shows no evidence of being a doctor, training like a doctor, or living the life of a doctor?
Does hanging out in a hospital occasionally make you a doctor just because you claim to be one?
Does attending church once in a while, reading a couple of Bible verses occassionally, and saying "God bless you" to people make you a Christian when the rest of your life is devoid of Christian fruit?
Believers bear fruit. Jesus says so. As Christians, we should be examining ourselves routinely for the presence of fruit (which is evidence of our salvation and gives us assurance); for the amount of fruit (which helps us to keep our priorities in line and store up "treasure in heaven" rather than earthly treasure that will burn); and the quality of fruit (which helps us evaluate the holiness of our lives, and our commitment to Christ).

Galatians 6:4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. (NKJV)

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified. (NKJV)

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (NKJV)

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. (NKJV)

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (NKJV)

Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (KJV)

Colossians 1:10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; (NKJV)

Only true Believers produce Christian fruit. If you cannot be identified as a Believer by the obvious fruit hanging from the branches of your life, you would do well to think about your eternal condition, and be honest about whether or not you really are a Christian, or just claim to be one. Only your eternal destiny is at stake.

If you are a Believer, you have Christian fruit in your life. Learn to allow the Great Gardener, and Vine Dresser to prune you, cultivate you and fertilize you, so that your fruit may be plentiful and of the best quality (that's a message for another series!). Remember, fruit is not to be left hanging on the true to ripen, rot and fall off. Fruit is meant to give life and health to those around the tree who can see the fruit, and pick it to eat. Through your witness, sharing the Gospel, your behavior, your language, your joyfulness, your humility and your servant-mentality, you will bless others with the fruit of your Christian life, and through it, bring spiritual life, health and blessing to those around you for the glory of Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord and Master.

Lord God, Help us to examine our lives for fruit, bear much fruit and bless others with it. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Contemplation: Do you claim to be a Christian? Would the average observer of your life see anything during the day to indicate to them that you are a Christian? What would be a sign (fruit) of your Christianity? Your language? The topics of your conversations? Your choices, moods, attitudes or humility? Your service to others? Your prayer or Bible study habits? Would they see any apples?
Application: Believers bear fruit. If there is no fruit in your life, do yourself an eternal favor, and evaluate whether you are truly a Christian, or a pretender. Remember the old saying, if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and looks like a duck - it's a duck. If you walk like the world, talk like world, and act like the world, does it makes sense to claim you are a Christian?

James 1:22 - But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (NKJV)

What is the most obvious Bible truth you have learned today?

What change in your life needs to be made concerning this truth?

What specific thing will you do today to begin that change?

The Eleventh Commandment
Topic: Discernment

By Todd Friel



Do you know the Eleventh Commandment? Perhaps you are familiar with the first ten, but a new commandment has been added, and we should judge (oh, that word) whether it qualifies to be in the Decalogue.



Is it possible that existentialist, post-modern, humanistic influence has crept into evangelicalism and has reared its head in the form of, “Thou shalt not judge?” While we should not publicly judge other evangelicals (unless their lifestyle is careening out of control, ex. Benny Hinn), we should judge their TEACHING.



26 of the 27 New Testament books warn us about false teaching. Jesus, Paul, Peter and John thought we should expose those who twist Scripture, why shouldn’t we?



One week ago I submitted an article to this website that criticized the salvation theology presented in the Purpose Driven Life. go here are read below

A pastor publicly posted a response and stated, “I have been in the ministry for nearly 30 years and I have watched ministers and pastors go at each other on their own individual platforms. Nothing good ever comes of it.”



I invite you to debate that statement with me. Should we publicly discuss the teaching of other evangelicals? If so, when, how and over what issues?



I invite you to respond to this article and let’s lovingly mix it up. Let’s rigorously debate whether we should pursue public dialogues over theology.



Let me get us started by making my position clear by responding to the pastor who publicly critiqued me for publicly critiquing The Purpose Driven Life. His words are in bold, followed by my response.



"I got sick and tired of their malicious criticism of Dr. Jerry Falwell."

Paul warned Timothy that rebuking should be done sternly, but with gentleness, respect and love. I agree, nasty, hateful attacks are out!



"At least, give Rick Warren the opportunity to come on to your radio show and defend his view concerning repentance and salvation."

I confess, I have not contacted Pastor Warren; however, since he has written a book for the public, I think we have ever right and, dare I say, responsibility, to publicly deal with what he has written. Besides, shouldn't his answers on radio match his statements in his book?



We have Biblical precedent for naming names and publicly addressing individuals without consent or participation: Demas (II Tim.4:10), Diotrephes (II John 9).



