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In a recent debate between Michael Shermer (skeptic/atheist) and Kyle Butt (theist/Christian) held October 25, 2023 at Faulkner University, Shermer affirmed the argument from unbelief.  The proposition for the debate was, “The God of the Bible Exists.”  Shermer denied the proposition and Butt affirmed it.  During this debate, Shermer argued that since many Jews and Muslims do not believe in Jesus, there must not be sufficient evidence to prove that Jesus is the Son of God.  Therefore, the Christian God does not exist.  This is the argument from unbelief.  This argument states that the presence of sincere non-believers proves that God cannot exist.  It suggests that there are many people willing to believe in God if only enough evidence existed to prove that He is.  The argument is also called, “reasonable unbelief.”  The argument claims that if God is real, He would have revealed Himself so clearly that anyone who sincerely was willing to believe would accept that truth.  In short, those who make this argument affirm that there is inadequate evidence to support belief in God.
Two Assumptions Made by the Argument
The first assumption is that there are objective, sincere and willing unbelievers.  The true nature of unbelief reveals that it is grounded not in objective and sincere individuals, but those who have hardened their hearts against God by the deceitfulness of sin.  “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Heb. 3:12-13).  Paul referenced this very thing in Rom. 1:18-32.   “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (Rom. 1:18).  To “hold the truth in unrighteousness” is a reference to the suppression of the truth by the deceitfulness of sin (unrighteousness).  The consequence of unbelief is more unbelief.  Unbelief is self-perpetuating and therefore becomes a powerful force in moving people away from God.  There is no redeeming aspect of sin.  Sin never produces righteousness, but it produces unrighteousness which suppresses the truth about God.  This is not innocent.  People who sin are deceived.  All unbelief is based upon a lie not the truth.  Unbelief therefore does not argue against the truth.  It stands as a negation of the truth which is based upon a lie.  Unbelief is inexcusable! (Rom. 1:20).  Paul declares that unbelief is the result of those who gave up their knowledge of God for vanity (idolatry) or lies (Rom. 1:21-23).  This was a willful, intentional, act of the rejection of the truth about God and the active pursuit of idolatry.  This is the true nature of unbelief. Unbelief can only be overcome with truth.  Truth changes both the mind and the heart.  This defines the pathway to transformation and redemption (John 8:32).
The second assumption is that God has not provided enough evidence for men to reason about correctly and come to the conclusion that God is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).  Paul states, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse” (Rom. 1:19-20).  God existed before people existed.  God was known by the first man and first woman–Adam and Eve (Gen. 1-2).  There never has been a time in the history of man that God has not made Himself known to man.  Adam and Eve knew God “face to face.”  The Bible gives the historical accounts of the interactions of God with human beings.  These individuals had certain knowledge that God existed and passed down that knowledge to others.  God has revealed Himself in the creation of the universe.  “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.  Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.  There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard” (Ps. 19:1-3).  The creation speaks a universal language and that message is heard by all peoples everywhere.  Also, when God made man, He made him “in His image, in His likeness” (Gen. 1:27).  Man himself bears the image of God and is proof that God exists.  God has spoken to human beings through His written word.  The Bible stands as evidence that God is.  “God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the world of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:1-3).  The writing prophets (such as Moses, Samuel, David, and many others) and the apostles and New Testament prophets (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, James and Jude) have given us a body of truth the substance of which comes from the Triune God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit).   Jesus reveals the Father to us.  “Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.  Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me?  the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.  Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake” (John 14:8-11).  Jesus’ life, teaching, miracles, death, burial and resurrection are all evidences that God is.  Luke records that the sacred knowledge that he gave to Theophilus consisted of many infallible proofs which were “most certainly believed” among us (see Luke 1:3 and Acts 1:1-4).  Jesus predicted that He would build His church (kingdom) (Matthew 16:16-19).  The Lord’s church was established on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-47).  The church is comprised of those who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  The existence of the church is proof that God exists and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.  The transformation of millions of lives by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a powerful voice for faith in God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.  In order for unbelievers to reject the sum total of all of the evidence for God, unbelievers would have to be able to falsify every piece of evidence in a conclusive way.  This would be impossible to do.  The existence of unbelief does not destroy the many infallible proofs God has given to us of His existence and goodness.
