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Having The Right Berean Attitude - Greg Gordon


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

In modern evangelical circles the Bereans are esteemed as model believers that all should follow, and yes there are great attributes to them but also there are implications taken from them that are untrue. Firstly they were jews, meaning they were religious jews but not believing Christians. Yet Paul the Apostle states they had “noble character” meaning they had a sense of them that they were deep thinkers before coming to quick conclusions on a matter. They were willing to give others the benefit of the doubt. Secondly, we see that they gladly received the message, meaning they were teachable, willing to learn and adjust their own beliefs. They were not so dogmatic to think that they were perfect or not needing correction or perfecting of their thinking of the Scriptures. When they heard reasonable words shared from the truth of Scriptures they eagerly sought these out to see if they really were Scriptural and true. They were not defensive but rather looking to learn and grow in their relationship and walk with God. They were also diligent in that every day they looked to see if the things Paul was sharing was true. They did not just give up or judge Paul but were willing to listen to the other side of the story and not come to quick conclusions. What a wonderful picture of a people who in the end mostly “embraced” the gospel message, they certainly were “noble” and the Lord honoured that.

The Bereans did not spend hours looking for gaps and mistakes in Paul’s and Silas’s teachings but looked to see what was true of what they were saying. Modern believers who esteem Bereans think of these things in a different way. They look to diligently check things with the Bible so they can accuse and criticize another person or ministry. Most people are usually have their mind made up someone is wrong and therefore go ahead and simply look for ways to attack another’s character, calling and ministry. Such ministries are known as discernment ministries or even heresy hunters. Most of those who follow the ways of these “type” of Bereans are joyless, critical in spirit, bitter or even angry. Many believe they can take down the ministry they are accusing and feel they are doing God’s work just like the early Bereans. If you desire to have life and peace, stay with the Word of God and stay away from those who make it their life’s work to criticize and accuse others. Follow the example of the true Bereans who were happy and joyfully to rejoice in truth when it was shared and be willing to grow in our understanding of the Lord.

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The Scriptures say they searched the Scriptures to see if these things are true.    A person searching for truth is not searching to see if these things are false.  They search the Old Testament to see if the Scriptures actually say what Paul was teaching.  

That is how I took my adult confirmation  Checking first to see if the verses were out of context I read the chapters before and after.   I hungered for truth in doctrine.  So most was confirmed in Scripture which I received with joy as the Holy Spirit enlightened me.  Yes I asked a lot of questions, but they were not trying to disprove but to understand more fully.  

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 Yes, many discernment sites can be considered wrong. I mean if a discernment ministry is Calvinistic then it won't be worth much, being that it will attack anything not Calvinistic. etc. And some discernment ministries will eventually fall because they haven't the fullness of ministry as in a proper body life accountability, hyper discernment, it's all they do. Their unity is based on what they are against. 

But, most of the discernment against the teachings people may bring onto this site being deemed wrong is from people who have searched the scriptures and have found something lacking in sound doctrine. The church has been sliding into experiential mysticism for some time now. Our discipleship is not about us having some kind of God experience and making our lives exciting in this world, the straight and narrow is a path where we will learn to despise our life in this world, even unto death. Zebulun and Naftali.                                                                                                          Truly, truly, I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.  John 12:24,25                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Jesus is coming, He warned of deception more than anything else when addressing the disciples question, "What is the sign of your coming and the end of the age going to be." Matth. 24. The first thing He said was, "Do not be mislead." I'll take an over the top Berean and not a zealous mystic in a heartbeat. Our unity is based on a common salvation, on doctrinal truth. The truth will draw a line in the sand, doctrine will divide. Jesus said he didn't come to bring peace but a sword. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. Expect division. The Vatican controlled ecumenicalism is not of God. The beast will devour that woman. 

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3 hours ago, sermonindex said:

Such ministries are known as discernment ministries or even heresy hunters. Most of those who follow the ways of these “type” of Bereans are joyless, critical in spirit, bitter or even angry. Many believe they can take down the ministry they are accusing and feel they are doing God’s work just like the early Bereans.

