I am sitting at my computer this morning stunned. A little bit numb.
Last night I had dinner with a group of my best friends. The topic of some very successful, very influential, young Christian bloggers/authors came up.
One who has left her husband and entered into a relationship that runs contradictory to God’s Word. Several others who applauded it.
These are women with great influence on the next generation. Women who impact thousands upon thousands.
There were more stories. Some tears. My heart broke.
Here’s what I want to say to you this morning. And this is very different from my normal blog post…don’t believe what I write just because you trust me or even like me. Sift my words through the sieve of God’s Word.
Don’t trust everything you read because you enjoy the author’s style of writing, the fact that she is “real,” or the way she can pen a phrase that feels like an “ah ha” moment. What if that “ah ha” moment isn’t a “God-moment” but a “feel-good” moment?
I love books. I read at least one a week. But I love God’s Word above all the words penned by man—male or female.
I want to encourage you to read the Bible, study the Bible, and steep in the Bible. Let God’s Word be the filter through which you sift all other words. Let God’s Word be the plumb line to determine if others’ words line up with His.
I believe the Bible is God’s inerrant Word. What does that mean? For a believer in biblical inerrancy, Holy Scripture is the Word of God, and carries the full authority of God.
Here’s what I’m saying this morning: Don’t believe me or any other Christian writer/speaker/blogger because she sells a lot of books or draws a big crowd. Sift our words through the sieve of God’s Word.
I know this may not be a popular blog post. I didn’t really want to write it. It will probably make some readers mad at me. I’ve got to be OK with that. I love you that much.
Here’s what I’m asking today: Will you join me in praying that God’s Word will trump any false teachings or opinions that are permeating the Church today?
Comments 74
Praying with you.
If this is offensive to someone, then we need to pray for them.
Your words are merely glorifying God and His Word.
It’s very important not to take anyone’s word for anything. God’s Word is the only thing we can hold fast to and trust. Thank you for reminding us that it doesn’t matter whether someone is a famous Theologian or preacher or evangelist or missionary. There is only one thing that matters… Are they speaking the Truth of God’s Word? It is so easy to just accept what someone says because we respect them, or look up to them. We must always compare what they say with what the Word of God tells us. His Word is not up for debate.
Thank you Sharon. You have spoken the truth and I appreciate it more than you know.
Agree. 100%
I couldn’t agree more!! I am stunned and heart broken as we watch current Christian leaders look away from God’s unerring truth and choose a path contradictory to His word. Why?? For the sake of adding followers to their crowd? For wanting to gloss over the world’s way of doing things and accepting it all in the name of love and grace? How we cheapen God’s precious love and grace by trying to bring Him down to our standards and choices and ignoring what the Word clearly says!! Thank you, Sharon for writing this post!
Praying too.
I love to read but I want to grow deeper in God’s word so I am trying to really read it and really think about what I am reading and do I understand it….I would rather that you write the truth than scratch my ears
I love, love, love this article. Praying, praying, praying! I know quite a few that the “ah-ha” moment has led them down an ungodly path, out of God’s! Those itchy ears have turned deaf to God’s voice n the truth which is His Word! You know the truth n continue to be obedient to God. You have this post(platform) a blessing to me and many others who read our Bible’s n know God’s Word n are encouraged by your post and books. All you can do is pray for the rest.
AMEN!
Amen! It is hard to rebuke, when what you are saying lines up with scripture, there is no arguing. We might not have as many friends, we are not here to have a line up of friends, but to teach Gods word and win his children to him.
Amen
Sharon, thank you for writing — even though it may have not been a favorite topic in which to write. It is truth and Truth is what we are all about. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life — please keep writing about Truth and know that the One who gives you the words is also directing those words in the direction where they are needed. May God bless you!
Thank you for your heartfelt and blunt blog. It speaks volumes. Praying.
Sharon you are so on point, I identify with what you’re saying. I thank God for my foundation, which has taught me how to identify with His word, to try the Spirit by the Soirit and to see if it’s God’s word.