Belief in a Lie Does Not Make It True
Our unbelief in Jesus does not disprove who He is.  “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (II Tim. 2:13).  If we deny Him, He also will deny us.  Jesus is faithful to Himself. He is essentially and eternally consistent. It is His nature to be so.  Jesus authenticates Himself by His nature, power, goodness, truth and holiness.  He bears witness to Himself (John 8:18). In order to deny Jesus, one must believe a lie and one must be able to falsify who Jesus is.   The former can be done, but the latter is impossible to do.  Believing a lie does not disprove the truth.  The argument from unbelief is false and must be rejected.  We are powerless to affect the eternal consistency of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Cold-Case Christianity was written by J. Warner Wallace and provides the reader with a unique approach to apologetics from the perspective of a cold-case homicide detective.  Wallace was a vocal atheist for many years.  Now, he uses his investigative skills to make the case for Christianity (used in the general sense).  The reader will be impressed with this approach to examination of the evidence for the reliability of the New Testament and the eyewitness accounts given therein of the life of Christ.  Wallace places the reader in the jury box.  He gives instructions on how to handle the evidence presented much as a judge would instruct the jury.  He asks you to weigh the evidence and come to a conclusion that is “beyond a reasonable doubt.”  A review of this book is now on my “Book Reviews” page.

In the five instances where the word religion occurs in the New Testament, it is always qualified by a modifier.  Three times the word refers to the Jews’ religion (Acts 26:5; Gal. 1:13, Gal. 1:14).  Once it refers to man’s religion (James 1:26).  And, once it refers to “pure religion” (James 1:27).  James 1:27 is the only passage in the New Testament that addresses “pure” religion.  Pure religion is true, genuine, and approved by God.  True religion is set in contrast to false religion.  For some, there is no true religion.  Sigmund Freud thought religion in general was an infantile neurosis or psychological defect.  He believed that religion was an illusion.  For him, it represented a sort of wish fulfillment and was not motivated by rational proofs.  Freud’s view of religion has been adopted by many who believe that personal freedom requires an abandonment of all religion (Carl Trueman, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, p. 223).
There is no doubt that false religion exists (II Peter 2).  False religion gives true religion a bad name because all religion is grouped together as Freud mistakenly has done.  The Bible is much clearer in giving us the essential elements of true religion.  God defines true religion in His holy Word.  In order for a religion to be true, it must exhibit all of the essential elements listed below.  These essential elements contain the word “true” in the various passages cited.  The word “true” indicates that which is genuine or the real thing as opposed to false religion.  False religion stands out when the comparison is made to the true.  False religion is counterfeit religion and consequently is vain religion.  All false religion must be rejected and only true religion accepted.
First, there is one, living and true God. “For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (I Thessalonians 1:9).  Idols are false gods.  Any religion built upon false gods is false religion and vain.  God is the creator of all things and He is the savior of the world.  Paul affirms that there is one God (Eph. 4:6).  The Christian religion is monotheistic.  All polytheistic religions are false.  The Christian religion affirms that God is a Triune God consisting of three distinct persons in one undivided essence (essential Being).  God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are affirmed in Matthew 28:19 and I Cor. 13:14 (as well as other passages).  God reveals Himself through creation, miracles, the Scriptures, historical interactions with men, and Jesus Christ.  Paul affirms that there is no excuse for not knowing God (Rom. 1:20).
Second, there is one true Light. “That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”  John the baptist was sent to bear witness of the true Light.  The word “light” in the gospel of John always refers to Jesus.  “The next day John Seth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.  And I kin mew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, there am I come baptizing with water.  And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven. like a dove, and it abode upon him.  And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.  And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29-34).  John the baptist is an eyewitness to the deity of Jesus.  Jesus is the true Light.  Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12).  The Light dispels darkness and reveals God to men.  The Light enlightens men in the way of truth and righteousness and overcomes ignorance and iniquity.  Any religion that denies the deity of Jesus is a false religion.
Third, there is one Spirit of truth.  “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:13-14).  Three times, Jesus refers to the Spirit of truth (see also, John 14:17; 15:26).  There is only one Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:4).  The Holy Spirit is the one true spirit and a part of the godhead (Matt. 28:19; I Cor. 13:14).  The Holy Spirit reveals the body of truth which is the Word of God (John 17:17).  Any religion that teaches that the Holy Spirit is merely an influence and not a member of the godhead is a false religion.