I am not trying to take a cheap shot here, but you didn't contact me and ask me to defend my view. And that's ok. I wrote something for public consumption, I expect public debate.



"Surely, you have better things to do with your platform than criticize someone else’s ministry."

First of all, stop calling me Surely. Second, I did not criticize his ministry, I criticized his theology. Besides, is there anything more important than debating salvation theology (Jude 3)? The entire point of my article is that we must have agreement on this essential doctrine. We can zestily debate dipping vs. dunking, but there is no room for disagreement on salvation. If salvation doesn’t qualify as an essential doctrine, then I don’t know what does.



"This brings a disgrace to the reputation of God's Kingdom."

Did the Council of Nicea bring disgrace to the Kingdom by debating theology? The concern of early church councils was not having public discourse, their concern was heresy. Running around naked screaming, “Oprah rocks,” brings a disgrace to the Kingdom, debating salvation theology does not. After all, eternity is at stake.



I look forward to everyone's take. Just click on the little gray bar above this article and let’s figure this out…publicly.



Respectfully submitted,



Todd Friel

A Purpose Plea to Pastors
By Todd Friel



Would you let a surgeon operate on you or your family if he didn’t know the procedure perfectly? Of course not. How much more accurate should a pastor be with the Gospel that is the power unto salvation?



If you are responsible for introducing the Purpose Driven Life to your church or small group, please consider the following verses. “I (Paul) have laid the foundations like an expert builder. Now others (you) are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful.” I Cor.3:10.



How careful have you been in endorsing the Purpose Driven Life? Did you study it with a critical eye? Did you know the theology and history of Rick Warren before you fed Purpose to your sheep? Were you “very careful?”



“There is going to come a time of testing at the judgment day to see what kind of work each builder has done. Everyone’s work will be put through the fire to see whether or not it keeps its value. If the work survives the fire, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builders themselves will be saved, but like someone escaping through a wall of flames.” (I Cor.3:13-15)



Hold it, it gets worse. Paul tells us that “God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple.” (v.17) Uh oh.



For 57 pages, Pastor Warren does not describe sin, righteousness, judgment, God’s holiness, hell, repentance, shedding of blood, atonement or resurrection. Yet on page 58 of PDL, Pastor Warren invites the reader to become a Christian by “whispering the prayer that will change your eternity.” This prayer better be surgically accurate or we have a pastor who is guilty of malpractice (pardon the mixed metaphor). So what is the prayer that will save?



“’Jesus, I believe in you and I receive you.’ Go ahead. If you sincerely meant that prayer, congratulations! Welcome to the family of God.”



If you believe that James 4:9,10 describes the conversion experience of godly sorrow that leads to repentance, then you recognize that Pastor Warren’s presentation of salvation is, and I state this very carefully, not Biblical.



Friend, we can argue about many things in Christianity, but salvation is one message we must have complete accuracy and agreement on. Paul warned that any other Gospel is no Gospel at all. “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including myself, who preaches any other message than the one we told you about. Even if an angel comes from heaven and preaches any other message, let him forever be accursed.” Gal.1:8



We cannot say, “Well, he sort of presents the Gospel.” Jesus shed His blood for this Gospel, we must get it right. Eternity is at stake.



“Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:14,15) “Repent and trust” is the Biblical response to the Gospel, not whispering a prayer. God commands all men everywhere to repent.



Imagine your spouse committed adultery against you and returned to you and said, “Honey, I believe in you and I receive you.” Would that be acceptable to you? Why would we think that is acceptable to God? It isn’t. That is a false Gospel. That is a damning Gospel.



Luther, Calvin, Moody and Tozer all preached repentance and trust. Charles Spurgeon proclaimed, “While the gospel is a command, it is a two-fold command explaining itself. "Repent ye, and believe the gospel.’"



If you believe that is the only saving Gospel, then you stand at odds with PDL.



While we could discuss the Pastor Warren’s faulty forty day premise, man-centered theology, rampant mis-use of Scripture, using a dozen liberal translations and his questionable connections and endorsement by Robert Schuller, his salvation message alone should disqualify Purpose from being promoted in evangelical circles.



Please, you are the shepherd of your flock. Your sheep are being fed another Gospel. You will be judged for this. All I ask is that you consider what I am saying and check it with Scripture. This is your duty.

Why, I don't vote Democrat
Topic: Discernment
“I Believe In Homosexuality, Abortion And Jesus Christ”


October 25, 2004 By Alvin Day

“I have a constitutional right to choose the party that best fits my needs; so what if they support homosexuality and abortion? It doesn’t bother me. Besides, the other party is far from perfect. I am a Christian and a Democrat.”

