James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
I could give a bunch of Scripture if you would like but the best way to explain it to me is with this question, and to share my opinions.
Would you ever take an untested weapon into battle? THE WISE man/woman says ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Time and again, man says or promises or makes you believe but when it comes to putting forth more than words... well... Parable of the Sower is a perfect example.
If YOU WERE THE ONE offering ETERNAL LIFE, wouldn't you want to be sure of who received that gift? Words are cheap. It's easy to act all nice and good when everything is going your way. BUT WHO YOU ARE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE really brings out THE REAL PERSON.
Ask any LANDLORD. People are perfect when moving in. But when it is time to evict, THEN you truly find out who you are truly dealing with.
So that is what I think and believe and agree with. TEST AWAY. TEST everyone.
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.
3986. peirasmos ►
Strong's Concordance
peirasmos: an experiment, a trial, temptation
Original Word: πειρασμός, οῦ, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: peirasmos
Phonetic Spelling: (pi-ras-mos')
Definition: an experiment, a trial, temptation
Usage: (a) trial, probation, testing, being tried, (b) temptation, (c) calamity, affliction.
HELPS Word-studies
Cognate: 3986 peirasmós (from 3985 /peirázō) – temptation or test – both senses can apply simultaneously (depending on the context). The positive sense ("test") and negative sense ("temptation") are functions of the context (not merely the words themselves).