All That Glitters

"I've received a word from the Lord." I can't tell you how many
times I have heard this phrase. It also comes in other forms: "I
have prayed about this," "I heard the next best thing to an audible
voice," or "[insert mega-church pastor name here] has said." Many
times this phrase is used by excited Christians to qualify some
life decision, a reason to leave the church, an excuse to sin, or
some other direction the person wants to take and has already set
their mind on taking. It is hard to argue with someone when they
believe that God has clearly spoken to them with a new revelation.
There are two dangers that present themselves when responding to
someone who believes they have been moved by God in a certain
direction. The first danger is to accept what the person has said
without testing what they have said against the Scriptures. The
second danger is to reject what the person has said without testing
what they have said against the Scriptures.