Fourth, there is one, true gospel.  “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8-9).  There is only one faith (Eph. 4:5). The gospel consists of facts to be believed, promises to be received and commandments to be obeyed.  The gospel is the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ (Rom. 1:16).  The gospel answers the question, “what must I do to be saved?”  In Acts 2:38, Peter said, “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Paul declares, “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise” (Eph. 1:13).  The word of truth is the gospel.  The facts of the gospel center upon the life of Jesus Christ and focus on His death, burial and resurrection (I Cor. 15:1-4).  The promises of the gospel involve our salvation and all spiritual blessings (Mark 16:16; Eph. 1:3).  The commands of the gospel are that we hear God’s word, believe God, love God, repent of our sins, confess Jesus as Lord and be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins.  Any religion that teaches another gospel (faith only for instance or the sinner’s prayer) is a false religion.
Fifth, there is true worship.  “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father.  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” John 4:21-24).  Worship involves the right object–God.  Worship involves the right attitudes and the right actions.  In worship, we must respect who God is and what He has ordained as worship.  The Samaritan woman worshipped in ignorance.  Such worship is vain.  Her ignorance was attributable to the fact that the Samaritans did not embrace the writings of the prophets. They only accepted the Pentateuch.  There was much about God that they did not know.  Everything that we do in matters that pertain to religion require biblical authority (Col. 3:17).  We have authority in the New Testament to:  sing (Eph. 5:19); pray (I Thess. 5:17); preach the word (Acts 20:7); read Scripture (Rev. 1:3; Col. 4:16); partake of the Lord’s Supper (I Cor. 11:23-27; Acts 20:7); and give (I Cor. 16:1-2).  We must engage in worship with our whole heart, mind, and spirit (Heb. 12:28).  You cannot worship by proxy!  Any religion that adds to or takes away from these statutes regarding worship is a false religion.
Sixth, there is true holiness.  “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:24). Holiness in us reflects the holiness that characterizes the nature of God.  “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Pet. 1:14-16).  The true gospel calls us to holiness (I Thess. 4:7).  To be holy is to be righteous.  To be holy involves our sanctification in Christ and necessitates putting of the old man of sin and putting on the new man created in Christ Jesus.  Paul elaborates on this spiritual transformation in Eph. 4:20-32.  Put away: lying, uncontrolled anger, stealing, corrupt communication, and any sin that would grieve the Holy Spirit.  Eliminate all bitterness, wrath, clamour, evil speaking and malice.  Put on: truthfulness, controlled anger, honest labor, good communication that edifies and administers grace to the hearer, kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness, and love.  The contrast between the old man and the new man is stark.  Holiness involves the pursuit of right conduct before God and in harmony with His perfect, sinless, nature.
Seventh, there is true grace. “By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand” (I Pet. 5:12).  One of the best definitions of God’s grace or lovingkindness is, “when a person from whom you have no right to expect anything gives you everything.”  Grace is God’s unmerited favor.  God’s grace is actively involved in our salvation (Eph. 2:8-9).  However, God’s grace is appropriated through the right attitudes and obedience to His holy Word.  Peter makes the conditional aspect of God’s grace plain when he states, “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder, Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble” (I Pet. 5:5).  God’s grace is appropriated through a humble heart.  If God’s grace were not conditional, we would have to accept universal salvation.  While God’s grace is available to all men, all men do not believe on Him nor obey Him.  “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (I Pet. 1:22).  Peter did not believe that God’s true grace and man’s obedience were mutually exclusive.  Some believe that grace is a license to sin.  Paul refutes this notion in Rom. 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid.  How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”  True grace does not permit us to multiply sinful conduct.  Grace teaches us to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world (Titus 2:11-12).  Grace can be multiplied (I Pet. 1:2; II Pet. 1:2). Where God’s grace is multiplied, peace is multiplied.  God’s grace is multiplied to His people by His providential care, answered prayers, multiple blessings in Christ and fulfillment of His precious promises.  Count your many blessings and multiply the peace that passeth understanding!
