To exercise discernment with false teaching, commit the Beatitudes to memory, pray and meditate on these for a season or two. Watch and see how Jesus' words of wisdom and truth transform and teach you. Get intimately acquainted with the Word incarnate, who is Jesus. Absorb his teaching, then you'll be able to discern false teaching.
The path to true spiritual freedom and
"enlightenment" or "evolution" or "transcendence" is counter-cultural
and not easily marketed because it's not marketable. It isn't a popular
path and therefore doesn't sell well. It will not elevate you and your
"success" or boost your "self-esteem". Jesus' teaching was so completely
paradoxical and promised many things but counted blessed what we may count as "poor" or "weak". The path to spiritual freedom is not through self-affirmations and/or mantras because it is not
about the self elevating the self and how the self feels about the self. It is about wholeheartedly loving the Lord, and beholding the Abba Father's love and seeing who made you in His image.
Meditating
on the Beatitudes will provide a powerful and useful filter for
discerning and being deceived by false teaching and false spiritual
gimmicks, which are inside and outside of "the church".
The
teaching of Jesus comes with authority, not like that of the spiritual
gurus with fancy and sensational websites and credentials and professional paid experience making people feel better about themselves. Jesus'
teachings also completely spin the whole glamorized
victim-mentality on its head. The warrior-victim that blames and fights for themselves to vindicate their victim-hood. This is not that kind of path...it's truly
paradoxical.
 |
| from |
"Now
when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down.
His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them. He said:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed
are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds
of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great
is your rewards in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the
prophets who were before you."
-Matthew 5:1-12
