Class on Discernment: Living Proof Live Simulcast

Beth Moore’s Living Proof Live simulcast is quickly approaching. It is scheduled to air September 12, 2015. Many churches have signed up to participate along with women who will watch from home. If you are one of that number, I invite you to do something as you watch. I invite you to turn the simulcast into a class on discernment. This means, we will use the simulcast to practice the ability to confirm truth and detect error in a Bible message or teaching. Some may feel it is unnecessary to do that with a Beth Moore event since she is so established and well liked as a Bible teacher. I would respond that it is always necessary to be discerning at every event or service where God’s word is taught. It is necessary even when the preacher you’ve sat under for 20 years gets up to preach.

Discernment is so important for our spiritual well-being. It is our biblical responsibility.  (1 John 4:1) The example of the noble-minded Bereans encourages us to do as they did. (Acts 17:10-11)  Paul prayed for the Philippians’ discernment in Philippians 1:9-10, and the distinguishing of spirits is listed as one of the manifestations of the Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:10.  We are not be children who are “tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;” (Ephesians 4:14) Discernment is clearly a vital part of the Christian life. It is not a good idea to listen to or read any Christian material without evaluating it for biblical soundness.  It is not enough to simply look for things that make us feel good or speak to our hearts.  It is not enough to simply be fed emotionally.  We must pursue sound teaching and avoid the dreadful pronouncement found in 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,  and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Required Reading for the Class

The foundation for discernment is the Bible.  It is your textbook for this class and all of life.  The ability to discern between good and bad teachings exists in proportion to the amount of scripture we are exposed to.  We cannot possibly evaluate our teachers for biblical accuracy if we don’t already know what the Bible says or remember to check things out in context.  One may think they can rely solely on promptings of the Holy Spirit to identify truth and error in a message; but unless the truth of God’s word is involved, there is no objective way to confirm or test those promptings.  Additionally, it’s important to remember that our hearts and minds are subjective.  Alone, they’re not a reliable test for truth.

I cannot stress enough how important it is to employ the Bible when you’re listening to Bible teachers.  It may seem like an obvious thing to do, but unfortunately it is neglected.  I believe a big part of why false teachers prosper is because many people don’t evaluate what they hear against the word. They just soak it in, dangerously accepting everything they hear without question.  We can all try to help stem this tide by gently encouraging others to check things out using the Bible.

Pray for Discernment

Along with reading the Bible, prayer is paramount in discernment.  Through it we rightly honor the source of truth by going to God and asking for his help.  It is his truth we are seeking; it is his guidance we need.  We can pray that we might grow in our understanding of the Bible and that he might help us see anything that is contrary to it.  We can also pray for protection against unknowingly assimilating error. We can also ask him to give us mental clarity while we listen, that we may spot anything that seems unreasonable or illogical.  It may or may not be a biblical issue, but could be indicative that something is wrong.  If someone needs to jump through hoops to make their point or takes leaps in logic, their conclusion is probably not sound. We can also pray to be honest and loving in our assessment and not give a speaker a pass because we are a fan or become close minded or harshly judgmental because we are already aware or suspect that there are problems. I will be praying like this before the simulcast.  I will lift my voice up as the psalmist did.

“Teach me good discernment and knowledge, For I believe in Your commandments.” (Psalms 119:66)

The Nuts and Bolts of Discernment 

Now it is time to break down discernment and look at how to confirm truth and detect error in a Bible message or teaching. Discernment has two main components. It is both a supernatural and natural occurrence.  We are completely reliant upon the Lord for this work, but it is also a skill that can be learned. The list below touches on both of these components. It contains things that I have found quite helpful in testing teachings both past and present. Applying the list to the simulcast will help us determine whether or not there is anything off. If nothing is, that will become apparent. Let’s pray for that. If something is, may we be faithful first to our Lord and his word before all others.

