Test the Spirits
Do you know how?
One of the most profound writers I know is Jesus’s youngest disciple who later became the Apostle John.
His language is simple and so it is easy to think of him as an unlearned laborer. He doesn’t write in long complicated sentences like Paul does, so I can see how the two styles can be linked to their early training, one to be a scholar and the other a fisherman. However, the writings of John are no less profound than the writings of Paul. For this reason, as we would with a poem or a proverb we need to sit with John’s words and not pass through them too quickly.
With this in mind let’s look at a section from a letter to members of churches John personally knew. The letter or epistle is First John or 1 John.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1 John 4:1 (ESV)
First note his affection for those he is writing to. John is an old man by this time and he is writing to younger generations. Obviously, what he has to say applies to you and me, and if he were alive today I have no doubt he would call us his and God’s “Beloved.”
Do not believe every spirit.
John believed, as do I, that we are surrounded by spiritual forces. But even if you do not happen to believe this literally, it is still teaching an important truth. We take on attitudes. We display passions. We can easily be swept up by the spirit of an event whether it be a rock concert, a football game, or even a church service.
John calls us to be wise and seek to discern all spirits with clear minds. Many paint the Christian life as one of emotion, lacking rationality.
It’s actually the opposite.
Our minds must be engaged before we give over our emotions to any idea or spirit.
But test the spirits to see whether they are from God
Why is this important?
Because the world is full of false prophets.
What do they look like?
They come in all shapes and sizes, and so we cannot determine if they are true or false by appearance.
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
1 John 4:2(ESV)
Boy, that narrows the field. Would you have guessed this would be John’s answer?
He continues.
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.
1 John 4:3a
Now it is not necessary that everything anyone says, contains this admission of belief in Jesus. However, it is important that we come to understand upon what basis someone is giving counsel, advice, or predictions.
For example, many in academia today with all the appropriate credentials are actually false prophets. What they are saying is wrong or misguided. Is everything they say wrong and misguided? Of course not. But be careful and listen to the Holy Spirit inside you when trying to determine whose advice to take. Same goes for politicians.
This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
1 John 4:3b
I’ll leave you to determine the meaning of this last statement as it applies to our lives today.
And now a classic hymn asking for God’s guidance. Majestic and beautiful as it should be.