Wilderness To Wisdom: Question Everything, Debate Nothing

This episode encourages you to examine every influence in your life through the light of Scripture while avoiding arguments that distract from inner transformation. It reflects on how discernment grows through humility, prayer, and a sincere desire for God’s understanding. Listen with an open heart and invite the Holy Spirit to bring clarity, peace, and renewed focus to your walk with Christ.

Transcript

Welcome back to Wilderness to Wisdom.

Today's episode confronts something that keeps many believers spiritually stuck,

Often without even realizing it.

Most of us don't question the world nearly enough,

And at the same time,

We spend far too much energy debating things that should never be debated in the first place.

This step is called,

Question Everything,

Debate Nothing.

This step invites us to separate emotion and sentiment from the truth of God's Word,

And honestly examine whether the things we've embraced are truly grounded in scripture.

Diluting the Word of God with the ways of the world keeps us from walking in the fullness of Christ,

But when we learn to question everything,

And stop giving our energy and strength to the wrong things,

Our spiritual life begins to shift.

One of the most important truths we can come to terms with as followers of Christ is this,

Everything in life comes from one of two sources,

Either God or the devil.

There is no gray area.

As we talked about in the Know Your Enemy episode,

Everything from the enemy doesn't look obviously evil.

Much of the time,

He comes through things that appear good,

Or are deeply embedded in culture,

Religion,

And tradition.

That's why scripture tells us to test and discern everything.

First John 4,

1-3 says,

Beloved,

Do not believe every spirit,

But test the spirits to see whether they are from God.

For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

By this you know the spirit of God.

Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.

This is the spirit of the antichrist,

Which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

John said to test the spirits,

Because everything has a spiritual root,

And not everything that sounds good is from God.

Paul echoes this in 2 Corinthians 11 verses 14 and 15.

And no wonder,

For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light,

So it is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness.

Their end will correspond to their deeds.

So many things in our lives have been handed down to us as harmless or even beneficial without ever being questioned or examined through a biblical lens.

For example,

Many people view fraternities,

Sororities,

Freemasonry,

And similar organizations as being centered on community,

Connection,

And belonging.

On the surface,

That's exactly how they're presented.

Yet most believers have never taken the time to examine the rituals,

Oaths,

Symbolism,

Secrecy,

And spiritual origins behind them.

And what that examination reveals is alignment,

Not with God,

But with the enemy.

These things can look and feel good on the outside while aligning with the enemy beneath the surface.

The same is true with holidays like Christmas and Easter.

These are deeply emotional for many people.

They are tied to traditions and nostalgia.

Yet very few believers have actually researched their origins or examined how pagan rituals,

Symbols,

And practices were absorbed into what we now call Christian holidays.

We are responsible for questioning where things came from,

Not emotionally,

But biblically.

Whether it's organizations,

Traditions,

Or holidays,

The question isn't,

Does this feel good?

The question is,

Does this align with God's word?

In many churches,

Doctrines and traditions are practiced not because they are clearly taught in scripture,

But because they've been culturally accepted,

Inherited,

Or shaped by the influence of the world.

They may sound spiritual and look biblical,

Yet still lack a solid foundation in word of God.

Some persist simply because they feel familiar,

While others remain because they preserve influence,

Authority,

Or financial structures.

And when trusted leaders teach them,

Many believers accept it without ever stopping to examine the source.

When beliefs and practices go unexamined,

They begin to shape our walk in ways God never intended.

In some cases,

Believers do know the truth,

Yet continue to participate in certain holidays,

Organizations,

Or practices,

Convincing themselves it's acceptable to God,

Even when scripture clearly says otherwise.

This usually isn't intentional rebellion,

But emotional attachment,

Cultural pressure,

Or the discomfort that comes with letting things go.

Romans 12 tells us,

Do not be conformed to this world,

But be transformed by the renewal of your mind,

That by testing you may discern what is the will of God,

What is good and acceptable and perfect.

Scripture calls us to transformation,

And transformation requires intentional separation from the world's patterns,

Beliefs,

And systems.

For everything,

We must ask,

Where did this come from and who does this serve,

God or the enemy?

This isn't about condemnation,

Fear,

Or walking around looking for demons in everything.

It's about refusing to accept anything,

No matter how good it looks or feels,

Without measuring it against the truth of God's word.

Because if we don't question what we've been taught to believe and what we're participating in,

We may end up defending things God never asked us to embrace.

And this is where the real challenge begins,

Not with what exists in the world,

But with what's going on in our own hearts.

Many times we say we want truth,

But what we're really seeking is confirmation,

Justification,

Or comfort.

If we want to believe something badly enough,

Whether it's biblical or not,

We can always find someone willing to tell us exactly what we want to hear.

But agreement doesn't equal truth,

And popularity doesn't equal God's approval.

Truth often confronts us before it comforts us,

And if we never question anything and only accept teachings that don't challenge us,

We may unknowingly be partnering with the devil.

