Test the Spirits

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" ~1 John 4:1 When I read this verse, I imagine these floating "ghost-like" shapes sitting at classroom desks, taking a quiz to prove "whether they are of God." Is that what John was thinking of by testing the spirits? Not at all, but it does make for a funny image when taken literally. On the flip side, testing the spirits can also sound macabre. So what does John actually mean? Earlier in Scripture, Paul tells us, "we have the mind of Christ" (1 Cor. 2:16b). The mind of Christ utilizes critical thinking within a uniquely Christian paradigm. It is the ability to cut between the physical world of what appears to be and the spiritual world of what is. Jesus warns us we are to look out for "wolves in sheep's clothing" (Matt. 7:15). Through the aid of the Helper (the Holy Spirit), whom Jesus sent (John 16:7), we can discern whether teachers are pro-Christ or, as John puts it, anti-Christ. John was refuting the many heresies popping up in his time and equipping us for those heresies to return as different forms in the future. He gives his readers a simple yet practical guide to "testing the spirits." "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God" (2, 3). By "spirit," John is speaking of the motivational force inside of each person; it is either of God or of the world. Today there is a constant avalanche of voices telling us how we should think and live concerning Scriptural teaching. We shouldn't rely on our smart assistant, AI, or search engine to provide the answers. Instead, we must tap into something far more powerful. When we allow Christ to live in us (Galat. 2:20), we can discern whether anything truly is from God or made up by man. Always improve the present moment.