“Continued Blessings”
Great email…truth is what we NEED.
Thank you so much for this post. Exactly on point. We, as Christians, must take His stand. I believe you just did! Standing with you.
Father i pray that you will open our eyes to see your truth and our ears to hear your voice. I pray that you will give us wisdom to discern and great love for your word.
So proud to stand with you. The word says he who has ears let him hear…..praying strength, courage and wisdom as you continue to share with us through what God has gifted you to write. Every great person called by God had to stand alone a time or two deciding to stand on his word and not conform to the pattern of this world. Awesome job Sharon.
AMEN!!! Definitely praying with you!
Perfectly on point! We cannot be like a ship tossed about by whatever wind that comes along. Ephesians 4:14 Thank you for standing up for the truth rather than popularity.
The courage to stand for what is right in the sight of God instead of what is popular amongst man is refreshing and needed more and more in a world that says “live and let live”.
This has been my prayer for the last couple of years. People do not want to always hear the truth the Bible tells us. I read the whole Bible, but Paul’s Epistles tell us how to live in this dispensation of grace! Everyone follows the crowd. Grace living show your heard and it works on you from the inside out. God knows your heard. I am so glad I read your blog this morning.
2 Corinthians 4:3-4King James Version (KJV)
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
I meant that God knows your heart!!!
Thanks for your honesty & for pointing us all in the right direction…the scriptures! Which like you said we should always refer back to and uphold! God Bless you…praying with you.
I am joining you in prayer….
I am based in the uk and over the past 6 months my youngest daughter has struggled with some fairly severe mental health issues … So where do you turn – well after a while God …. I have prayed, read the bible, asked friends for prayer and guidance and with Gods grace and healing we appear to be coming out the other side … His provision has been amazing … Throughout this process I have taken to reading and subscribing to a number of Women’s Christian blogs …. Some of which have been amazing … The right words bible passage at the right time … BUT I have to say that some of these blogs books etc can be a little worrying … I met with a school friend last week – a Christian and we had the same thoughts about the huge number of ladies of a similar age writing these blogs … There appears to be competition between them …and sometimes it just doesn’t feel right … After prayer and thought I have unsubscribe To some of these blogs … Turning to the Bible – Gods spirit filled words each time I felt unsure about something I was reading … I do not know the politics or the peer pressure between lots of these ladies but I agree we have to go back to the bible and test all that is being written …. You have been brave in writing your thoughts but from here in the uk I think you have put into words what a number of people may have been thinking … Bless you and thanks
Praying, Praying, Praying!!!
Yes…our Pastor preaches this word often…..to use the Bible as the source of all wisdom and instruction and to weigh the words we read from other sources with the Truth in God’s Word. This was well written, Sharon. I am praying with you!
I couldn’t agree with you more!! Thank you for writing this post. Everything anyone tells us needs to be filtered through our Lord’s Word. Praying with you Sharon.
Sharon, This is a wonderful post. We all need to be diligent and read the true word of God (the Bible). I try to stress that into my son all the time.
Praying with you all!
I definitely agree with you and I join you in praying. I’m actually glad that you write and published this blog. Keep it up!
Amen! Thank you for trusting God and having the courage to stand for the Word.
This is very true!
Thank you for being bold and standing firm on His word. We need more of this in our world today.
I am so thankful you are telling people to search the word for themselves!!!!
I believe too many times people don’t actually read the bible for themselves and just go along with what popular people are saying.. and that is not of God..
I particularly appreciated you saying that every AHA moment is not necessarily a God moment.. that is the truth of all of us..
thank you for speaking the truth and the light!!
We should never be afraid of God’s Truth and certainly not afraid to speak it with love and conviction! The Bereans of the Bible were commended for filtering what they heard against God’s words. They “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
We would all do good to do as they did!
