Discernment

A Follow Up to Excuses Excuses

To truly understand if discerning is a poor excuse for me to use to withhold my time and money, I wanted to understand what the word means.

Merriam-Webster definition of discern

1a : to detect with the eyes b : to detect with senses other than vision

2: to recognize or identify as separate and distinct : discriminate

3: to come to know or recognize mentally

While Webster is great for a basic understanding, it is just as important get more depth from the original language.  In the New Testament there are 5 Greek words that have been translated into a form of discern.  While I am no expert of Greek, what is clear to me is that is that all of these words contain or suggest the idea of judging.

It isn't a big stretch to go from Webster's definition focusing on recognition to the concept of judgment, however, if the Webster included another definition like 4: to judge to prove by investigation, I might think twice about using the term so commonly.  At the very least I should try to put more effort into discernment.  I hope our Judges and Investigators are skilled discerners, who don't just jump to conclusions like I always do.

In the New Testament scriptures, the word discern or a form of (discernment, discerning, etc.) is used 9 times in the ESV, and 7 times in the King James.

ESV:

Luke 1:29, Romans 12:2, 1 Corinthians 1:19, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 11:29, Ephesians 5:10, Philippians 1:9, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 5:14

King James:

Matthew 16:3, Luke 12:56, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 1 Corinthians 11:29, 1 Corinthians 12:10, Hebrews 4:12, Hebrews 5:14

In bold are the verses that are common to both translations.

The word discernment is most often used to describe how one perceives the current time or more specifically their ability to understand the coming and significance of the Messiah, what is pleasing to God, or understanding good from evil.  I do not see anything that suggests we should be using discernment in giving situations.

Of these my favorite reveals the foolishness of my wisdom.  Luke 12:54-56: And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.  ⁵⁵And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass. ⁵⁶Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

It reminds me how I am quick to judge my surrounding because I am so obviously wise (sarcasm), and miserably fail (painful truth) to see God's hand and works all around me.

While this does entirely rule out discernment as a biblical principal that we should apply to giving, it clearly does not support it.  A further examination of of giving Alms will be necessary to more completely credit or discredit my use of discernment as an excuse, but so far it is not looking to good.  I probably should start looking for another excuse, or maybe just start doing....

My final thought for this post.  If discerning is judging, then in light of 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 could we apply it to situations when interacting with the clearly unsaved, and to what degree? And why don't we talk more about discernment in and of church matters more?

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13God judges those outside.

Excuses Excuses.

When I was a child my father used to sing part of this song (Excuses by the Kingsmen) to me a lot more that I would like to admit.  I was not always able to connect the dots then, but even now my ability is mediocre at best.  Like most of us, I am good (too good, if not repulsed by my ability) at finding the faults of others.  However, it is always my prayer that my faults are revealed to me.  What I need to always remember is that if I can find the fault in someone else, I am probably just as if not more guilty.  This week I want to consider some of the excuses I make that prevent us from living as Christ desires us to live.  Ephesians 5:10 says, "try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord."

I admit the idea of this topic was not exclusively my own.  It was implanted in my mind after a discussion in Sunday School about giving and discernment.  I was forced to ask myself "How cynical am I?"  My obsession with the subject started to grow. I continued to dwell on the thought that I might be hiding behind discernment. I was asking myself questions like, "How many times have I used similar excuses to limit giving of my time and resources?"  No one wants to be taken advantage of or look like a fool, but when do we cross the line? 

A few days ago I was in Target and a man (about my age) started a conversation with me about my wedding ring. Apparently, his ring was also made out of the same material, which caught his eye.  What a great opportunity I had to start a conversation about marriage and my beliefs, but instead I looked at him like he was crazy and tried to be just polite enough, yet show I was kind of busy.  It must have worked because he seemed to catch on then move on, but why did I do that? Because my immediate thought, after looking him over of course, was, "which multilevel marketing scheme did he want to tell me about... maybe Amway?"  After I walked away, I realized WHO CARES! So what if I discerned that he was trying to sell me something, why didn't I use that as an opportunity to learn something more about him and share the gospel?

So I though in light of these events, I would try to discern discernment and how we should approach giving.  Over the next few days I'll post about how the word is specifically used, how might it be implied elsewhere, and what else the NT says about giving alms and our attitudes.  I'm positive we shouldn't be meeting or presenting ourselves to the world as cynical.  Hopefully, this will serve as a way to remediate some of my poor excuses.

Why I gave up secular music.

I love music.  Maybe a bit too much, or maybe I don't like the music but the music likes me.  Either way, I can hear a song once and know every line (sometimes).  This phenomena seems to happen more when I am not trying.  For example (at the risk of sounding lame) I picked up Kanye West's Gold Digger from hearing it play in downtown Philadelphia storefronts. Over the course of one weekend I knew every word.  I would sing it so much that my my wife (then girlfriend) bought me the CD as a gag.  Considering how much I dislike rap music I cannot explain why things like this happen, but they do.

Anyway, for me just driving with the radio on is an opportunity for something to bore it way into my head only to be regurgitated repeatedly for weeks, months, or possibly years to come.

Most importantly is the fact that I just suck.  I might like to think that I am better than music but it often gets the best of me.  Besides the language when I repeat of messages about sex, drugs, and violence they begin to effect me.  Not cool, and maybe you are better than that, but I am not.  The choice I made is not easy for me but, I would prefer to repeat even a poorly written Christan song (not all are) over something like Gold Digger, or even a masterfully written song about sex or any other vice.  Besides nothing is more awesome than Christ.

