Truth and falsity, in the Church and in your life.

[FJK]

We are presented with an endless amount of falsity disguised as Truth in today's world, both in our individual lives and in our Churches with much, maybe most, of it presented so subtly that it slips past our conscious awareness of it and become a part of our thinking and our lives without our even realizing it.

So my question is:  Without going into an endless quotation of scripture you have already learned from, how do you as a practicing Christian, in your personal life, discriminate Truth from Falsity?  How do you actually do it, how do you determine what things and thoughts you find acceptable and unacceptable to be allowed to become a part of your life?

[Justin Adams]

That is a very good question.

Listen to the Lord High God. Read or listen to GOOD people that expound God's words without predudice. Do it often and unceasingly. This wil drown out the wold and its constant clamoring noise.

Listen well.

 

[Arial]

2 hours ago, FJK said:

We are presented with an endless amount of falsity disguised as Truth in today's world, both in our individual lives and in our Churches with much, maybe most, of it presented so subtly that it slips past our conscious awareness of it and become a part of our thinking and our lives without our even realizing it.

So my question is:  Without going into an endless quotation of scripture you have already learned from, how do you as a practicing Christian, in your personal life, discriminate Truth from Falsity?  How do you actually do it, how do you determine what things and thoughts you find acceptable and unacceptable to be allowed to become a part of your life?

The more familiar a person is with the scriptures the easier it will become. Check everything against scripture because that is where truth is. The problem with that is that false teachers use the scriptures to promote their teachings,but subtly distort them---just as the devil did with Jesus. Never ever take an isolated scripture and make a doctrine out of it. Are there other things in the Bible that contradict what is being taught? Or contradict the very character of God? It is a lifelong process of diligently seeking in the word.

There are preachers and teachers who actually expound systematically on the word that are a great help in getting perspective. But doing this was a product of the Reformation, a time when preaching and teaching from the word had left the visible church--the RCC for hundreds of years. And it is a rare thing again today, this systematic teaching so that the Bible flows in a unity from beginning to end, presenting the same and never contradictory truths, and God remains the same God throughout, and the workings of the covenant of redemption flows through and within every page.

I don't know if this is what you were referring to or to thoughts and ideas in general.

[FJK]

5 minutes ago, Arial said:

I don't know if this is what you were referring to or to thoughts and ideas in general.

I'm interested in how people do it, how they practice it in all the minor things of our daily worldly life that collectively add up to what we are and what we become.  I know how I (try) to do it but am highly interested in knowing how other Christians do it as well.

[kwikphilly]

7 hours ago, FJK said:

I'm interested in how people do it, how they practice it in all the minor things of our daily worldly life that collectively add up to what we are and what we become.  I know how I (try) to do it but am highly interested in knowing how other Christians do it as well.

Blessings FJK

John 14:26.....

Faith Comes by Hearing the Word of God....Amen,this is the FOOD we require and the more we eat,the more we Grow,Mature in our Relationship with Almighty God in Christ Jesus- not just that but by also spending time with HIM,praying & relating with Him,Praise Worship..   sweetening out very souls

Well,I started with John 14:26 because that's WHO I have always counted on to Know TRUTH ....not my academics,logic,reason,research ,studying but simply Digesting the Word of God ,& BY GOD- Holy Spirit Always Brings to my Remembrance the Word that I have been fed........

I don't believe or think I've been Anointed any Gift of Discernment but Indwelling Holy Spirit Discerns for me and Reveals

Hope I explained that well enough,He never fails! Praise Jesus!

[Alive]

8 hours ago, FJK said:

I'm interested in how people do it, how they practice it in all the minor things of our daily worldly life that collectively add up to what we are and what we become.  I know how I (try) to do it but am highly interested in knowing how other Christians do it as well.

As you draw close to Him, He draws close to you and reveals Himself to you.

He wishes to lead you into a relationship as He walks along side you.