Sharon,
This post is inappropriate not because you are asking people to be savvy in what they read but because you are talking behind this woman’s back. Call her up and tell her your feelings but don’t write a backhanded post about readers making sure they are reading God’s true word as a backhanded commentary of your feelings on her decisions and the decisions of those who support her. Just because I don’t know to whom you are referring doesn’t mean other people don’t, and it seems salacious. Honestly if you feel so strongly she’s not speaking truth then call her out on it and say who it is. This whole thing seems like a middle school fight.
I will be praying for all of you who are involved in this situation and especially for our discernment as christians. If I have learned anything in the past week it is that we are SEVERELY lacking in discernment at a group.
Author
I’m sorry you feel that way.
I stand with you, Sharon. I don’t believe it was inappropriate at all. Thank you for writing this. It’s gut-wrenching to see so many turning away from the true Word of God. Hugs.
Sharon, I simply feel as a gifted writer, you could have chosen a different option to teach this lesson. Not really sure why people feel they need to leap to your defense on the matter since I’m simply offering a dissenting viewpoint and not at all trying to assasinate your character. Have a blessed Christmas season.
Rachael, Sharon did nothing wrong. She did not gossip or go into detail about this person. She is using the situation to warn others. Her heart is pure and her intent sincere.God Bless her.
Denise – God bless all of us. Please consider how you might feel if you were this writer and happened to read this post, because that was what was on my mind as so read it. You don’t have to agree with my assessment of its purpose, and I may be completely inaccurate in my assessment, but coming from that point of view perhaps you can see why I think there would have been a better way to teach a lesson on discernment than using this story. Have a wonderful Christmas season.
Rachael, I can appreciate that you don’t agree with this post, and we can agree to disagree about that. However, you are making assumptions as to whether Sharon did or did not contact this person, and thus violating the command in 1 Cor 13 to assume and believe the best about others.
AMEN!!!!
So many times people want to take what someone says as ‘gospel’. As you have said we have to make sure it lines up with the word of God. My mother always told me, ‘be careful of who you listen to, who you allow to speak into your life’. Staying in the word and asking for a discerning spirit will help us to know the lies Satan so quietly tries to speak into our lives.
Thank you so much for speaking the truth!!! God bless you Sharon
This article is so right on!!
Great write-up & very humble of you! Thank you for sharing it!
Hi Sharon:
Thank you for being so courageous to write this. I agree with you and what you wrote about God’s word.
I am thankful to God for your obedience, Sharon, and I am joining you in prayer.
Thank you for your words of truth my friend. God’s truth is the only way. Totally respect you.
Amen!
Thank you for saying what needs to be said! ?
Thank you for saying what I’ve said for so long needs to come from the pulpit of churches. So many pretty words thrown around .. that the ears are tickled and the word of God is not heard … I’m always sifting and peering for the truth .. I will surely keep this in prayer.
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog for several years and have the utmost respect for you! You transparency and your love for God and others truly shows! This post is spot on! Thank you for writing about the good, bad and sometimes the ugly! Prayers for this situation and your ministry!
Sharon
I am grateful you have His strength to remind us of the truth that we humans are sinners and live in a fallen world but must filter everything we are told through the Word of God.
I follow no human only Jesus in the Triune God. He always leads me to His Word. And His Holy Spirit is always speaking.
People are people but God uses everything including their words for my good.
I listen well but in the end because of Jesus and His grace only follow what He says. Even Pastors often have their own agendas and ideas they want to foist on the congregation. Scripture can be interpreted in many different ways. It is living and breathing, it can be misquoted and misused as well. But filtering all of it through the Word of God allows me to know Gods instruction for myself!
God bless you!
I Thank and Praise God for You that you did not compromise the Word of God for anyone. Never apologize for what’s right in the eyes of Our Father. I’ve covered You and your family in our prayers. Only God knows You and Loves You unconditionally!❤️
Thank you for sharing that message with us this morning. Standing for the inerrancy in God’s word is so important but also can be daunting. Love and prayers
I appreciate what you shared. Years ago I had a Christian mentor, who was wonderful in her teaching, say to me “never put anyone on a pedestal. Only God deserves that place. people will fail you, disappoint you.” I thought of that today as I read what you wrote. I read a lot. I don’t think there is anyone I have ever totally agreed with. We do need to read carefully and seek the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Standing with you!!! ??
