Can You Identify Spiritual Junk Food?

You’re going to find that there will be times when people will have no stomach for solid teaching, but will fill up on spiritual junk food .... 

They’ll turn their backs on truth and chase mirages.

2 Timothy 4:3-5, The Message

Have you noticed that even when you try to eat "healthy," you will likely fall short?

That's because not everything that claims to be healthy, really is.

For instance, I always thought the carrot and raisin salad would be the healthier option at one of my favorite fast food chains. You can imagine the surprise I got when I learned that this particular side dish actually had more calories and sugar than the fries. (This chain has stopped serving the carrot raisin salad.)

The same is true with spiritual food. Everything we take in as "spiritual" food doesn't have equal nutrition.

One thing you can count on for optimal nutrition is the Holy Word of God.

There is no replacement. God's word is living and active. No other writings can compare.

Do you substitute any of these for the Word of God?

• Devotionals (yes, including this one)
• Magazine articles
• Christian books
• Blog articles
• A friend's opinion
• A Christian leader's opinion

Do you recognize false doctrine?

Do you take scripture out of context?

When we read the New Testament, we are warned over and over again about false teachings within the church. Obviously, there are false teachings in secular media. But the scary thing is that they've invaded the church. So it's getting more difficult in some circles to identify God's truth.

Read about it in I Timothy, Titus, Peter and Revelation.

Lord, open our eyes to your standards. Help us to see real truth.
In Jesus' Name,

Amen

Stacy