Pat Robertson: You read Hebrews and it says, `Those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil' (Hebrews 5:14). There is no substitute for working and practicing and practicing the presence of God. And when you do that after a while, you know what's God and what isn't. But our voice is very deceiving. The voice of Satan is very deceiving, so you have to be careful in this....But as I say, objective confirmation, circumstances and so forth, along with that sure does help."

Robertson's answers differed from those of Talk to Action readers, who recently tackled a similar question in the first Cross Examination essay, which explained the aim of this series and asked: How does one figure out whether the self-proclaimed "representative" of God is really speaking for God instead of his own personal and highly subjective political agenda that has little or nothing to do with the example and teachings of Jesus?

The Bible offers some answers -- and they're more specific than Robertson's muddled admonitions about "practicing and practicing" (which we thought was actually the way to get to Carnegie Hall). But Pat may be onto something big when he warns about being "careful" not to be deceived, and when he advises that we look for "objective confirmation." Yes, actual proof of what is being claimed "sure does help."

'In Sheep's Clothing'

The prophet Jeremiah cautions the faithful to beware of false prophets who claim to speak on behalf of God: "Then the LORD said to me, 'The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries, and the delusions of their own minds.'" -- Jeremiah 14:14

Jesus also warned about false prophets, and gave a measuring stick to test their words and deeds.

Jesus said, "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" (Gospel According to Matthew, 7:15)

And Jesus said, "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks." (Gospel According to Luke, 6:44-45)

So apparently, it's not just the prophet's claim that counts, but what comes about from his or her words and deeds, and the effect that those words and deeds have on other people. The New Testament speaks of specific "fruits" by which a follower of God may be recognized. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23)

Jesus taught that false prophets put on a big show of religiosity ("sheep's clothing") but that followers of Jesus should look out for the false prophet's wolfishly ferocious motives, words, behaviors, and effects. And the Letter to the Galatians quietly points to the authentic fruits of the Spirit, a list of virtues that leads up to "self-control," not state control.

Questions
1) What kinds of things do theocrats speak about? What kind of heart do those things reveal?

2) What kinds of fruit do theocrats produce? What kind of fruit fills you with the bitter taste of intolerance, then leaves you with the emptiness of divisiveness? And how do such fruits compare with the "fruits of the Spirit" named in Galations?

3) If members of a community decided to seek not money, status, and the ability to command and control others, but the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control), then what would that community look like? How would community members behave toward one another?

4) Bonus round for five extra points and the right to do a "Church Lady" superior dance. Which "Flip" is known for saying each of the following:
a) "The devil made me do it!"
b) "The devil is strutting his stuff with impunity in the streets of America, while Christianity is rapidly being reduced into something that can only be practiced at home or in the safety of a church sanctuary."
c) "I shoulda listened, when you said, 'Forget the money, put God first,' so that's the way I gotta end my verse."