Heresy-Hunting for Dummies

You will know them by their fruits! Evaluate people and ideas on the basis of what practical action they produce. Believing that people are basically good produces a radically unjust society. Believing that God gave His Son for the life of the world produces a bunch of kind-hearted people who are very generous. And so on. Evaluate on the basis of fruit!
And what about when you find that your own fruits don’t measure up? Then go back to Jesus. Ask again. Seek again. Knock again. Seek to bear good fruits.
What do you do when you find that someone else’s fruits don’t measure up? Beware. Pray for that person. If he’s a Christian teacher, don’t listen to his teaching. The fruits it produces are not ones you want to cultivate! But at the same time, remember that this whole section is governed by Jesus’ command to “judge not.” Don’t write anyone off, but be careful not to listen to anything harmful either. Above all, stay close to Jesus! He’s the ultimate good tree, and His fruit is always good. Stay close to Him, and yours will be too. Amen.