- Does it have a high view of Scripture? Does it see Scripture as authoritative, inerrant, and sufficient?
- Does it square with Scripture? Does it add to or take away from Scripture? (Prov. 30:5–6; Rev 22:18–19)
- Does it have a high view of God (as revealed in Scripture)?
- Does it have a high view of Christ? As God in the flesh? Sinless? (John 8:24; 10:33)
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. (1 John 4:2–3)
- Does it present the Gospel faithfully?
- Is it God-centered or man-centered? Does it have a biblical view of man as fallen and sinful? Is it more concerned about restoring our damaged self-esteem, or being cleansed from our sin and made right with God?
- Does it avoid or skip over themes that are uncomfortable to us such as sin, the wrath of God, judgment, the death of Christ, Christ as the only way, repentance, and obedience? Does it soften the claims of Christ/the gospel to make it more palatable to modern ears?
- Does it minimize, trivialize, or redefine sin?
- Does it make you dependent on a small, elite group of enlightened people to tell you what you need to know?
- Is it “new”? Is it consistent with “the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints”? If it’s new, it’s probably not true!
- Is it “reactionary” against historic, orthodox faith? Subtly subversive? Scornful of anything “traditional”?
- Is the lifestyle of the teacher/promoter consistent with (or contrary to) Scripture?
© Revive Our Hearts. By Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Used with permission. www.ReviveOurHearts.com