Any proof on your judgmental statements of them being "joyless, critical in spirit, bitter or angry?"

Here is but one of many statements made by those in such godly ministries, goes totally against the grain of what your presenting:

Is Lighthouse Trails Haters?

By Ray Yungen

Recently, at a large Christian youth event, Lighthouse Trails was indirectly referred to as “haters” because of our articles and books exposing the emerging church movement. We realize that many people think ministries like Lighthouse Trails are mean-spirited, hateful, and derive pleasure from causing trouble for others.

On the contrary, what motivates and drives Lighthouse Trails is a sense of duty to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We see that being the issue at stake.


Right now, there is a struggle going on for what the church of the future will look like. Karl Rahner once said the Christian of the future will be a mystic or he or she will not exist at all. The question must be asked (and answered): Is this really a good thing? Will mysticism lead to a Christianity that is more vibrant and in harmony with the will of God?

When one looks at the writings of those such as Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, etc., one finds that this mysticism is rooted firmly in a spiritual understanding more in-tune with Buddhism and Hinduism that with the writings of the apostles in the Bible.

Thomas Merton said:

    It is a glorious destiny to be a member of the human race, … now I realize what we all are…. If only they [people] could all see themselves as they really are … I suppose the big problem would be that we would fall down and worship each other…. At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and by illusions, a point of pure truth…. This little point … is the pure glory of God in us. It is in everybody. (A Time of Departing, p. 59)

This is identical to what is called in New Age spirituality, the higher self. Over the last few decades there has been an ever-increasing number of individuals in Christianity that draw on and promote persons such as Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen. The mission at Lighthouse Trails is to point out that if the church goes in the same mystical direction as these individuals, it will ultimately embrace the spiritual perceptions such as the one just stated. If that sounds implausible, take a look at the spiritual life of Sue Monk Kidd (author of The Secret Life of Bees).

Monk Kidd was at one time a conservative Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher. But after she was introduced to the writings of Thomas Merton, she branched out and began embracing contemplative practices and her spirituality dramatically changed. Eventually, it led her to say that God dwells in everything, even excrement and graffiti.

At Lighthouse Trails, we are not motivated by hate for people but rather by love and concern. We believe, with everything in us, that man’s only hope lies in Jesus Christ and the free gift of salvation offered to those who believe and accept it. And we also believe that contemplative/emerging spirituality leads man away from that Gospel not toward it. This is why we do what we do.

Ray Yungen
Lighthouse Trails author"

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10 hours ago, B3L13v3R said:

Any proof on your judgmental statements of them being "joyless, critical in spirit, bitter or angry?"

Here is but one of many statements made by those in such godly ministries, goes totally against the grain of what your presenting:

Is Lighthouse Trails Haters?

By Ray Yungen

Recently, at a large Christian youth event, Lighthouse Trails was indirectly referred to as “haters” because of our articles and books exposing the emerging church movement. We realize that many people think ministries like Lighthouse Trails are mean-spirited, hateful, and derive pleasure from causing trouble for others.

On the contrary, what motivates and drives Lighthouse Trails is a sense of duty to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We see that being the issue at stake.


Right now, there is a struggle going on for what the church of the future will look like. Karl Rahner once said the Christian of the future will be a mystic or he or she will not exist at all. The question must be asked (and answered): Is this really a good thing? Will mysticism lead to a Christianity that is more vibrant and in harmony with the will of God?

When one looks at the writings of those such as Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Thomas Keating, etc., one finds that this mysticism is rooted firmly in a spiritual understanding more in-tune with Buddhism and Hinduism that with the writings of the apostles in the Bible.