Eighth, there is true unity.  “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlaboureres, whose names are in the book of life” (Phil. 4:3).  A yokefellow is one who is yoked together in Christ.  Jesus invites us to take His yoke upon us and learn of him (Matt. 11:28-30).  Discipleship yokes us to Christ and to all others who follow Him.  We are yoked together in spiritual union with Christ and one another.  This is a beautiful description of Christian unity.  We must endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4:1-6).  In this passage, Paul lists seven dispositional aspects of unity and seven doctrinal aspects of unity.  If we integrate his instructions into our lives, we will be bound together by our common faith and love for the Lord that will manifest itself in a synergy that will multiply our productivity in His kingdom.  A true yokefellow is one whose description is matched by his actions.  This is a fellow-laborer in the kingdom of God.  Paul relied on such to accomplish the work he was committed to doing in the name of the Lord.  Without them, Paul could not have had the success that he did in the spread of the gospel.
Ninth, there is true justice.  “And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments” (Rev. 16:7; 19:2).  The justice of God stems from His holiness, His omniscience, His omnibenevolence, and His omnipotence.  God’s judgments are based upon a righteous standard which He has revealed in His holy Word.  God’s judgments are true because the standard is true and His discernment is impeccable.  God cannot make a mistake in the administration of His justice.  God’s justice is both retributive (punitive) and distributive (merciful).  God has the power to punish the evil doer and the power to save the righteous who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.  “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power” (II Thess. 1:7-9).  “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him” (Rom. 5:8-9).  Jesus is the propitiation for our sins (I John 4:10).  Propitiation involves both expiation and appeasement.  In expiation, we have forgiveness of our sins through the atoning power of the blood of Jesus.  In appeasement, Jesus’s death satisfies the penalty for our sins through substitutionary atonement whereby He takes our place and suffers death.  We deserve death.  Jesus did not, but He dies in our behalf.  Consequently, we are saved from wrath through Him!
We have considered nine elements of true religion.  Each of these elements are essential to true religion.  If we omit, change, or alter any one of them, we falsify the religion produced.  We end up with a paste-up of a religion that God will not accept.  All false religion is exposed by a comparison of the religious doctrine and practice to the genuine religion revealed in God’s Word.  Such exposure results in the revelation of a counterfeit religion which must be rejected by us because it will be rejected by God.

In 1962, James D. Bales wrote a book titled, Communism Its Faith and Fallacies.  Bales relates the following aspects of communism.  “As a philosophy of life, communism endeavors to explain the universe, life, history, and the future.  Its embraces atheism, dialectical materialism and class struggle as integral parts of its explanation.  Its concern is not only with theory but also with action.  Thus Marx (Karl Marx-DS) emphasized that he was not interested simply in understanding the world, but in changing it.  As a philosophy of life communism endeavors to dominate and to control the outer and the inner life of its devotees who “accept its discipline in every part of their private and professional lives.” Thus it has been called a religion or a religion-substitute by some.  In fact, Bertrand Russell labels communism, as it has developed in Russia, as “a political religion analogous to Islam” (Lester E. Denonn, Editor, Bertrand Russells’ Dictionary of Mind, Matter and Morals, p. 30 quoted by Bales in Communism: Its Faith and Fallacies, p. 18).  Bales gives some of the details of a House Report made in 1939 (see page 19-20 of Bales’ book) which contains the following description of communism.  “Communism is a world-wide political organization advocating: (1) the abolition of all forms of religion; (2) the destruction of private property and the abolition of inheritance; (3) absolute social and racial equality; (4) revolution under the leadership of the Communist International; (5) engaging in activities in foreign countries in order to cause strikes, riots, sabotage, bloodshed, and civil war; (6) destruction of all forms of representative or democratic government, including civil liberties such as freedom of speech, of the press, and of assemblage; (7) the ultimate objective of world revolution to establish the dictatorship of the so-called proletariat into a universal union of soviet socialist republics with its capital at Moscow; (8) the achievement of the ends through extreme appeals to hatred” (Investigation of Un-American Activities and Propaganda, House Resolution 282, Union Calendar No. 2, House Report, No. 2, 1939, p. 12).  Bales then proceeds to give his own definition of communism:  “Communism today is a Marx inspired, Moscow directed, international criminal conspiracy against civilization, based on a God-denying philosophy of life, sustained by faith in the dialectic, backed by the devotion of its fanatical believers and to an uncertain extent by the armed might of the Red Armies” (Bales, p. 20).  The philosophy of communism is expressed in the writings of Karl Marx, Frederick Engels, V. I. Lenin, Joseph Stalin and some other writers.  These men continue to be influential through their writings as has been noted in the Black Lives Matter organization which is led by two women who are highly trained in Marxism (see previous blog: An Exposé of the Black Lives Matter Organization).  On September 20, 2020, I discovered that the statement of beliefs originally posted on the blacklivesmatter.com website has been removed.  This is significant because it appears that this organization is attempting to hide its true beliefs and purposes which involved anti-Christian values and concepts.
