Put To The Test All Things | The Institute for Creation Research

Put To The Test All Things

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (I Thessalonians 5:21).

Many have quoted this verse as if it were a command to believe nothing unless it has been proven by careful demonstration or logic. But this is not the proper meaning of this verse, for it runs counter to Scripture’s grand theme of faith.

This is not to say, of course, that the Christian faith is unfounded, for it is validated time and again by science, history, logical argument, personal experience, etc. The apostles preached, “That . . . which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life” (I John 1:1). Paul, in our text, insists instead that we “prove all things” in the sense of putting them to the test in order to demonstrate that they are Scripturally sound, in agreement with relevant Scriptural passages.

Our text must be considered in its context, for it follows the commands, “Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings” (I Thessalonians 5:19,20). It seems he is saying that while allowing the Holy Spirit to work freely, we should not blindly accept all spiritual manifestations, but test them in relation to result and Scriptural teaching. Note the similar teaching, “Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God” (I John 4:1).

Elsewhere we are encouraged to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove [or ascertain by trial] what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). The will of God is a life wholly conformed to that of His dear Son and in unity with other believers. Such a life can only be known by experience, “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10). JDM

The Latest
NEWS
July 2025 ICR Wallpaper
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome...

NEWS
Valued Longtime ICR Employee Mary Smith Retires
Mary Morris Smith, an employee of the Institute for Creation Research for many years, has retired. The second daughter of ICR founder Dr. Henry M. Morris...

NEWS
Man of Science, Man of God: George Washington Carver
Who:  George Washington Carver What: Father of Modern Agriculture When: 1864 or 1865 – January 5, 1943 Where: Diamond Grove,...

ACTS & FACTS
The Scopes Monkey Trial: A Battle of Worldviews
Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee, and its statue of William Jennings Bryan Image credit: M. Mueller The Scopes Monkey...

ACTS & FACTS
Long Non-Coding RNAs: The Unsung Heroes of the Genome
Evolutionary theory holds that all living things came about through random, natural processes. So conventional scientists believe the genome has developed...

ACTS & FACTS
Yosemite National Park, Part 1: Tiny Clues of a Grand Picture
Yosemite National Park in California is a sure source of stunning scenery. It’s no wonder that American naturalist John Muir persuaded President...

ACTS & FACTS
From Inference to Theory: A Common Design Case Study
Without a doubt, humans, chimpanzees, and other organisms share similar features. An early explanation was that these features reflect similar designs...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Kids: T. rex
by Michael Stamp and Susan Windsor* You're never too young to be a creation scientist and explore our Creator's world. Kids, discover...

ACTS & FACTS
Entering By The Door
Recently, I hosted a visiting pastor from a large church at ICR’s Discovery Center. As I guided him through our Dallas museum, one conversation...

ACTS & FACTS
Creation Mission in Fiji
Michele discusses pages from Explore the World with boys at an orphanage Image credit: Brian Thomas In 2024 my wife, Michele,...