Discernment
From The Pastor's Pen in the April 2006 Voice of the Valley, the monthly newsletter of Valley Bible Church, by the Reverend Frank C. Emrich. Reposted here with permission.
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One of the most distressing trends n the modern church is the lack of discernment, so I want to deal with this issue. Of course, much more could be written, but this will keep us on the right track.
Discernment can be defined simply as the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In other words, the ability to think with discernment is synonymous with an ability to think biblically.
I Thessalonians 5:21-22 teaches that it is the responsibility of every Christian to be discerning:
The apostle John issues a similar warning when he says:
According to the New Testament, discernment is not optional for the believer - it is required.
Failure to distinguish between truth and error leaves the Christian subject to all manner of false teaching. False reaching then leads to an unbiblical mindset, which results in unfruitful and disobedient living - a certain recipe for compromise.
Unfortunately, discernment is an area where most Christians stumble. They exhibit little ability to measure the things they are taught against the infallible standard of God's Word, and they unwittingly engage in all kinds of unbiblical decision-making and behavior. In short, they are not armed to take a decidedly biblical stand against the onslaught of unbiblical thinking and attitudes that face them throughout their day.
Discernment intersects the Christian life at every point. And God's Word provides us with the needed discernbment about every issue of life. According to Peter, God
You see, it is through the "true knowledge of Him" that we have been given everything we need to live a Christian life in this fallen world. And how else do we have ture knowledge of God but through the pages of His Word? In fact, Peter goes on to say that such knowledge comes through God's granting
Next month I'll give some simple steps on how to be a discerning person.
~ ~ ~
One of the most distressing trends n the modern church is the lack of discernment, so I want to deal with this issue. Of course, much more could be written, but this will keep us on the right track.
Discernment can be defined simply as the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In other words, the ability to think with discernment is synonymous with an ability to think biblically.
I Thessalonians 5:21-22 teaches that it is the responsibility of every Christian to be discerning:
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.
The apostle John issues a similar warning when he says:
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
According to the New Testament, discernment is not optional for the believer - it is required.
Failure to distinguish between truth and error leaves the Christian subject to all manner of false teaching. False reaching then leads to an unbiblical mindset, which results in unfruitful and disobedient living - a certain recipe for compromise.
Unfortunately, discernment is an area where most Christians stumble. They exhibit little ability to measure the things they are taught against the infallible standard of God's Word, and they unwittingly engage in all kinds of unbiblical decision-making and behavior. In short, they are not armed to take a decidedly biblical stand against the onslaught of unbiblical thinking and attitudes that face them throughout their day.
Discernment intersects the Christian life at every point. And God's Word provides us with the needed discernbment about every issue of life. According to Peter, God
....has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
You see, it is through the "true knowledge of Him" that we have been given everything we need to live a Christian life in this fallen world. And how else do we have ture knowledge of God but through the pages of His Word? In fact, Peter goes on to say that such knowledge comes through God's granting
....to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.Discernment - the ability to think biblically about all areas of life - is indispensible to an uncompromising life. It is incumbent upon the Christian to seize upon the discernment that God has provided for us in His precious truth. Without it, Christians are at risk of being
....tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming....
Next month I'll give some simple steps on how to be a discerning person.
posted by JASmius at 5:16 PM
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