Thomas Merton said:

    It is a glorious destiny to be a member of the human race, … now I realize what we all are…. If only they [people] could all see themselves as they really are … I suppose the big problem would be that we would fall down and worship each other…. At the center of our being is a point of nothingness which is untouched by sin and by illusions, a point of pure truth…. This little point … is the pure glory of God in us. It is in everybody. (A Time of Departing, p. 59)

This is identical to what is called in New Age spirituality, the higher self. Over the last few decades there has been an ever-increasing number of individuals in Christianity that draw on and promote persons such as Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen. The mission at Lighthouse Trails is to point out that if the church goes in the same mystical direction as these individuals, it will ultimately embrace the spiritual perceptions such as the one just stated. If that sounds implausible, take a look at the spiritual life of Sue Monk Kidd (author of The Secret Life of Bees).

Monk Kidd was at one time a conservative Southern Baptist Sunday school teacher. But after she was introduced to the writings of Thomas Merton, she branched out and began embracing contemplative practices and her spirituality dramatically changed. Eventually, it led her to say that God dwells in everything, even excrement and graffiti.

At Lighthouse Trails, we are not motivated by hate for people but rather by love and concern. We believe, with everything in us, that man’s only hope lies in Jesus Christ and the free gift of salvation offered to those who believe and accept it. And we also believe that contemplative/emerging spirituality leads man away from that Gospel not toward it. This is why we do what we do.

Ray Yungen
Lighthouse Trails author"

That's right  , we who have learned ,  know to avoid these types of things .

And when we warn out ,  the word of the day is   , HATERS .

This in itself is one way to try and silence the opposition .   For in general no person wants to be known as a hater .

IT wont and don't work on me ,     For those who truly have the LORD ,  they got joy no matter what names they get called .

They cast aside their own welfare , taking the wrongful names and labels,   and they even rejoice when called bad things for JESUS sake .

They do it , out of LOVE OF GOD and love of the brethren .   So ,   as I said and have been saying,  LETS ALL AVOID these contemplative moves , this mysticism

which only has been opening the WRONG doors .      We must keep exposing all error , we must keep pointing to ONLY JESUS , reminding of HIS sayings

and of the apostels .    Found IN the BIBLE .    We must avoid these other things , and not only that , but warn out for the sake of others .

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Just now, frienduff thaylorde said:

That's right  , we who have learned ,  know to avoid these types of things .

And when we warn out ,  the word of the day is   , HATERS .

This in itself is one way to try and silence the opposition .   For in general no person wants to be known as a hater .

IT wont and don't work on me ,     For those who truly have the LORD ,  they got joy no matter what names they get called .

They cast aside their own welfare , taking the wrongful names and labels,   and they even rejoice when called bad things for JESUS sake .

They do it , out of LOVE OF GOD and love of the brethren .   So ,   as I said and have been saying,  LETS ALL AVOID these contemplative moves , this mysticism

which only has been opening the WRONG doors .      We must keep exposing all error , we must keep pointing to ONLY JESUS , reminding of HIS sayings

and of the apostels .    Found IN the BIBLE .    We must avoid these other things , and not only that , but warn out for the sake of others .

We must warn out against this false unity gathering of the faiths ,  we must warn against and have no company with those who refuse to heed the warning .

In hopes they will repent .   We must avoid churches who are tricking the masses into a false unity and with Rome .

WE must warn against inclusivism .

WE must warn out against these meditations

WE must continue to not be partakers of this and to expose it .

For many men whether knowingly or unknowingly have crept into many places .  They have been amongst us playing christain

ones like rick warren ,  the brian mclarens , those who now have become the leaders of this unity movment .  And they know how to word some things right .

SO if the focus has become this unity and meditations , this idea that the gospel is focused on this gathering and unity . GET THE Heck out of those churches .

We who are HIS already have our unity , AND ITS CHRIST CENTERED and with those who already are Christs and who avoid this false unity, lIKE the plague .

Many protestants years back even, were being prepared for these men of today .   A big way in , is to focus on feelings and meditations

which only open the mind up to , WHAT the leader says next .    They have been lulling folks to sleep for years and now , as of late

are doing all to wake them up , to the darkest event which they portray as light , or enlightenment , or term it some christain name .

WE must avoid these types .  First we must do all to warn them to repent , but if they heed not , keep exposing their sensual seductions .

