Why responding to a discernment essay by saying "only God knows the heart" is totally wrong and displays a total lack of discernment

When I do a discernment essay, I am often chastised and rebuked with an old chestnut of a comment that's becoming practically standard for those without discernment to post:

He alone is sovereign and fully knows all hearts!

God is sovereign. God knows the heart. But we do too.

If a teacher's doctrine has been proven false by comparing it with the Bible, then we DO know their heart! The Bible tells us this. Only God knows the hearts of the people, but if their teaching is not of the Lord, then the God who sees hearts has exposed those hearts to us by the verses of His word!

Their hearts are full of deceit. Colossians 2:8
Their hearts are filled with their own appetites. Romans 16:17-18
Their hearts are disguised with light. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Their hearts are full of greed. 2 Peter 2:3
Their hearts are ravenous. Matthew 7:15.
Their hearts are inwardly full of sensuality. Jude 1:4
Their hearts are full of secrets, such as destructive heresies. 2 Peter 2:1
Their hearts are full of intent to exploit. 2 Peter 2:3
Their hearts are full of fleshly passions. 2 Timothy 4:3
Their hearts are puffed up with conceit. 1 Timothy 6:4
His heart understands nothing. 1 Timothy 6:4
Their hearts are cunning and crafty. Ephesians 4:14
Their hearts serve the creature. Romans 1:25
Their hearts are slaves of corruption. 2 Peter 2:19.
Their hearts deny the Master who bought them. 2 Peter 2:1
Their hearts prophesy lies. Jeremiah 23:26

So whenever I expose a testimony as false or a teaching as false, or a teacher as false, using biblical proof, STOP saying that this is a bad activity because "only God knows the heart". He does, that's true, but He has shown us the heart of the false teacher in His word. He taught us this in His word for the purpose of being mature and discerning, and so we can learn for ourselves and also teach the younger to be edified and strong.




Comments

  1. May I also add to your list Matthew 12:34, which says, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." So what's in the heart can't be concealed for very long...it will eventually be revealed to discerning ears, in the case of false teachers. And boy oh boy are lots of them revealing their true identity these days! We who discern truth from error are following God's command to do so and not falling prey to the American gospel of "love and tolerance." I encourage you to keep up the good work, despite complainers. I'm certain you care more about what God thinks than what bloggers say. God bless you!

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    1. Yes, certainly let's add the Matthew verse, it's a great one! thanks so much for thinking biblically in that regard. I agree with you, more and more false teachers are showing themselves these days. You're right, I care more of what Jesus says than complainers. I'll keep up the work as long as the Spirit continues to give me the drive and wisdom :)

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    2. Not only do we have the old tried and true false teachers and heretics, but now we are seeing a second and third generation of the same ilk. Children and grandchildren of these false teachers. And we are seeing the older Godly, discerning and righteous teachers of the Truth and faith going home to be with the Lord.

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    3. I agree Crystal. In Revelation 2:22-23 Jesus charged the church at Thyatira for tolerating the false prophetess Jezebel, and said He will strike her and her children dead, and the context is not her own biological children, but the generation of other false prophets she spawned during the time of toleration.

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  2. Greeting, This understanding is so needed now days, The blind are leading the blind! We are to expose the darkness, and a little lie or leaven will corrupt the truth!
    Thanks for your boldness it has helped me in my blog to speak while it is yet day! I appreciate you!
    Blessings, Roxy

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  3. Because of the increase in "personal revelation" instead of solid biblically grounded teaching, the authority of the word of God has been rejected by many in favor of emotions and experience. Those being taught by false teachers are not being taught to think biblically but rather emotionally, experientially, and looking at 'what's in the heart.' They often know a few verses, pulled out of context, and think the pop psychology often preached instead of God's word is truth--which causes them to resent our efforts to point them to good preachers and teachers.

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  4. Roxy, You're welcome! Linda, well said.

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  5. You may not convince them - but God's Word warns us to judge them by their words, their behavior, their fruits.

    "Chastising and rebuking" you for calling people back to truth shows a person who is exactly opposite that list of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5.22-23.

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