There are several biblical ways to determine something is of God. It’s not whether or not it causes division. Division can be caused by a person’s wrong response to truth. It’s not whether or not we feel comfortable with it. Discomfort is often determined by one’s familiarity with what they are seeing, regardless of whether or not it’s biblical. It’s not whether or not it fits into our paradigm. Our interpretation of scripture may not be the correct one. God is not limited by what we think in our natural minds.
The one criteria scripturally is the confession of Jesus:
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, (1 John 4:2 ESV)
Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV)
The second criteria is the fruit. I’ve been thinking a lot about this one. A lot of people will say they want to see the fruit, which is good. But, we really need to check our heart posture on this one. It seems that if something causes division or discomfort, or doesn’t fit our paradigm, the heart posture I have seen all too often is an uninvolved, distant attitude rather than helping the person grow. Let me explain.
Suppose a young man has struggled with his Christian walk, tempted by porn, and experiences huge doubts about Christianity. Then, at a revival meeting, he is slain in the Spirit. The young man leaves that experience completely changed. He is set on fire for Jesus. Now, fully confident of his faith, and excited about his experience, he begins witnessing to people, praying for others, patient with the shortcomings of others and so on.
Now, if his experience violates the criteria some have set up, they lie in wait. They want to know the long term fruit of his experience. And because they believe his experience to be wrong they show little excitement over his renewed relationship. They do little to help him grow. With little support or enthusiasm from family and friends, no one to help him shepherd his renewed relationship, his zeal wanes….he begins to wonder if it was all just hype….and after time, he is back where he once was. Those who were skeptically waiting for fruit wag their fingers, convinced his experience was wrong. Was it?
Suppose that same young man received shepherding after his experience. People were excited at the change in him whether or not they were comfortable with his experience. They saw his change and determined to help it take root. They rallied around him, supporting him, praying with and for him, pastoring him, being certain he is anchored. As the initial excitement wears off, they are there to help him continue on, not discounting his experience but helping him use it without becoming dependent on spiritual highs. They help him prepare for the valleys and mountaintops. And, because of the support he receives, he grows, matures, and eventually produces tremendous fruit.
Same seed. Same experience. Same initial excitement. Different fruit. Why? The only variable was the response of family and friends. It’s sad when believers are so skeptical of certain things that they distance themselves from those who have been positively influenced by it and are in need of further shepherding. Their skepticism is based on the fact that they believe it’s not of God because of discomfort, division, or it just doesn’t fit their little boxes, not because it fails scriptural tests. The enemy steals the seed of so many people because seasoned believers hold back what they need because of unbelief. They assume the initial excitement will wear off and no real fruit will be produced. It’s frustrating because many times, their judgment of the fruit is far more harsh for those things they are uncomfortable with than that with which they are comfortable.
You want to test something by it’s fruit. Go ahead. But be certain you are not holding back the very thing needed to help that person develop good fruit. Stop keeping your distance because of skepticism and run to the person who is exhibiting a renewed relationship with Jesus. Pastor them rather than caution them. Reach out your arms to help them grow rather than crossing your arms on our chest, waiting. Much seed doesn’t develop into fruit simply because those around are waiting to see what happens rather than ensuring that something good will happen.