 

 

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13 hours ago, Zemke said:

 Yes, many discernment sites can be considered wrong. I mean if a discernment ministry is Calvinistic then it won't be worth much, being that it will attack anything not Calvinistic. etc. And some discernment ministries will eventually fall because they haven't the fullness of ministry as in a proper body life accountability, hyper discernment, it's all they do. Their unity is based on what they are against. 

But, most of the discernment against the teachings people may bring onto this site being deemed wrong is from people who have searched the scriptures and have found something lacking in sound doctrine. The church has been sliding into experiential mysticism for some time now. Our discipleship is not about us having some kind of God experience and making our lives exciting in this world, the straight and narrow is a path where we will learn to despise our life in this world, even unto death. Zebulun and Naftali.                                                                                                          Truly, truly, I say unto you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.  John 12:24,25                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Jesus is coming, He warned of deception more than anything else when addressing the disciples question, "What is the sign of your coming and the end of the age going to be." Matth. 24. The first thing He said was, "Do not be mislead." I'll take an over the top Berean and not a zealous mystic in a heartbeat. Our unity is based on a common salvation, on doctrinal truth. The truth will draw a line in the sand, doctrine will divide. Jesus said he didn't come to bring peace but a sword. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit. Expect division. The Vatican controlled ecumenicalism is not of God. The beast will devour that woman. 

This is an important point it seem, namely we need discernment on discernment! No sweeping generalizations will suffice. 

But what if we admitted that every time we replace a false or incomplete view of the world we "learn" something. 

As disciples we are called to be lifelong learners replacing false or incomplete views with true or more complete views of God's world. 

Given the humility it takes to recognize you have some false beliefs about the world but don't know what they are we proceed with an approach to knowledge that asks what best explains (in the case above The Biblical view on who Jesus is) x given a set of data y. We look at the data of scripture and then all the explanations (inferences).

Paul is telling the truth and the prophets told about a messiah and Jesus fulfilled numerous (some say 62) separate prophetic claims.

Paul is falsifying the record and because we don't have any BBC News we can't corroborate his claims to see whether Jesus actually did the things Paul claims to have witnesses or gathered testimonies about. (Skepticism)

There might be other explanations but the point is the Bereans trusted Paul's account enough to record it and go investigate it in an intellectually honest fashion.

That is the issue that seems to be the focus of the topic here. Intellectual honesty sans ad hominem attacks and other appeals to rhetorical tricks.  

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Discerning the "Discerners."

1. Do they ask informed questions about your knowledge claim? In other words have they done even 30 seconds of research as to your claims?

2. Do they represent your view accurately or do they create straw men and attack the misrepresentations of your view that they invented?

3. Do they even understand their own epistemic limits? That is to say, do they make counter-claims using a special way of knowing that is not available to humans? E.G. "God revealed to me that the Holy Spirit is not a person." Here they are appealing to secret knowledge. Elsewhere people destroy all knowledge by saying things like "The only things we can know about are scientific claims." Of course these simpletons miss that all we need to do is ask "What science experiment did you run that demonstrates that truth? This third question is the most advanced form of discerning. 

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14 hours ago, sermonindex said:

Follow the example of the true Bereans who were happy and joyfully to rejoice in truth when it was shared and be willing to grow in our understanding of the Lord.

Love this statement. I love learning and have surrounded myself with those who share your sentiment above. Iron sharpens Iron and so too do people who love growing in their understanding of the Lord. 

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Here is an article I wrote that was published on Chrisma News highlighting Francis Chan on this topic: Francis Chan: Are You Destroying the Church?

I wrote as part of it:

Perhaps we can start to change our minds and start looking towards others with seeing their good and not bad, speaking blessings over others and not curses. Remember we are fitted together in a temple of God with all saints of all ages. And Francis gives the example of someone taking a sledgehammer to this temple. What a fearful thing to do, of course we would depart from such an individual for fear of what God Himself would do to him. As the Scripture says, "Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them" (Titus 3:10, NIV).

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