49 Religious Lies Jesus Told Me to Stop Believing - #3 Eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil

Summary

The speaker describes changing his understanding of 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “test all things,” after what he calls a personal dialogue with Jesus. He had understood the verse to mean that every experience and teaching should be evaluated intellectually. He now interprets it as testing things through the heart, guided by the Holy Spirit, rather than treating his own reasoning as the ultimate authority.

He connects this shift to the biblical image of the “tree of knowledge of good and evil.” In his view, relying on one’s own judgment can lead to pride, rigid beliefs, and conflict. He encourages continued spiritual growth and openness to having one’s beliefs changed.

Practices and Approaches Discussed

• Journal and pray about scripture: Read a passage, note what it says, and ask God what it means rather than starting with a fixed theory and searching for supporting verses.
• Stay open to revising beliefs: Set aside prior assumptions when exploring a topic and welcome new understanding.
• Allow time to build a new habit: The speaker suggests at least six weeks of focused effort to shift from relying primarily on intellectual judgment to seeking spiritual guidance. He says mistakes along the way are part of the process.
• Use a personal reflection exercise: Repent of what he calls the “lie” of relying on the tree of knowledge, affirm a new foundation in Christ, and journal through related scripture passages.
• Seek guidance through multiple channels: In his religious framework, these include scripture, the heart, dreams, visions, counsel from others, and spiritual messengers.
• Value continued growth: Avoid becoming locked into past interpretations, individually or as a church, and remain open to new ideas.

Presenter and Sources

• Presenter: Mark Virkler, attributed based on the channel and video context
• Scripture discussed: 1 Thessalonians 5:21
• Books mentioned: Released from Religion and How Do You Know?
• Other religious references: Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Emmaus road narrative