Truth has become a moving target in today’s culture. Influencers, political movements and even religious voices compete to define what we should believe. John and Lisa Bevere say there is one habit that can make Christians harder to deceive: reading and examining the Bible for ourselves.
During a recent episode of “Conversations with John & Lisa Bevere,” the couple warned that many believers have become dependent on secondhand faith.
“How many Christians are living off of what somebody else said on social media?” John said. “They said it from pulpit in their church and they heard somebody say something.”
The Beveres cited findings that 50% of self-identified Christians in the United States do not read the Bible even once a week. Lisa contrasted that casual attitude with believers in other nations who risk their lives to obtain a New Testament.
“We are in the United States so inundated with so much scripture and Bible and access that we have gotten so casual with this,” she said.
John pointed to the Bereans in Acts 17 as a model for biblical discernment. They listened to the apostle Paul but still examined his message against Scripture.
“They actually searched the scriptures to see if what he was saying was accurate,” John said.
That same practice can help protect us from distorted doctrine, persuasive personalities and cultural messages that contradict God’s truth.
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More Than Inspiration
The Beveres stressed that Scripture does more than inform or temporarily inspire us. God’s Word exposes the heart, strengthens faith, renews the mind and produces lasting transformation.
“It really inspired me, but it didn’t change my life,” John said while describing the fleeting effect of an inspirational movie. “The word of God, which continues to work in us, that’s what change changes our lives.”
Lisa added, “But the word of God has a transformational response that continues to help us grow.”
Drawing from 2 Timothy 3:16, the Beveres explained that Scripture teaches us the right path, exposes when we leave it, shows us how to return and trains us to remain faithful.
The Bible also gives us a permanent standard in an age of spiritual and cultural confusion.
“And here’s the thing, John, with a constantly moving idea of what is true, what’s not true,” Lisa said. “People need an anchor of what is truth.”
John closed by declaring, “The Bible was never meant to be another book on your shelf. Never.”
When we regularly read Scripture, ask the Holy Spirit for understanding and obey what God reveals, we no longer have to depend entirely on someone else’s convictions. We learn to recognize God’s voice, test what we hear and expose deception before it takes root.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a journalism background from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and at the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
