"My son, preserve sound judgement and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;"
- Proverbs 3:21 (NIV)

We are called to test and approve not only our own actions but every teaching and prophecy no mater how much you trust the person giving it.

It is written that by their fruits (the outworking in their lives) you will know God's people. Do we harvest grapes from thorn bushes, figs from thistles or apples from bindweed? Of course we don't. In the same way false prophesy does not come from true prophets, bad teaching does not come from good teachers.

If the fruit is good teaching, good works, kindness, understanding, patience, goodwill, gentalness, long suffering and wisdom then the source of these good things (against which no law can be made) then the source is a good teacher full of the Spirit of God.

But if the teaching or prophetic utterances of even the most seemingly holy men and women contradicts the Known word of God then we are fools to pay them any more attention than we would a madman on the street corner raving about invisible green men.

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?"
- 1 Corinthians 5:12 (NIV)

You should know that through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men. In the same way a church set up with one man or woman at the head so corruption can enter through one man and from corruption spiritual death - a death which spreads to all as it has always done.

Strawberrys do not grow on stinging nettles and likewise healthy Christians do not grow in unhealthy churches. We all have sinned and are flawed and imperfect. As toxic berries come from toxic berry bushes so imperfection (sin) comes from imperfect (sinful) people.

We should, therefore, examine ourselves to see whether we are faithfull to the way of Christ. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you (unless, of course, you fail the test)?

When you set yourself up with one or more people as leaders over you what have you got? You have impfect (sinful) leaders for all have sinned and fallen short of the perfectness of God (if we say otherwise we deceive ourselves and show that we have no truth).

What comes from imperfect leaders? Imperfect leadership.

Would you rely on something imperfect without testing it? But so often we all do. Our leaders words are accepted without question or challenge. This is a very foolish thing to do.

"Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true."
- Acts 17:11 (NIV)

We should test everything and hold on to the good.

Further reading:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:21
• Proverbs 3:21
• Galatians 5:22
• Ephesians 5:9
• 2 Corinthians 13:5