You learn about Him in scripture. You experience and learn of Him over time and His work in you.

The chief barrier to this is preconceptions. Speak to Him, truthfully about any and all misgivings and doubts. He is not offended. In fact, such honesty is like a conduit for true change…we are being changed from one degree of glory…..etc.

These things are more real than the chair you are sitting in.

[tim_from_pa]

11 hours ago, FJK said:

We are presented with an endless amount of falsity disguised as Truth in today's world, both in our individual lives and in our Churches with much, maybe most, of it presented so subtly that it slips past our conscious awareness of it and become a part of our thinking and our lives without our even realizing it.

So my question is:  Without going into an endless quotation of scripture you have already learned from, how do you as a practicing Christian, in your personal life, discriminate Truth from Falsity?  How do you actually do it, how do you determine what things and thoughts you find acceptable and unacceptable to be allowed to become a part of your life?

The more I study Scripture, the more I understand that the Lord has an answer for everything from main life principles of righteousness down to specifics such as a scientific controversy whether or not DHA and EPA omega 3-s are antagonists like scientists say or whether "red meat" is bad or good for you. Oftentimes when one knows the truth, the world and experts don't like to hear it.  On the other hand, some of what they say is true but is narrow sighted such as the age of the Earth and stars in heaven.  Clue:  it's very old as they say, and life may have even evolved as they say, and yet the world as we know it was recreated recently and virtually no evolution took place so both have an element of truth.  The problem lies when one accepts one extreme or the other. God is sovereign and active in all things and events so no matter what, understanding and knowing His Word will help one figure everything out.  As I always point out, Sir Isaac Newton is my favorite theologian and understood the universe from this same stance. We need more ministers who understand mathematics and science; after all, God is the same mastermind behind it all.

[Who me]

18 hours ago, FJK said:

how do you as a practicing Christian, in your personal life, discriminate Truth from Falsity? 

There are two areas here in our Christian and church life.

In our secular life.

Both involve how we view and receive information and both depend on our own knowledge and wisdom. 

 

False information never comes at you like a charging elephant, it is always presented as a subtle little thing that slips past you untill one has accepted it having heard it many, many times.

Sometimes this is down to how it is presented and because everyone else accepts it, other times it is because of ignorance.

an example, many people accept that mormons are Christian, they see others accept they are, the have talked with them or read posts by them, but they don't know what they believe and so accept the false information that they are Christian.

 

In our secular life society does not live by Christian morality and because of the constant exposure to world views and due to a lack of clear teaching many Christians live not as Christians but as secular atheists, example, how many Christians have sex before marriage.

[Arial]

21 hours ago, FJK said:

I'm interested in how people do it, how they practice it in all the minor things of our daily worldly life that collectively add up to what we are and what we become.  I know how I (try) to do it but am highly interested in knowing how other Christians do it as well.

One thing that is helpful is to look and see where something is coming from. It may sound good and right but what is its source and what is its aim? Is it a world view or a God view? Is it culture altering the word of God and becoming the higher authority? Are we going one way in order to be liked or fit in, when God in His word clearly says to go a different way?

Edited April 30, 2023 by Arial

[Arial]

Also, and I think this is a necessary part of the sanctification process, is to bravely examine our motives behind our actions and thoughts. I say bravely because it is seldom pleasant for our egos to be brutally honest with ourselves. And I do this in times of communion with the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, (prayer). It follows with the cry of David, "Show me any hidden sins in me that I might walk in your ways."

I find the Holy Spirit reminds me of things in His word that themselves reveal hidden agendas and motives. ANd even though I may be broken by shame at my inner transgressions against God, there is also great gratitude and joy in God's faithfulness towards me even when I am faithless. They lurk in us, these hidden unholy motives and thoughts . They have no power over us to condemn us in Christ, but they need to be recognized before they can be removed. And even if they are not removed all at once, and we have to revisit them with God over and over, it becomes easier to recognize them and bring them into submission with repentance.