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Are We Losing All Spiritual Discernment?

Man is to live by every word proceeding out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). Peter said this: “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). We know, then, how spiritual growth
comes. And we have lived to see many, many religious people who speak of “growth, growth, growth” and yet wish it without close attention to the Word of God. That growth never comes, for having bodies present isn’t all of it! Real growth involves both the men and the men themselves knowledgeable concerning the will of God. Thus the writer of Hebrews speaks of saints who are “dull of hearing,” and he goes on to rebuke them for not wisely using their time in Christ. Time’s passing would have, if things were well with them spiritually, shown them to be capable of teaching others. But, they are again in need of milk! The strong meat is for those fullgrown, and who exercise their spiritual senses, and thus have real spiritual discernment (Hebrews 5:11-14).

Spiritual discernment! There must be time given to the word of righteousness (Hebrews 5:13) if that discernment is to come. If men choose to ignore real study of the Word of God, they will see a decline in whatever progress they once had made. And, their public utterances will be far afield from truth. We can see the loss of spiritual discernment when we realize that some among the saints:

1. See the mechanical instrument in Romans 14. Discussions on use of such instruments is indeed in the realm of faith, because it involves worship. However, throughout Romans 14 the apostle is dealing with matters of judgment, and even spells it out specifically–the matter of eating meats/herbs and the matter of respect of days. We know that herein we find a principle of God that will always apply, but it is a principle that applies regarding things of judgment and expediency, NOT the things of faith! How one makes the jump from one to the other is beyond us, except that we do positively know that man’s will and desire is inserted as the chief motivation for some men. What discernment is missing, when men cannot see the difference, here, in what is in the area of judgment and what is in the realm of liberty!
2. See the unlawfully divorced and remarried–the adulterer–in 1 Corinthians 7. Indeed, the chapter deals with the marriage relationship, discussing the unmarried (the virgin and the widowed) and those married to unbelievers. In every case, the marriages dealt with are lawful in the sight of God, and the constant advice is that these remain together! One may search the chapter throughout, and never will he find the illicit, the unlawful, the adulterous union mentioned at all! What kind of “spiritual discernment” allows one to insert the unlawful union into the chapter? Worse still, is the misuse of verse 24, wherein some now teach that if men and women are “called” in adultery, they remain in that state, because Paul urged that one abide wherein he is called! But what if one is “called” while in a company of thieves, or “called” while in homosexuality, etc.? Seeing how difficult this matter is to handle, men then have proceeded to redefine adultery! Yet, the truth of it is that men are “called” by the gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:14), and after belief of the Word, the CALLING IS THEN FOR REPENTANCE!! Where has one’s spiritual discernment gone (maybe it was never possessed) when he will so abuse a part of God’s Word?
3. See baptism for a general purpose of “pleasing God” just as scriptural as baptism for remission of sins (Acts 2:38). but, can it be so? If one is baptized “to obey God,” and NOT for the remission of sins, then, as would be the case of many, one could be scripturally baptized “to obey God” but believing that he/she was saved at the point of faith, and some weeks before baptism! Indeed, a prominent sectarian manual states that baptism “is not essential to salvation, but is essential in order to obey Christ.” Some of our own brethren are teaching and practicing sectarian doctrine, in that one can be scripturally baptized while believing something contrary to the Scriptures! If spiritual discernment is lost, then see where men will end up in their mishandling of the Word? The very idea, that men could be Scripturally baptized and receive the remission of sins while believing error concerning that very baptism and its purpose as stated in the New Testament! Here is a lack of spiritual discernment, and ignorance gone to seed!

The fact remains that the Word is given to guide us, and that Word alone is the Standard, guiding us unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Spiritual discernment and growth come as men faithfully and consistently apply that Volume’s contents. Failing to study, and more, turning to value and follow the thinksos of men, will cause spiritual discernment to completely vanish. And, when that is done, we’ll see some of the off-the-wall views such as we have just illustrated. Yea, let us STUDY to be approved of God! (2 Timothy 2:15).

Christian Worker,December 1989