How do we know what the Truth (John 14:6) is, if we don't seek it out, examine it and compare it against what we are hearing?

1 Thessalonians 5:21 directs us to "test everything and retain what is good."

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WHAT THE BIBLE & OUR FAITH DOCTRINE SAY ABOUT:

FALSE TEACHERS & SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS

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The Good News of Jesus Christ is packed with references warning us not to stray from the written Word and to beware of those who preach against it and/or live in a manner that contradicts its teachings. Many in today's society- including some Christians- have stated that our society "has evolved" since the time Jesus walked the Earth and, therefore, the Bible is "outdated" and needs "revising" or "updating."

This opinion contradicts many Old & New Testament Scriptures (Isaiah 44:6 and 48:12, Matthew 6:24, Luke 16:13, Romans 8:7-8, James 4:4, Hebrews 1:12, 7:24, 13:8, 1 John 2:15-16, 2 John 1:7-11, Revelation 1:8 and 1:17 to list but a few of many) that proclaim we either:

a) honor, serve and do our human best to emulate a God of consistency. He is One who never wavers with public opinion (1 Samuel 15:24), does not conform to the ways of this world (Romans 12:2), does not straddle political fences (1 Kings 18:21) or cave to desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:17-21). He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

OR

b) we don't.

There is no "updating" or "revising" required, only a complete and unconditional surrender to the King we say we are followers of. We must bend to His desires, not the other way around.

Jesus Christ Himself spoke unceasingly about how any of us who claim to be His followers are to pick up our Cross daily to follow Him (Matthew 10:38, Matthew 16:24-25, Mark 8:34-35, Luke 14:27 & John 12:26). When we are met with resistance in today's world about the steadfast teachings of Jesus Christ, we have two options: Pick up our Cross and follow Jesus OR turn our back on Him and follow any other way. There is no middle ground to stand on or fence post to straddle. Again turning to the God-inspired Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:16-17), the footnotes to Revelation 3:15-16 share with us that "a halfhearted commitment to the faith is nauseating to Christ." Instead, we are to possess zeal, enthusiasm and be fervent of Spirit (Romans 12:11). This is the Ultimate Challenge which has eternal consequences. The Good News is that we have a choice and, today, I choose to follow Jesus Christ. Amen!

Whether we are at Church on Sunday or at the supermarket on Tuesday, how do we know when we are hearing the Truth of Jesus Christ (John 14:6) as opposed to when we are hearing anything else? The great evangelizer and author of a majority of the New Testament, St Paul, exhorts in 1 Thessalonians 5:21 that we are to "test everything; retain what is good." To be more specific, Paul is telling us we need to know what the Word says so we can discern upon what we are hearing. Does what we are hearing line up with the Scriptures or is it a false teaching?

Our very first Holy Father, Peter- the Rock and chosen one of Christ- encourages us in 1 Peter 2:2 to "long for spiritual milk, so that through it we may grow into salvation." After a seasonal period, we are to be weaned from that milk and, in place, seek out solid spiritual food- the fresh manna of Jesus Christ. Church Fathers, Church Tradition and Holy Fathers throughout the ages have pointed to the Holy Scriptures as the very touchstone for that spiritual milk.

If we don't know what the Good News has to say about a certain issue, how can we be obedient and do what God says to do? How can we be "doers of the Word and not hearers only, deluding ourselves (James 1:22)," if we don't know what the Word says to do?

We're grateful for many forewarnings outlined in both Old (ex: Hosea 4:6) and New (ex: Matthew 7:24-27) Testament Scriptures that spell out what is to take place if we adhere to or stray from what God wants us to do. The Good News is also relentless in teaching about kingdoms and their inhabitants- once very righteous in the eyes of God- who ultimately perished for falling off of the Vine they were called to remain upon. They chose, instead, to follow their own way, their own understanding and their own flesh. Akin to children under the tutelage of sound parents, we can avoid the consequences of disobeying our Father in Heaven and, instead, spend eternity with Him- if we crawl up into His lap and embrace His teachings. We have a choice. Let us choose Jesus!

SACRED SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Utilizing the Sacred Scriptures from the New American Bible, listed below in Canonical Order are numerous references to False Teaching / Spiritual Blindness:

OLD TESTAMENT

Genesis 3:1, Deuteronomy 13:1-9, Isaiah 9:1-20, 1 Samuel 8:10-18, Psalms 50:16-23, Jeremiah 5:31, Jeremiah 6:13-21, Jeremiah 14:14, Jeremiah 23:1-40, Ezekiel 13:3-4, Hosea 4:1-12, 14, Amos 6:12 & Micah 2:11.

NEW TESTAMENT

Matthew 7:15-20, Matthew 10:37-39, Matthew 24:11-12, Matthew 24:23-25, Mark 7:6-9, 13, Mark 13:5-6, Luke 6:43-45, Luke 11:37-52 (see also Matthew 23:1-36; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47), Luke 12:8-10, John 8:37, 44-45, 47, Acts 15:19-20, Acts 17:11, Acts 20:29-31, Romans 16:17-20, 2 Corinthians 11:1-15, Galatians 1:6-10, Galatians 3:10, Philippians 3:1-4, Philippians 3:17-21, Colossians 2:4-8, 1 Timothy 1:3-7, 1 Timothy 4:1-5, 1 Timothy 6:3-5, 1 Timothy 6:20-21, 2 Timothy 3:8, 2 Timothy 4:1-5, Titus 1:7-14, Titus 3:10-11, James 3:13-18, 2 Peter 2:1-22, 2 Peter 3:3-4, 2 Peter 3:15-17, 1 John 2:18-23, 1 John 4:1-6, 2 John 1:7-11, 3 John 1:9-11, Jude 1:3-19, Revelation 13:1-10 & Revelation 22:16-19.

FAITH DOCTRINE REFERENCES

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

Blindness

doubt of faith and blindness of the spirit, 2088.

of Herod and Pilate and the plan of salvation, 600.

New life in the Spirit, 1698, 1708, 1715.

living according to the Spirit, 1533, 2848.

See also Spiritual life; Spirituality(ies).