By Laura Adkins

The apostle Paul told the Romans, “Do not conform to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2). Paul’s advice can help us know God’s will for our lives and also apply his teaching and the truth.

Questioning the Truth

What is the truth? Is the truth absolute—as in one truth that is true for everyone? Or is it relative—as in what is right and true can change from person to person? Did Adam and Eve literally exist in the Garden of Eden and eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil? Or is this a story that did not literally happen but rather serves as a metaphor for the human condition? 

While these questions may seem heretical, we must ask them to ourselves and to each other so that we are prepared when deceivers share false teachings. We must know what we believe about these questions and, more importantly, what God says about these questions in order to stand against deception.

Standing Up to Doubt

Who wants a faith that flops about and changes on a whim or a faith that morphs based on the latest hot teaching or commercialized Christian book? Faith in Christ will stand up to the difficult questions, and asking those questions has strengthened my knowledge of the humanity and divinity of Christ. 

In his warning, John told the believers that a person who “does not continue the teaching of Christ does not have God”; however, believers must ask the hard questions of our faith so that we are confident in our beliefs and are able to test and examine new teachings to know whether or not they are consistent with the teachings of Christ. John made it simple for us—“his command is that you walk in love,” and he was happy to know that the “chosen lady” (the church) was obedient to this command. May we continue to be obedient to it today. 

Ali Denney is a documentary photographer and blogger in San Diego who travels the world with her camera. She has an insightful husband and two wildly amazing children.