Christians by definition believe the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible says homosexuality is a sin. In the Bible a pre-born baby is not an inanimate fetus, but a human being God knit together in the womb.

Being a believer in Jesus Christ has certain implications. Being a supporter of the present Democratic Party has certain other implications. The dilemma: the two sets of implications are in deep conflict with each other.

Homosexuality – It doesn’t bother me

Homosexuality is a part of the published values and principles of the Democratic Party, but the Republican Party is against it. Read what Page 38 of the Democratic Party Platform states: “We support full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of our nation and seek equal responsibilities, benefits, and protections for these families.” Source:go here

Full realization of this platform would make it law. That will mean Christians, even churches, will have no legal right to deny homosexuals any regular job. Would you want homosexuals to teach your child’s kindergarten class or Sunday school? It could be illegal to deny them that right.

Despite efforts to make homosexuality clean and respectable, God describes it as the result of vile affections and a reprobate mind (Romans 1). Here is how the American Heritage Dictionary defines the word reprobate: “One who is predestined to damnation. Morally unprincipled… Rejected by God…”. For more of God’s view on the subject, read Genesis 19 and Leviticus 30:13.

When a Christian votes for the Democrats, does he or she intend to tell God: “I realize that Democrats publicly believe in a practice you regard as evil, but it doesn’t bother me”?

Abortion – It doesn’t bother me

Abortion is a published part of the values and principles of the Democratic Party, but the Republican Party is against it. Read what Page 38 of the Democratic Party Platform states: “…we stand proudly for a woman's right to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of her ability to pay. We stand firmly against Republican efforts to undermine that right.”

Source: go here

The Democratic candidate for president even voted for the approval of partial birth abortions—the beheading or dismemberment of babies to kill them in the birth process.

Consider the reality of when God sees human life beginning: “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb…My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139, 13-16 (NIV)

When a Christian votes for the Democrats, does he or she intend to tell God: “Even though you knew us as humans in our mother’s womb, I will elect a party that makes it legal to kill babies in the womb and sell their body parts…it doesn’t bother me”? Does God see that as being accessory to the murder of children?

But the Republican Party is not perfect, is it?

Christians vote for the Democrats without seeming to consider the mandates of their faith, their Bible or their God. Is this the real separation of church and state? The only semi-sincere rationale I have heard is the claim that the Republicans are no less evil because of the “unjust war in Iraq leading to many American fatalities. One party aborts babies, the other kills thousands of people at war. So I vote for the Democrats.”

I was over-generous in calling this attempt semi-sincere. Here are a few facts: In the U.S., 1,370,000 babies are aborted per year, according to the Alan Guttmacher Institute. That is 3,753 babies killed every single day in America alone. In contrast, since the Iraqi war began, March 19, 2003, the American casualty count was 1,102 as of October 2004. This information comes from an anti-war website. Even after considering the Iraqis killed, the abortion rate is an atrocity.

Every life lost in war is precious and regrettable. However, consider the following:

War is a tool God Himself uses to accomplish His will. God sent Moses, Gideon, David and others to war. The mother of all wars is still ahead of us; read the book of Revelations.


You and I live in a free America – bought at war with the blood of soldiers. We may question some of their tactics and the people they killed to give us America…the native Indians, for example…but we gladly enjoy the freedom.


The Iraqi war began under the vote and permission of the present Democratic candidate for president. He too believed Iraq to be a terrorist threat. The bottom line: on the one hand, we cannot be Christians and say all war is wrong, or that we are not personally benefiting from past wars. On the other hand, God hates abortion and homosexuality. Republicans are not perfect, but with the right priorities, we weigh both sides and choose the party less anti-God.

Matthew 6:33 shows the Christian’s priorities: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, then all other things fall into place. The violation of Scripture is a bigger issue than say, foreign policy, social security or disliking the Republican candidate.

The Ray of Hope

The above analysis reflects poorly on Christians who vote for Democrats. If there is one ray of hope, it is that many Christians simply have not known how blatantly a Democratic vote violates God’s desires. The hope is that with this knowledge such voters will reconsider and refuse to elect any leader so openly against the standards they claim to represent by being God-fearing people.

Chip's comment: Even though I did not write this, I am in agreement with what it says. If we are to live by Biblical Principles then this should apply to all areas of our life including politics.

I believe that we should even vote for a third party candidate who will uphold Godly Principles. If the Republicans and Democrats don't have a candidate that is pro-life and believes in the Bible and is proven to do so then, we must as Christians look at third party candidates. The Democratic Party is not the party it used to be and that is why, I can't vote Democrat.

