The Gift of Discernment

Throughout the New Testament the apostle Paul teaches on spiritual gifts a believer will receive from Jesus by the Holy Spirit. In Romans chapter 12 and 1 Corinthians chapter 12 we see gifts individual believers will receive. In Ephesians 4 we see people with gifts God will gift the church with. Are their more spiritual gifts than are listed in scripture, that is a matter of debate, but what cannot be denied is that if we are a member of the body of Christ, we have received at least 1 spiritual gift.

A gift that is gaining more attention, and in my opinion is seriously lacking, in the church today is discernment. 1 Corinthians 12:10 refers to the gift of "discerning of spirits." The reason the gift of discernment is growing in the attention it receives is because of a growing on-line ministry dedicated to examining the church today and calling out teachings that conflict with the bible. Their are currently many such ministries, several of which you can link off of this blog, that are growing not only in popularity, but influence.

Paul warns Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1, "Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons." Paul tells Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:16, "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." Their are many who claim these ministries are overly critical and are the "new Pharisees" seeking to make faith in Christ about a set of rules, saying it's legalism. With these people I respectfully disagree. Obedience to God is not legalism, it is obedience. An express command of God and a demonstration of our love for Jesus(John 14:15, 23).

These who battle against these so-called discernment ministries claim many things about the church today need to change, and that they, through the revelation of God are the instruments of change. Now, I do agree we need change within the body of Christ. However, this change, cannot include the abandonment of sound doctrine which we are exhorted to expound throughout God's holy scriptures. Doctrine is not evil, it does not impair our ministries, doctrine is the will of God. And only through sound doctrine can we communicate the truth God wishes each of us to know. The change that needs to occur in the church is not doctrinal, but spiritual. The church needs a broken heart surrendered to Christ in obedience and love, not a new way and new doctrine.

If we read the bible with any type of intellectual honesty we see that as the return of Christ approaches, his body, the church will be sliding into apostasy. Many say the best days of the church are ahead of it, that we can in fact bring about the kingdom of God by changing the world we live in. The bible says this is a corrupt world getting worse by the day and that all of creation is groaning in anticipation of the return of Christ and the advent of His kingdom(Rom 8:19-22). We as Christ's body can definitely influence lives and the Holy Spirit can change them. But God's plan will not be altered, and His plan from the foundations of the universe have been for redemption through Jesus alone. No amount of good works on our behalf will change that. And when we abandon the doctrine of Christ for experiential religion and our power to change, not His, we have abandoned His doctrine. That is apostasy.

When looking at these discernment ministries we also must use discernment. I do not agree with everything I read or see, as I believe sometimes they can be somewhat overly critical. But for the most part I believe they are serving an important role in the church today. We live in an age when the doctrine of the bible is under attack, and viewed by many as an enemy. And it's under attack by many who claim Jesus. Friends, if we are to influence a lost world as Christ wants we cannot run from His doctrine. It is His word and His doctrine that through the Holy Spirit results in a truly changed life. Ultimately what it comes down to is us knowing and practicing God's word. Knowledge is also a spiritual gift. If we do not know the bible and what it says, we are vulnerable to deception and being led astray by misguided and many times false doctrine.

To my brothers and sisters in the discernment ministries, I say, keep fighting the fight. I pray you do so in true love and not from a critical spirit. We need people of courage willing to "earnestly contend for the faith" and call out misleading and heretical doctrine. You are under attack, but your influence and the fruit of your ministries is beginning to be revealed. Light will overcome darkness for those willing to surrender to the light. Big is not always better; Popular is very often lacking holiness; wolves in sheep's clothing abound, just as the bible said they would. I ask that you pray for these watchmen as they stand for the truth of God's word, and also, in discernment, lovingly rebuke them if they stray from love and into worldly criticism. It is the duty of us all to stand for the doctrine of Christ.