Based on what I have learned about Mrs. Moore’s ministry, I believe it is better to pass on the simulcast; but many will watch. That is why I am using the simulcast as the object of evaluation for this class. And while I am using the simulcast as the object of evaluation because Mrs. Moore’s ministry has given many people including me cause for concern, what we’re going to cover could be applied to any Christian event or teacher. Truthfully, I am far more interested in seeing discernment grow in general than highlighting the errors of one teacher.  So please expand this list outwards to all you sit under.  I pray it serves you well.  I know the list adds a lot of length to this post, but I encourage you to read it through and save it for future reference.  (In the sidebar, you’ll find an edited PDF of the list. I removed simulcast specific comments to make it more applicable for general use.) Please add anything else that you do or look for in the comments.

1. I know I mentioned prayer above, but it’s worth repeating. If you do watch the simulcast please pray for discernment.  When?  Well, I will start praying for discernment days before the simulcast.  I’ll pray before it, during it, and after it when I review my notes.  I rely greatly on the Lord to help me see truth and error. I don’t want to rely on or be led by my own efforts, I want to be led and instructed by him.
2. If it is applicable and makes sense in your marriage, have you discussed watching the simulcast with your husband? I believe it is a good idea to run our teachers by our husbands.  This could be a great aid to your discernment, turning to the man who is looking out for your well-being and asking for his input.  You may also benefit by talking after the event and discussing what you heard.
3. When you sit down to listen, have the mindset that you need to be convinced that the teaching is biblically correct. If you start out from a place of needing to be convinced of the validity of a teaching, you will be in a much better place to confirm truth and detect error.
4. Engage your mind. Be prepared to think things through.  Examine things closely, especially if something doesn’t sound right.  This does take effort. I know some ladies may attend an event like this as a much needed break from their hectic lives and simply desire to be fed, but we should never take a break from being discerning. Being fed on corrupt teachings is not a healthy diet. Our brains can help us spot them.  Along with the Lord’s help, you’re going to need your brain to compare what you’re hearing to the Bible.  One way you can love the Lord “with all your mind” (Mark 12:30) is to use it to honor him by seeking the truth with it.
5. You may wish to consider taking notes. Often times a message goes by quickly. It’s easy to miss something since you don’t have time to check it out in the moment. Taking notes allows you to go back and really look into it later.
6. Identify the main focus. Where is it?  Is it on God? Does the speaker talk about themselves or their ministry more often than God? Do they talk about you more often than God?  Is the focus on receiving things from God as opposed to glorify him and exhortations to obey him?
7. Is there a right view of God? For example, is he portrayed as weaker than the Bible reveals him to be? Is he at your mercy, waiting for your word or faith to do something?
8. What is used as an authority? Is the Bible properly esteemed or is there emphasis placed on personal experience or personal revelation?
9. Does any part of the message contradict the Bible? If this is the only thing you take away from this post, I will rest easier. There may be times when you do not immediately recognize that there is a contradiction. Often times there is a mix of truth and error which can make it hard to spot the error. That is why we need to open the Bible and check everything. To be able to notice these things more easily, spend as much time as possible reading and studying the Bible every day. God works through his word to deepen our understanding of truth. The more time we spend with it, the easier it is to spot error.
10. How often is the Bible quoted? In my apologetics work, I review the material of false teachers. While many twist and misapply the scriptures, others offer little to no biblical support for their positions because there is none.
11. If and when the scriptures are quoted, are the verses taken out of context? This is a very common and serious error in groups and individuals that have teachings contrary to the Bible. This is where your notes will come in handy. If you can’t check things out in the moment, you can go back later. When you check, read several verses before and after the verse(s) in question. Read the selection with what was taught in mind.  Does the verse(s) actually support what was said?  If not, something is wrong.
12. When the scriptures are used, is the actual meaning of the verse taught or something else? I have seen this error in Mrs. Moore’s work in the past, and I have written about it here. I will be sure to pay attention to how things go this time. She has the tendency to build a story around a verse that has nothing to do with the meaning of the verse.
13. What Bible version is used? Sometimes teaches will switch versions choosing one that better makes their point even if it’s not a good translation.  If you ever see a teacher using The Message Bible, please be aware that it is not a trustworthy translation.  If you would like to know why I believe that, please see my post A Creative But Inaccurate Message.
14. Is the gospel preached and preached biblically? Is there any message about sin? Is there mention of our needs of repentance, forgiveness, and salvation through Jesus?
15. Is the message peached actually worth far less than the gospel? Examples of this would be self-improvement or self-interest messages relating to a better life, life goals, or financial matters. Those things may be good things to discuss, but they are not the gospel and pale in comparison. They are better suited for a self-help seminar.
16. Is there a “new” message that has been missing or forgotten by the church or previously unknown in the church? This is another common technique in teachers that stray from the truth of the Bible. It’s a great ploy to drum up excitement and is indicative of bad doctrine. In the description of the book Audacious, the book connected to the theme of the simulcast, we read that something has been missing from Mrs. Moore’s ministry.  I am curious to learn what it is.
17. Is there a claim to speak for or from God? Are you told what God revealed or said in a personal revelation?  None of these should be taken lightly or dismissed.  Claims of personal revelations should immediately raise red flags. When someone claims to hear from God outside of the scriptures, anything could be said. It should put that person under great scrutiny, not just the revelation, but their teachings. If they are leaning on an extra-biblical source to teach, they are in effect setting up an authority outside of the Bible that is not unfailingly trustworthy. That’s serious. Mrs. Moore has claimed to receive personal revelations.  Besides other occurrences, it came up in last year’s simulcast. I have written about my thoughts on this in more depth here.
18. Is there reliance on emotionalism? While it is absolutely joyful to be a Christian and to know the Lord, operating heavily from feelings is not the same as operating from the solid ground of the Bible.
19. Is an unbiblical description of love or unity or anything else given?
20. Is there a distinction made between belief systems or do many or all paths lead to God?