Worldview Discernment
Topic: Discernment


by Kerby Anderson


One of the words I find myself using so often at Worldview Weekends is the word “discernment.” It is a word that appears fairly often in the Bible (1 Samuel 25:32-33; 1 Kings 3:10-11; 4:29; Psalm 119:66; Proverbs 2:3; Daniel 2:14; Philippians 1:9). And with so many facts, claims, and opinions being tossed about, we all need to be able to sort through what is true and what is false.



Colossians 2:8 says, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” We need to develop discernment so that we are not taken captive by false ideas. Here are some things to watch for:



Equivocation - the use of vague terms. Someone can start off using language we think we understand and then veer off into a new meaning. Sometimes it can be obvious, like when President Clinton said that it depends what the meaning of is, is. In other cases, it may not be obvious at all and we should demand that people define their terms.



Religious cults are often guilty of this. A cult member might say that he believes in salvation by grace. But what he really means is that you have to join his cult and work your way toward salvation. Make people define the vague terms they use.



Card Stacking - the selective use of evidence. You don’t need to jump on the latest bandwagon and intellectual fad without checking the evidence. Many advocates are guilty of listing all the points in their favor while ignoring the serious points against it.



At Worldview Weekends I have talked about the fact that the major biology textbooks never provide students with evidence against evolution. Jonathan Wells in his book Icons of Evolution shows that the examples that are used in most textbooks are either wrong or misleading. Some of the examples are known frauds (such as the Haeckel embryos) and continue to show up in textbooks decades after they were shown to be fraudulent.



Millions of women have obtained abortions due to the selective use of evidence. They weren’t told all the facts about abortion. They weren’t given a sonogram that would have allowed them to see their baby inside the womb. The facts concerning their pregnancy were selectively kept from them.



Appeal to authority - relying on authority to the exclusion of logic and evidence. Just because an expert says it, doesn’t necessarily make it true. We live in a culture that worships experts, but not all experts are right. Hiram’s Law says: “If you consult enough experts, you can confirm any opinion.”



Don’t be intimidated because someone has a few academic letters behind his or her name. They have a bias just like you have a bias. In many cases self-proclaimed experts on radio and TV talk shows are speaking on issues outside of their expertise. Does the expert merely make a dogmatic statement? Or does the expert provide evidence that what he or she is saying is true?



Ad Hominem – is Latin for “against the man.” People using this tactic attack the person instead of dealing with the validity of their argument. Under this category would be all the disparaging comments made by professors about “dangerous, right-wing Christians.” Add to that all the smearing of people as part of the “radical right” and the labeling of people as “ultra conservative.” Ad hominem arguments signal that the person is out of ammunition and thus attacks the person rather than deal with his or her arguments.



Straw man argument – making your opponent’s argument seem so ridiculous that it is easy to attack and knock down. Liberal commentators say that evangelical Christians want to implement a religious theocracy in America. That’s not true. But the hyperbole works to marginalize Christian activists who believe they have a responsibility to speak to social and political issues within society.



One television special a number of years ago ignored all the scientific objections to evolution. And it portrayed any of the opponents to evolution as religious fundamentalists who lack scientific training. The viewer would not know that there are scientists with good scientific credentials who question the theory of evolution and are pursuing credible scientific research that supports intelligent design.



Sidestepping - dodging the issue by changing the subject. Politicians do this in press conferences by not answering the question asked by the reporter, but instead answering a question they wish someone had asked. Professors sometimes do that when a student points out an inconsistency or a leap in logic.



Sometimes the sidestepping is subtle. Most proponents of evolution will not say that humans descended from apes. They know that will not be popular with most people. Instead the scientists will claim that “apes and men had a common ancestor.” Of course this sidesteps the inference that any such common ancestor would have been essentially ape-like.



Red Herring - going off on a tangent (from the practice of luring hunting dogs off the trail with the scent of a herring fish). Proponents of abortion may say that “this discussion is not about whether a fetus is human, it’s about a woman’s right to choose.” Proponents of evolution might say: “this debate is not about evolution, but about the separation of church and state.” They change the subject often before the discussion or debate begins.



Be on the alert when someone in a debate changes the subject. They may want to argue their points on more familiar ground, or they may know they cannot win their argument on the relevant issue at hand.



A person with discernment will recognize these tactics and beware. We are called to develop discernment as we tear down false arguments raised up against the knowledge of God. By doing this we will learn to take every thought captive to the obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).





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