Is the Black Lives Matter organization using the race issue as a means of creating dissension within the country and spark a revolution?  Bales, under the heading of Inciting Racial Minorities (p. 98) wrote in 1962, “Open and hidden communists are endeavoring to use racial problems as a means of dividing our country and making and using for their own purposes those who are blind enough to form temporary alliances with them.  They are not interested in solving these problems but in weakening the country so that it will be easier for them to take over.  The communists search out “contradictions” between racial groups not in order to solve them but to intensify them so as to hasten the day of revolution” (Bales, p. 99).    The blacklivesmatter.com website did not hesitate to use the word revolution to describe their movement.  They openly asked people to join in the revolution currently under way in America (2020).
Christianity is opposed to communism.  Communism is atheistic and anti-religion.  It is a threat to freedom everywhere.  Since the Black Lives Matter organization is being led by highly trained Marxists, it is no surprise to see them using communist tactics to threaten, intimidate, and destroy for the purpose of bringing about social change.  They stoke racial tensions and use class struggle to bring about the first part of the dialectic between capitalism and socialism.  In Marx’s philosophy, the thesis is capitalism.  The anti-thesis is socialism.  The synthesis is communism. All Christians must be aware of the forces that are at work in our nation today.

It’s time for a spiritual check-up.  Health and fitness are important.  However, they are not more important than the heath of the soul.  “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come” (I Tim. 4:8).  In III John 1-14, we have three tests to determine the health of the soul:  the test of truth, the test of love and the test of righteousness.  In III John 2, John writes, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”  John ties physical health to spiritual health.  We can have joy and peace only by being right with God.
The Test of Truth
Truth matters!  What is truth?  In John 17:17, Jesus stated, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”  Many today believe that truth is subjective and so is a construct of one’s own mind.  However, Jesus makes it plain that truth comes from God and is synonymous with His Word.  The doctrine of Christ (II John 9) is the truth.  Truth is objective (stands outside of the individual person) and is knowable (John 8:32, “Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free”). The truth contains facts to be believed, commands to be obeyed and promises to be received.  Peter declares, “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently” (I Pet. 1:22).  The well-being of our souls depends upon our obedience to the truth.  The truth is livable.  The Holy Spirit declares through the pen of John, “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee (they had received the truth and it abode in their hearts by faith-DS), even as thou walkest in the truth” (III John 3).  To walk in the truth is to live according to the teachings of Jesus Christ and the apostles.  The identity of a Christian is manifested by conformity to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles.  Paul makes a strong declaration of presence of Christ in his life, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).  The well-being of the soul depends upon integrity in Christian living.
The Test of Love
John mentions the display of love (charity-KJV) by Gaius in the manifestation of hospitality in the furtherance of the gospel.  “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well” (III John 5-6). The test of love is a vitally important one.  First, the well-being of the soul depends on loving God supremely.  “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with al thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment” (Mark 12:29-30).  Notice that this commandment is first in rank and importance.  If we fail to keep this commandment, then, obedience to any of the other commandments is a mockery.  Consider also that the whole person is involved in the obedience to this command.  This involves fullness of consecration to God and means that we hold nothing back in our commitment to Him.  The command is to love God.  This love for God means that we hold Him in the highest regard with the utmost of respect and reverence for Him.  It manifests itself in actions that express our adoration for Him, our veneration of Him, and our allegiance to Him.  Our love for God and His love for us forms a bond that makes us inseparable (Rom. 8:35-39).  Love for neighbor is also commanded by the Lord. “And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31).  Love for neighbor means seeking his/her highest good.  This love is undefeatable, benevolent, goodwill.  Love for brothers and sisters in Christ is also taught by Jesus (John 13:34-35).  Gaius demonstrates this love in showing hospitality to those who preached the gospel of Christ.  John mentions Diotrephes in contrast to Gaius who, “prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church” (III John 10).  Gaius demonstrates the well-being of the soul while Diotrephes shows the corruption of the soul.  Gaius loved.  Diotrephes did not.  Love always acts for the good of others.  Gaius did this while Diotrephes failed miserably.
