3 Ways to Detect Counterfeit Philosophies

The U.S. Secret Service says the best way to detect counterfeit money is to become familiar with real money. If someone thoroughly studies the details of real money, they'll be able to recognize the slightest errors in a counterfeit.

The Secret Service recommends:

1. Look at the portrait on the money. It should appear "lifelike" and stand out from the background.
2. Look at the treasury seal, borders, and numbers, which should appear distinct, not blurry.
3. Look at the paper, which will have fibers "embedded," not simply printed on the surface.

This type of study also helps Christians who want to detect counterfeit teachings:

1. We should look for the "portrait" of God in the teaching: is it life-giving (John 10:10)? Does it stand apart from the background of worldly philosophies (1 Corinthians 1:20)? 

2. Because Christians are "sealed with the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:13), we can make sure there is no blurring of the lines between truth and error (1 Timothy 6:20-21).

3. It's important to make sure that God's Word is embedded in the content because many false teachings put on a "covering" of Scripture with false teachings embedded (Colossians 2:8).

We live in a time in history when it's absolutely essential that we study God's Word carefully so that we can correctly understand the truth. Let's be as careful about counterfeit philosophies as we are about counterfeit money (2 Timothy 2:15)!

For more insights, see 5 Steps for Accurate Bible Study and 6 Ways to Determine if a Scripture Is Used Correctly.

BLN