Now that we understand deception doesn't always look wrong on the surface,

It becomes clear why discernment isn't optional.

It's essential.

Earlier we talked about asking,

Where did this come from and who does this serve?

That question can't remain theoretical.

It has to become a daily,

Personal practice that we apply intentionally in every area of life.

When we consistently ask that question,

Deception is exposed and loses its grip.

Patterns we once accepted as just the way life is begin to make sense.

Areas where the enemy has influenced our thinking come into the light.

This question becomes a filter for everything.

Our beliefs,

Habits,

Emotional reactions,

Relationships,

Traditions,

And even the church culture we grew up in or still participate in.

Nothing is off limits.

This includes our questions about the Bible.

People sometimes think we shouldn't question God,

But God is our Father,

And a loving Father welcomes questions.

He already knows what's in our hearts.

When we come to Him with what we don't understand,

We're not showing unbelief,

We're showing trust.

Scripture does not contradict itself,

So when something doesn't make sense,

Questioning isn't about doubting God's Word,

It's about seeking His understanding rather than pretending we already have it.

The Holy Spirit leads us into all truth,

And that often happens through deeper study,

Comparing translations,

Examining the original Hebrew or Greek,

Or being guided to the right person at the right time who can help bring clarity.

If we want to put on the nature of Christ and walk as He walked,

We can't cling only to the parts of Scripture we understand.

We have to be willing to seek understanding in the parts that stretch us too.

But this kind of discernment,

The willingness to seek God's understanding rather than ignore what we don't understand,

Requires humility.

It means being willing to say,

Father,

I may have believed this for years,

But if it doesn't align with Your Word,

I don't want it anymore.

When we live with that posture,

The Holy Spirit can renew our minds in areas that have been shaped by the world rather than by the truth of God's Word.

Over time,

This is how we begin to put on more of the nature of Christ,

Choosing to align with God's Word instead of continuing in the world's programming.

One of the enemy's most effective strategies is surprisingly simple.

If he can get you to accept something as normal,

He no longer has to fight you for it.

That's why questioning everything matters.

Most of the beliefs that keep people spiritually stuck didn't come through dramatic encounters or obvious darkness.

They came quietly,

Through assumptions,

Habits,

Cultural conditioning,

And repeated messages that we heard growing up.

Through phrases like,

That's just how life is,

Everyone does this,

Or that's normal.

The enemy doesn't need loud lies when subtle ones work just fine.

He works through what feels familiar,

What society calls common sense,

And what we accept simply because it's all we've ever known.

1 Peter 5.

8 says,

Be sober-minded,

Be watchful.

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion,

Seeking someone to devour.

The enemy thrives where people are unaware and complacent.

The devil doesn't need you to worship him,

He just needs you to believe what he says more than what God says without realizing you're doing it.

Many of us have been discipled by the world more than by the Word of God.

We have been influenced by entertainment,

Media,

Culture,

And tradition without ever stopping to ask whether it aligns with God's truth.

And whichever influence we agree with,

Even passively,

Is the one that shapes our thinking and direction.

So questioning everything isn't about paranoia,

It's about refusing to let the enemy shape your life simply because something goes unchallenged by most people.

When you begin questioning everything,

You start seeing your entire life through a kingdom lens,

And that's the moment the enemy loses his full access pass and his influence over your life.

Here's where we need to make an important distinction.

Questioning brings clarity,

But debating often becomes a distraction that feels productive,

Intellectual,

Or spiritual,

While producing no transformation.

The enemy doesn't mind believers asking questions.

He loves it when they get stuck researching,

Arguing,

And debating rather than being transformed.

That's why scripture warns us about this.

2 Timothy 3 verses 1 through 9 describes people who are always learning but never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.

Information alone doesn't produce transformation.

You can hear,

Study,

And quote truth and remain unchanged if you never live it.

There's a saying that reflects this well.

A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.

In other words,

Someone may agree outwardly,

Yet inwardly nothing changes.

True belief comes from internal conviction,

Not external pressure.

Debate feeds ego and pride far more than it feeds truth.

2 Timothy 2 verses 22 through 26 tells us,

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness,

Faith,

Love,

And peace,

Along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Have nothing to do with foolish,

Ignorant controversies.

You know that they breed quarrels.

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome,

But kind to everyone,

Able to teach,

Patiently enduring evil,

Correcting his opponents with gentleness.

God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,

And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the after being captured by him to do his will.

That's why when a conversation turns into an argument or debate,

It's often wise to disengage calmly,

Agree to disagree,

And pray for the other person and for yourself,

Asking the Holy Spirit to correct you if you are in error.

Scripture shows us that gentleness is what opens the door for true repentance and understanding,

Not force or pressure.

Think about how much time and energy are poured into arguments over doctrine,

Timelines,

Interpretations,

And opinions.

People passionately defend their views,

Yet rarely walk away more Christ-like or transformed.