The Test of Righteousness
John declares, “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good.  He that doth good is of God but he that doth evil hath not seen God” (III John 11).  Righteousness is right living or living that fulfills God’s precepts and purposes.  The well-being of the soul depends upon moral integrity.  Intrinsic evil is sinful conduct or behavior that transgresses God’s Will.  Demetrius is mentioned by John as having a good report among men and the truth.  He is a Christian whose soul is prospering.  Christians must display moral integrity.  A list of sinful conduct is given by Paul in Gal. 5:19-20 and involves:  adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditious, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like.  This list is not exhaustive, but it is representative of the type of behavior that is morally reprehensible in the sight of God.  When these sins are present in the human heart, the soul is sin sick and corrupted.  Righteous living is an outgrowth of walking in the truth.  Righteous living reflects holiness which is a characteristic of the nature of God (I Peter 1:15-16).
Three tests provide a quick check-up for your soul: the test of truth, the test of love and the test of righteousness.  Is it well with your soul?  What if your prosperity were tied to the health of your soul?

In Acts 4:32-37 and 5:1-11, two groups of Christians emerge.  The first group is represented by Barnabas–a genuine Christian.  The second group is represented by Ananias and Sapphira–disingenuous Christians.
Genuine Christianity
“Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.  And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostle’s feet” (Acts 4:34-37).  The beauty of Barnabas is manifested in this event.  He truly was a son of encouragement.  His actions were prompted by love.  His selflessness, along with others, became a means of blessing the lives of those who were in need.  These individuals became channels of grace and blessing!  This is true Christianity in action.  The result was unity of purpose and fellowship in grace.
Disingenuous Christianity
Disingenuous means insincere, fake or false appearance. Disingenuous Christians are hypocritical, pretentious individuals who claim to follow Jesus Christ, but their hearts are far from Him. Ananias and Sapphira were overlaid with Christian veneer.  Veneer is a thin piece of wood that looks nice, but covers many imperfections.  Used figuratively of this couple, we see that they appeared good on the outside, but inwardly they were corrupt.  They allowed selfish interests to control their hearts.  When that happens, Christianity is bound to be cheapened and ruined.  This couple lied.  They kept back a part of the money that they had while pretending to give it all to good works.  They wanted the privileges and blessings of Christianity without purity of heart.  They were not motivated by love and sacrificial giving.  Instead, they were motivated by greed (desire for more and more), pride (sought the praise of men more than the praise of God), and jealousy (wanted the acclaim that Barnabas received without the sacrifice that Barnabas made).
The Reward of Iniquity
Ananias and Sapphira were both struck dead by God.  The reward of iniquity.  God cannot be mocked (deceived (Gal. 6:7; Heb. 4:13).  God acted to protect the purity of the church.  “A little leaven leveneth the whole lump” (I Cor. 5:6).  God punishes the evil doer.  His justice is a testimony to His righteousness.
While Barnabas is a source of encouragement to the church, Ananias and Sapphira were sources of embarrassment to the church.  Ananias and Sapphira were selfish while Barnabas was selfless.  Ananias and Sapphira were fakes and Barnabas was a genuine Christian.  Ananias and Sapphira lost everything.  Barnabas received the reward of righteousness.
Every Christian must manifest the courage of authenticity.  Our actions must reflect our profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Only Authentic Christianity will secure our standing as lights to the world (Matt. 5:14).

Popcultured by Steve Turner is a book that examines the present culture in light of the Scriptures. Turner examines cinematic art, journalism, celebrity culture, fashion, thrills, comedy, advertising, technology, photography and TV and movies. He gives many outstanding examples in each of these areas to illustrate his point of view. He also brings biblical passages to bear upon cultural values and beliefs. He emphasizes the necessity for spiritual discernment in critquing our culture. We must separate good from evil. In order to accomplish this, we must put everything to the test of truth. Then, we hold to the good and reject the evil. I have written a review of this book and it is avaiable on my blog under “Book Reviews.”