Thanks so much for sharing this. We ALL needed to read that.
Sharon…thank you. Personally I needed this message. If others are offended we have no control over that or anything else for that matter…. If only we touch 1….. I support and fully agree with your blog today and join you in prayer. God bless you and all the other awesome ladies who have joined in this conversation.
Needed to be said and was very well said! We should base our opinions, ideas and ideals on the Word of God as He speaks to us through his scripture.
Thank you. May God guide you by the power of His Holy Spirit in truth and love with all you think, say and write.
Praying with you.
I totally agree. We have to bas everything we believe on the word of God rightly divided. Thank you for taking a stand and for others (including myself) with you.
Oh my goodness! Yes. Yes. Yes.
This issue has broken my heart, especially over the last 3 – 4 months. I am praying for a generation of young women who are being led by people and not God’s Word. As a 53 year old woman, I have seen the incredible need of mentoring and discipling this year more than ever before. We have women, younger and older, around us who need mature, Scripture-based believers pouring into them…daily. Praying for them…daily.
Thank you, Sharon! I am praying for you. I am praying you will be a voice for God’s glory and the truth we find in His Word.
My marriage was OK. I wish I had felt that way when my husband was alive, but I compared what I had to what I thought marriage should be. During my marriage I certainly thought about divorce and more than once. I didn’t appreaciate simple things, like coming home and telling him about my day. My husband had a chronic disease that limited him, but I failed to appreaciate what he did, Once I had thought where am I going to put another plant instead of realizing that by his gift he was doing all he could to show me he thought of me during the day and he cared. So lessons from a long time caregiver and widow is to appreaciate what you have and don’t compare your marriage to stories of others.
Clara- thank you for your words of wisdom. They hit home for me. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. Don’t compare : to my ideas of what marriage should be like or other people’s marriages.
Amen! You tell it like it is, Sharon! God’s word is our guide! He can mend broken marriages if we are willing to humble ourselves. Thank you Sharon.
What an encouragement to draw closer to Gods word and to lend our ears to Him above all else. That’s exactly what I took from that! To sift, just like you said, everything we see and do through the Word of God and to constantly use HIs guidance in all situations. Thank you for your discerning and loving heart 🙂 I hope any “nay-sayers” don’t bring down the reminder to use our God-goggles! You’re a blessing!
Three years ago I looked death in the face. At that time, God started me on a journey of transition from knowing about Him to knowing Him. Along the way, I have learned that my morning time (alone) reading the Bible and studying is very precious. As the day picks up momentum I long for night- because the next morning can’t come soon enough. Although it was not easy our desirable in the beginning, I kept at it. All the while asking the Lord for: awaking me, keeping me focused, and giving me the desire to desire Him more. Now even with little sleep I find myself fully awake far before dawn excited to get up. Reading “Miracle after miracle:the pavel Goia story” changed my ideas about praying. Now I know personally! I can expect assurance when I ask– if I will but wait for it. So if the Bible statement is true about receiving when we ask the Father something in prayer. .. what about the statement in the old testament about needing to remember the seventh day as the Sabbath? Throughout my studies I haven’t found anywhere in the old or new testaments that say to remember another day as the Sabbath and to rest. Why attend church or rest on Sunday the first day of the week?
Thank you for not being afraid to post something that may make some feel uncomfortable. Many of us really appreciate the depth of conviction. I just visited your blog for the first time since you are speaking at our church this week. I am looking forward to hearing your message!
Amen, in prayer with you
Where would we be without truth?
Please pray for our millenials. They need encouragement and strong biblical moorings to get them through the culture without being swallowed up by it.
thank you for the truth. So many today teach from a closed Bible or no Bible. We all need to “be a Berean” to help us sift through all those which claim to teach the Word. We are in the last days.