Biblically Critiquing Pastors and Teachers

This past weekend I attended a "Christian" women's conference that jump-started my thoughts how to properly make biblical judgements and how and why to critique preachers and speakers in a biblical manner.

At this conference Bibles were not used, the Gospel was not preached, Jesus and the cross were ignored and replaced with woman empowerment. Needless to say, the conference was far from edifying.

The best way to guard yourself from false teaching is to know the truth and know how to correctly handle the truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) So that is my goal this week, to learn how to correctly handle the truth.

From GotQuestions.org

Paul instructs the Ephesians, we are to “no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:14). Rather, we are to “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” and we do this by “the knowledge of the Son of God” (v. 13). The knowledge of Christ can only be obtained through the Word of God, and it is by that Word that we distinguish between the true and the false.

In the book of Matthew (7:15-20), Jesus says, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?"

If a church or ministry has is not producing good fruits, then you can know that there is something wrong with the teaching.

What is "Good Fruit"?

• Good fruit (Matthew 7:17) is that which occurs when the Holy Spirit is present. Romans 8:9 says that we are controlled by the Spirit (rather than our sinful nature) the moment we believe in Christ. The fruit of the spirit is the the work He does in the hearts and minds of believers to conform them to the image of Christ. It is the inevitable transformation that takes place in true followers of Christ.
• "...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."- Galations 5:22-23
• Matthew 7:1 - Every good tree bears good fruit and every bad tree bears bad fruit.

Sermon/Teaching Discernment:

The apostle John tells us in his first epistle (1 John 4:1-6) how we are to discern which spirits are from God. “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” - From GotQuestions.org

Only through the work of the Holy Spirit will you be able to discern what is true and what is not. However, I believe that if you are at all concerned about truthfulness in teaching, that is proof that the Holy Spirit is in you. If honest, God-centered, Biblical teaching is something you desire, here are three questions that you can ask whenever you hear a sermon by a new preacher.

1. What does this teacher/pastor say about Jesus? It must be in line with the Jesus of the Bible and not some made up idea of Jesus.
2. Does this teacher/pastor preach the Gospel? 2 John 9 says that "Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God."
3. Does this person exhibit character qualities that glorify the Lord?

Questions I Ask:

When I hear a preacher/Christian speaker for the first time, this is usually the process that I go through in my head.

1. Is this God-centered theology or man-centered theology? Usually you can tell right away.
2. How does this person handle scripture? As an advice column or a revelation from God?
3. Does any of this contradict what I already know to be true about God and the Bible? If what they teach does not line up with the Bible, it is not a good teaching.
4. Did I learn about God through this sermon/message?

Other things I take into consideration:

• Is this a comedy show or a sermon?
• Does this person ever talk about sin and hell? If not, they are not teaching the Bible accurately.
• Does this person focus only on sin and hell? Again, that is not accurate teaching.