No Conclusion Yet, but Something to Ponder

After the simulcast, when all is said and done and tested, I pray you are able to come to a conclusion about the soundness of the simulcast.  It can take time to sort all this out. Lord willing, I will write a review.  Even though the simulcast hasn’t happened yet, it is not too early to think about what to do if you do find disturbing problems. First, I know it can be hard to see the problems when you really like somebody; so I pray for your strength and courage to be objective. Secondly, I’m guessing that if you come to the conclusion that Mrs. Moore is a false teacher, you would walk away.  We are warned about false teachers in the Bible (Titus 1:10-11, 2 Peter 2:1-3) and know that is what we ought to do.  So, I’m not worried for those of you in that department.  But, thirdly, what will you do if you see some problems but also see some good and feel you have been helped?  This could classify her as a questionable teacher. Do you need to walk away?  How much error is too much error? I leave you with few thoughts.

We are to walk in sound doctrine.  Without it, we could suffer the loss of correct knowledge about God, the Bible, the gospel, ourselves, or the church to name a few.  These loses could be tragic.  I don’t want that for me. I don’t want that for you.  Paul didn’t want it for Timothy.  He exhorted him this way.

“Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 1:13)

Sound words, the teachings of the scriptures, are like a glass of clear, pure water. Bad teachings are like poison. If some poison gets into the glass, the water becomes toxic. A small amount might not kill you; but it can make you sick. How much contaminated water are you willing to drink?  Even if the water is not lethal, it can hurt us and can possibly hurt our Christian sisters around us since we appear to give a seal of approval by drinking.

We must seek teachers that have a good record of being faithful to retaining the standard of sound words in their teachings, and we must also retain that standard ourselves. And with every teacher, we must remain discerning. Evaluating our teachers and our own beliefs and subjecting them humbly to God’s word is a lifelong task, but one that brings the joy of deeper fellowship with him as we walk in the truth of his glorious word.  Let’s keep our glasses as clear as possible.

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

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For a head start on discerning the soundness of the message of the simulcast, please see my post Evaluating Beth Moore’s Upcoming Live Simulcast.

If you haven’t already, please subscribe to my blog to receive notification by e-mail of future posts or follow Chapter 3 Ministries on Facebook. Thank you.

*Update* Now ready
Part one of my review of the simulcast: 2015 Living Proof Live Simulcast Review Part One
Companion Post: Romance with Jesus: The Bigger Picture

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Sharon Lareau

Founder of Chapter 3 Ministries
Ministering in the spirit of Titus 2:3-5 and encouraging women to contend for the faith.

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