How Do You Recognize a Christian? | Part 9 | Tried & True – 1 John 4:1-6 | Chris Voigt

Tried & True

How Do You Recognize a Christian?

August 1, 2021

It began in 1956 and was on-air continuously until 1978. Since then it’s been revised several times, reaching a total of 31 seasons in 2021. To Tell the Truth is an American game show in which four celebrity panelists are presented with three contestants. The contestants all claim to be the same person, with an unusual occupation or life experience. The goal for the panelists is to question the contestants to determine which are the imposters and who is telling the truth. When questioned, the two impostors may lie; but the real person must answer honestly. Asking good questions, listening carefully to the responses, and paying attention to body language are all important factors in determining who is the real deal and who are the fakes. But even knowing that two of the three contestants are lying often doesn’t help the panelists. Determining who the liars are isn’t always as easy as it sounds!

We’ve been working our way through the letters of the Apostle John this summer, in a series we’ve called How Do You Recognize a Christian? We’re looking at the first six verses of 1 John 4 this week, where we find some strong words of exhortation. Like a father warning his children, John reminds his readers, “You can’t believe everything you hear!”

So how do you know what is really true? What sources warrant our trust? There is more information available to the average person today than at any other time in history. It can be overwhelming to even attempt to try and make sense out of the rhetoric, the reporting, the spin, or the sales pitch.