49 Religious Lies Jesus Told Me to Stop Believing - #11 Do Not Trust the Counsel of Others

Summary

Mark Virkler argues that “I should not trust the counsel of others” is a religious lie. He describes once resisting other people speaking into his life, partly because he was concerned about controlling leaders and harmful spiritual advice. He acknowledges that these concerns are real, but says they need not lead someone to reject all counsel. In his view, a person can trust God to work through imperfect leaders while choosing advisors carefully.

Virkler connects this idea to the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. As he tells it, Jesus corrected their understanding of Scripture, and they allowed the encounter to change their theology. Virkler says Christians should likewise remain open to God correcting their beliefs rather than resisting out of pride or fixed assumptions.

Choosing spiritual advisors

Virkler says he received six criteria for selecting people to speak into his life. They should:

• Be a friend.
• Know the Bible.
• Be able to hear God’s voice and offer counsel they believe comes from that source.
• Be willing to commit to the relationship and walk alongside him.
• Be accountable to others themselves, rather than acting as authoritarian dictators.
• Have comparable or greater experience in the area where advice is being sought.

He says he submits uncertain or unconventional impressions from his journaling to three advisors, while not seeking confirmation for matters he considers clear. He reports that hearing from several people can provide a fuller perspective, even when he does not initially like their input.

The “leader’s paradigm” for major decisions

For major, life-changing decisions, Virkler recommends a six-part process. He looks for all six sources to be in harmony:

1. Counsel of others: What do his advisors say?
2. Scripture: What passages seem especially relevant or illuminating?
3. Reasoning: Does his thinking seem clear and, as he puts it, “anointed”?
4. Heart: Does he have peace or unrest?
5. Life experience: Do circumstances and events seem to be opening or closing the way?
6. Direct revelation: What does he discern through journaling, dreams, or visions?

He illustrates the framework through the Emmaus story, interpreting the disciples’ experience as involving counsel from others, Scripture, changed reasoning, an inward emotional response, an encounter with Jesus, and direct revelation. For a major decision, he wants all six to point in the same direction. He says a neutral signal may be acceptable, but a “red light” from any source means he will not proceed.

Virkler also criticizes making decisions by reacting against practices associated with groups one distrusts. He gives rejecting dreams or visualization simply because “new agers” use them as examples of what he considers faulty reasoning. He encourages viewers to examine how they make decisions and to use what he regards as a biblically grounded process.

Closing encouragement

Virkler invites viewers to journal, review relevant Scripture, and ask God what they should take from the teaching. He concludes by encouraging them to become receptive to counsel while understanding that, in his theological view, their ultimate trust is in God rather than in any individual advisor.

Speakers and sources featured

• Mark Virkler — The presenter and narrator.
• Jesus — Quoted by Virkler as speaking to him through his journal, including teachings about authority, counsel, humility, and hearing Jesus’ voice.
• The Bible — Cited or referenced, including Proverbs 21:1, Hebrews 13:17, the Emmaus-road account, and Jesus’ saying that his sheep hear his voice.
• Unnamed people in Virkler’s anecdotes — A friend and co-pastor, a denomination’s leader, an unnamed prophet, and a young woman; their stories are recounted by Virkler.