CINAM

the reporter. “I can speak their language.” When Christians hear someone who “speaks the language” of evangelical Christianity, they assume that the person is sincere, honest, and well meaning. But promoters of quackery and health misinformation within the Christian community can be sincere, with that in which they are involved still being beyond their understanding. Evangelical Christians who have a basically orthodox Christology may be promoting the hope that they can “return to Eden” by eating food “the way God made it,” or that they can detect and repair “subtle energy” imbalances with hand motions.

Hebrews 5:14 reminds us that the mature believers are those who through practice have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. This is especially important when it involves one who “speaks the language.” Teachig people to be discerning, in both the spiritual and scientific sense, is a critical defense against misinformation and occult influences. It will help protect the fellowship of believers against false teaching, spiritual contamination, poor stewardship of financial resources, and possibly physical harm and death.