So we need to ask ourselves honestly,

Is this strengthening my walk with Christ,

Or am I giving my time to the enemy?

The enemy benefits when believers stay distracted and divided,

Which is why discernment and focus matter so much.

In Acts chapter 9,

We read that Paul debated and reasoned with the Hellenist,

But at that time,

He didn't have the Bible as we do today.

God has revealed his truth to us through Scripture.

Our responsibility now isn't to argue people into agreement,

But to live in submission to what God has already made clear.

At some point,

We have to stop trying to prove anything to others and instead start asking,

Am I walking in what Jesus said those who believe in him would walk in?

Jesus said believers would cast out demons,

Heal the sick,

Walk in authority,

Do the works he did,

And even greater.

So here's the question we need to return to often.

Am I seeing this in my life?

If the answer is no,

That's not condemnation.

It gives us clarity and shows us where our focus needs to shift.

Let's take a common example.

People spend endless time debating rapture doctrine,

Arguing timelines and interpretations.

But here's the reality.

No matter what you believe about the rapture,

Today you are still here on the earth.

And if we are not walking in the fullness of Christ's power now,

Debating how we might leave later is missing the point.

So instead of asking,

When will we be raptured,

We should be asking,

Why aren't we walking in the power Jesus said we already have?

Another example comes straight from Scripture.

In Acts chapter 28,

When Paul was bitten by a viper,

He shook it off and was not harmed.

That's power and authority.

And that's the same reality we should be experiencing in our lives.

So here's where questioning and debating diverge.

Questioning leads us toward truth.

Debating can shift our energy toward proving a point instead of living it.

The issue isn't discussion itself,

It's whether our focus stays on living the word.

I want to encourage you to read Titus 3 verses 1 through 11 because it gives us a clear picture of how we are called to live in this world.

Verse 9 speaks directly to this.

It says,

But avoid foolish controversies,

Genealogies,

Dissensions,

And quarrels about the for they are unprofitable and worthless.

Not because truth doesn't matter,

But because arguing about truth without walking in it produces nothing.

1 Corinthians 4 20 reminds us,

The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

We may not yet be fully demonstrating everything Jesus did,

But we are called to move in that direction.

When truth is lived,

It doesn't need to be defended,

It's demonstrated.

So the goal isn't to win arguments.

The goal is to put on the nature of Christ and walk as he walked.

That's why we question everything,

So deception can't hide.

And that's why we debate nothing that pulls us away from actually living the word.

Whether we're talking about the end times tribulation described in scripture or the challenges of life right now,

The call is the same.

We are called to walk in power and authority today.

Jesus told us we would have tribulation in this world,

But he also said to be of good cheer because he overcame the world.

And because he overcame,

We are overcomers too.

Which means we are not called to live defeated lives when victory has already been secured through Christ.

Everything we've talked about in this episode leads us here.

This step is about becoming intentional and slowing down long enough to examine what we believe,

Practice,

And have accepted as normal and holding it up to the light of God's word.

We need to question what we believe because belief shapes everything.

We need to question what we practice,

Not just what we say we believe,

But what our lives actually reflect.

We need to question what we've normalized,

The habits and patterns we've accepted simply because they're common or familiar.

We need to question what we tolerate,

The things we've excused or learned to live with.

We need to question what we fear because fear often reveals where belief has been shaped more by the world than by God's word.

And we need to question what we repeat,

The phrases,

Assumptions,

And conclusions we speak without ever asking where they came from.

And this isn't limited to church or theology.

It applies to every area of life,

Politics,

Education,

Healthcare,

Finances,

Culture,

Media,

And every influence shaping how we think and live.

This is what it means to question everything and at the same time to debate nothing.

Because debate doesn't deepen our walk.

It often distracts from it.

It divides rather than unites,

And it drains time and focus that were meant for obedience and growth.

Questioning leads us toward truth.

Debating can keep us circling ideas without surrendering to them.

God isn't calling us to win arguments.

He's calling us to surrender what doesn't come from him and to walk in what does.

The goal isn't to prove we're right.

The goal is alignment with God's word and the life he's calling us to live.

I want to give you a few questions to reflect on before we close.

What beliefs,

Assumptions,

Or influences in your life,

Whether from media,

Education,

Traditions,

Or social expectations,

Have you accepted as normal without examining them through scripture?

Where might you be investing time in researching,

Arguing,

Or proving a point instead of applying what God has already made clear to you?

When you encounter disagreement,

Do intellectual pride or the desire to be right lead you into defensiveness or arguments unnecessarily?

And finally,

What step can you take starting now to balance gathering information with actively walking in what you already know is true?

Take some time to examine your life honestly.

God reveals truth to refine us,

Not to shame us.

You are not called to blend in with the world.

You are called to walk in truth,

Discernment,

And alignment with his word.

Thank you so much for joining me for this episode of Wilderness to Wisdom.