Discerning the Validity of Spirituality-Claims
Gary DeLashmutt
1 John 2:3-11
John, the last living disciple of Jesus, writes to the church in Ephesus to combat Gnosticism. Throughout his letter, John subjects the Gnostics' claims to three spiritual tests: the doctrinal test, the ethical test (based on Jesus' teachings on sex, money, and power), and the social test (based on Jesus' teachings on love). The latter two tests are the focus of these verses. These same tests can and should be applied to ourselves, spiritual leaders, and spiritual groups in order to discern hypocrisy and false spirituality. In Biblical Christianity, Jesus' ethical instruction and his command to love should coexist.