May God help us all be humble learners while also maintaining vigilance and discipline to test the spirits behind what we consume, especially about new and trendy ideas. As John MacArthur wrote in his study Bible, “Christians are to have a healthy skepticism regarding any teaching.” This includes healthy skepticism about resources for missions.

All of us are aware of the need to consume information discerningly. This is nowhere more important than when we are evaluating sources claiming to represent God’s Word and wisdom. Whether we are reading about topics we know well or new ideas, in every case we must take care.

When a new movement claims to have truth and methodology for missions previously unknown to the church, we should be very wary. Enter the Disciple Making Movement (DMM).

The Need to Test the Spirits

We also need to remember that even the most respected, godly, and knowledgeable thinkers are yet sinners with limited understanding. The Word of God is the standard of truth, not any man. Everything we take in from others must be tested against the words of God’s Spirit. 1 John 4:1 tells us “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”

Another caution comes from the rest of 1 John 4:1-“for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Many claim they speak for God when they do not. Satan is aggressively seeking to confuse God’s truth. Sometimes he even uses well-intentioned believers who have strayed from the sure anchor of God’s Word.

Miraculous Movements: How Hundreds of Thousands of Muslims are Falling in Love with Jesus by Jerry Trousdale[1] explains and promotes “Disciple Making Movements”. It is a fascinating read on multiple levels but is has to be read very discerningly.

Encouragement from the Disciple Making Movement Emphases

The book encourages us by reminding us of many truths of Scripture. The book is filled with testimonies of how God has used unusual means in recent years in settings where Gospel opportunity is very limited and spiritual darkness extreme. It tells of visions, dreams, healings, and even isolated occasions of the dead being raised, all of which God has used to call Muslims to Himself. It is exciting to read how God did these things to cause people to seek Jesus Christ. No doubt many of these testimonies are true. God can do these things whenever He wants to. Apostolic gifts have ceased, but God can do as He wills. Sometimes we forget this.

Another good reminder we glean is that the Gospel can indeed spread quickly, especially when most believers consider themselves disciple-makers, even among young believers with limited training. God is not bound to use only the most educated and theologically trained to bring His people into the sheepfold. Many do need to be challenged away from a leadership-heavy model of ministry that results in leaders being the primary evangelists. The book is refreshing in this way.

Motivation from a Desire to Reach the Muslim World

The author does a wonderful job calling attention to the desperate hopelessness that pervades the Islamic world. Islam does not promise final salvation or eternal life. Even the most fervent Muslims are hopeless. The vast majority are moderate in their views but dominated by the minority who advocate violent Islam according to the Koran. Muslims are real people in desperate need for Jesus and usually have extremely limited opportunity to hear the Gospel. When they do hear it, many respond in faith. This urges us to get the Gospel to them.

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