Platitudes and Attitudes

Over time leaven or lies work their way through the entire body, Matthew 13:33. Just like leaven puffs up dough the body of Christ is puffed up with knowledge, 1 Corinthians 8:1. This is why Jesus warned us to beware of the teachings of the Pharisees, Matthew 16:12, Mark 12:38. Jesus was not condemning the Pharisees with His warning. He was addressing the issue that they are human and as humans make mistakes in their teachings. That is why we are commanded to "test the spirits."

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1

Testing the spirits is what the Bereans did to the apostle Paul in Acts 17.

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)

Did you notice how the Bereans were described because of how they tested the spirits? The Bereans compared what was written with what was spoken by Paul. The goal was to see if Paul said the same thing that was written in he Holy Torah. Here is an example of what happens when the body of Christ does not test the spirits the way the Bereans did.

Many have heard it said that "grace is getting what we don't deserve and mercy is not getting what we do deserve." As written here, this platitude is not written anywhere in the Holy words of God, but, many believe it to be 100% true. Let's look at this platitude more closely.

It is entirely true that Grace is a free gift from God through faith in Jesus, Romans 5:15; Ephesians 2:8. However it is not true that mercy restrains or prevents us from getting what we deserve for three reasons:

1. Mercy is given to those who are merciful, Matthew 5:7, because we reap what we sow, Hosea 8:7; Galatians 6:7.
2. God defines both our reward and our punishment or discipline. Our rewards and punishments are what we deserve. God is just and does administer justice on both sides of death.
1. Rewards defined by God.
   1. Matthew 6:1-6
   2. Matthew 6:16-18
   3. Matthew 10:41-42
   4. Mark 9:41
   5. Luke 6:23
   6. Luke 6:35
   7. 1 Corinthians 3:8 
   8. 1 Corinthians 3:14
   9. 1 Corinthians 9:17-18
   10. Colossians 3:24
   11. Hebrews 10:35
   12. Hebrews 11:6, 26
   13. 2 John 1:18
   14. Revelation 22:12
2. Disciplines defined by God.
1. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:2
2. Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return." Luke 6:38 
3. What we deserve is administered by God both prior and after death.

The platitude "mercy is not getting what we deserve" implies God is not just and shows favoritism to his people. However, Jesus' standard of measure which defines what we deserve is just and right and there is no partiality in him.

For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11

For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality. Colossians 3:25

We do not have the right to redefine God's standard with our platitudes. If we attempt to redefine God's standards, we will create traditions and nullify the words of God for the sake of our own feel good platitudes just like the Pharisees did. Only God is just, pure and holy and qualified to write the perfect law because He is that Law. We are only qualified to accept it as written for this is faith, the confidence of things hoped for because they are spoken by God and thus proof of God who is unseen.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Popular preachers, worship leaders, and authors are all culpable in the propagating of lies couched in with truth resulting in many denominations. Testing the spirits properly does not produce many denominations. It produces one unified body. The subject of end times and the arguments between believers is proof that lies are preached to the body of Christ. God is ONE and He is not divided on the subject of end-times yet the body of Christ has come to blows on this subject.

Because people don't test the spirits by comparing what is written in the Holy Word of God with what is spoken by the preacher, author, song writer, movie director or any other popular teacher, we, therefore, have the fulfillment of Matthew 24:5. Many are mislead by people calling Jesus the Christ. All of man's platitudes and attitudes not spoken by God create false security.