1 John 4:1
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Acts 17:11
Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

2 Timothy 3:16-17
Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

We as christians are commanded to test under the direction of the Holy Spirit using the word of God, the sword of the Spirit (Eph 6).

Hebrews 5:12-14
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is , those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

The King's sword, the word of God is a basic tool of discernment. (1 Ki 3:24)

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two– edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Christians are usually met with some kind of oppostion when they do this. Here is some of the oppostion I've met -- where scripture is twisted in attempt to silence the one testing.

• Judge Not! - is often quoted when questions arise about exposing error, false teaching or false teachers. Does this really mean NEVER judge, NEVER expose error, NEVER name names???

• There is no ABSOLUTE Truth! Or can anyone really know or understand the truth?
  Absolute Truth?

• The Letter Kills? -- Paul does NOT say that Scripture kills but the Spirit gives life!
  • The Letter kills! -- 3000 people died when law written on stone!
  • A Living Letter

• The Wheat and the Tares -- Does this parable in Mt 13 really say that you should not remove sin, error and deception from the church, for fear of uprooting the wheat?

• He Who Is Not Against Us -- Is 'he' really for us?
  http://blog.360.yahoo.com/ka.holland?p=96

• Eat the Meat and Spit Out the Bones!

• Knowledge Puffs Up, Love Builds Up! -- does this really mean never to use human intellect in spiritual matters?
  

• Touch Not Mine Anointed! -- does this really mean never to question? Who exactly is anointed?
  http://blog.360.yahoo.com/karentrustin?p=720

• The Gamaliel Approach -- do not 'judge' wait to see what kind of fruit is produced! Is this really biblical??

• Doctrine Divides! Love Unifies! -- Love is more important than doctrine, we should all agree to disagree for the sake of unity! Is this really biblical or is unity without truth a myth?

• Uncontrollable Laughter -- A gift justified by Acts 2 and Psalm 37:13 or a delusion?

• Love Covers a Multitude of Sins -- Does this mean turn a blind eye to sin, leave the issue alone{don’t confront or address it} —> just “love” the person despite what they are doing?

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