1 John 5:18 We know tha everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.

Love, Love, Love

It is Valentines day and so I felt some inspiration to blog on love.  Seems like it is appropriate.  However, this probably isn't what you were thinking about today.

Matthews 5:43-46  
⁴³"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
 
Love = agapao - to love / from the word agape - love
Definition of agape
unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: as (1) : the fatherly concern of God for humankind (2) : brotherly concern for others

 

Often times I am confused, or more likely forget how I should love my enemies. When this happens I come back to this verse and remember that Jesus used the word "agape" for love.  This helps me to put things into perspective.  This is the same love we see in 1 Corinthians 13 (often referred to as the love chapter).  While we might think of romantic love and weddings reading 1 Corinthians 13, we would do better to keep a different frame of mind.  I've suggested one below, but try your own.

 

*NOTE: This is not a new translation or an attempt to correct a translation.  Just my own way of reading a passage with a specific context for love in mind.  In this case it is he context of having the same love Jesus said we should give our enemies.  This passage can be also read in other contexts for agape love.  Examples: (for my neighbors), (for my children), (for my wife), (for the sick), (for the poor), (for the Jew), (for the Muslim), (for the arrogant), (for the ignorant), enter in whomever (group or singular person) you struggle to love. 

 

However, it is also important to know that "romantic love" is clearly NOT meant in 1 Corinthians 13! That does not preclude agape love as being a part of a well functioning marriage, but it does mean that we need to lose the mindset that 1 Corinthians 13 is speaking only to romantic couples.

1 Corinthians 13 - The Way of Love

 ¹If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love (for my enemies), I am nothing. ³ If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love (for my enemies), I gain nothing.
⁴ Love (for my enemies) is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant ⁵or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ Love (for my enemies) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 ⁸Love (for my enemies) never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. ¹¹When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. ¹²For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

 ¹³So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

 

Paul & Marriage

Recently reading through 1 Corinthians I was stuck by Paul's position on marriage.  Paul's view is that marriage is a concession for those who are too week to be celibate.  That celibacy is the best way (like himself) to live.  He does admits that marriage is not a sin and says his celibacy is a gift from God, but also refers to marriage as a better choice than burning with desire (I wonder if a pun was intended).  Although he manages to keep some kind of a middle ground he is clearly championing celibacy.

This really struck me for a few reasons.  First, as a happily married christian man married to a wonderful christian woman it is hard to see Paul's side of things.  (And maybe he just didn't know how good it could be - totally me again...) Second, I have never been in any church advocating a celibate life over a married one.  (With maybe the exception of the Catholic Church - Admittedly here priests and nuns are celebrated, not as much as families are and not without stigmas, but at least recognized!)  In fact, some churches celebrate marriage and family to the point where even I (a married man) have felt awkward for not having children.  Third and finally, it just feels counter-intuitive to go forth and multiply and some other scriptures but feeling is different than being.

After getting over myself I was able to look deeper to ask and answer why this is Paul's view.  It is important to note that Paul believes Jesus is returning soon.  Very soon, like possibly before the end of his own lifetime.  With that in mind we can begin to see how concerned Paul was about distractions. To Paul (and I think if we are honest we can agree that sometimes) marriage is a distraction.  Being concerned about your husband, wife, or even your kids can draw your attention away from God.

Furthermore, some of the Corinthians before being saved had many issues with sexual immorality.  And some struggling with it after the establishment of the Corinthian Church.  1st Corinthians directly addresses one man living with his stepmother and alludes to others with a laissez faire attitude towards sex.  Paul reveals his view about marriage as a continuation of his discussion on sexual immorality.  It seems that he wants them to understand how wrong sexual immorality is!  Paramount to this he is driving home that sex is only acceptable within the context of marriage.

At the same time this also highlights the serious nature of marriage.  To those of us who are married we have experienced marriage as a blessing and gift from God.  To those who have experienced difficulties or even divorce you have felt the true gravity of the situation and the distraction that can occur.  Even those of us who are very happy should be able to recognize times when we were thinking about our significant others before thinking about God.  Tough pill to swallow but marriage may have led some of us to idolatry. 

We need to be doing more than celebrating marriage.  The Church needs to recognize how serious marriage is!  We talk seriously, but are we actively living it?  Are we counseling couples to the extent we need to be, or are we making a lot of assumptions leaving them to figure it out on their own?  We need to better prepare each other for marriage!  We need to be constantly thinking about how this union can glorify God!  We need to think about how Marriage can strengthen our walks!  My guess is more of us don't know how to than do know.  Even if we can admit it to ourselves can we even admit it to our spouse?  Are we so proud we can't ask of things so personal?

What do ancient Jews and mondern day Christians have in common?

No this isn't the set up to a bad joke.  Recently I recognized an important similarity between these two groups separated by a couple thousand years and theological differences.  Christians should take this to heart.

Today some are quick to point to Jews as being focused on legalism and not paying enough attention to the heart.  While it is true that the Jewish religion focuses on the law, we often miss the bigger picture and fail to see the whole story.  If we looked deeper we might be surprised to see a reflection not unlike ourselves.  Beyond the misappropriated focus of law was something much more poisonous to the heart.  What should be troubling to Christians is that Jews were very concerned with their hearts (as Christians often are).  Historical writings provide examples of prayers that start by asking God for a heart to obey the law, and for God to change their heart.  This is true of prayers in the OT and also can be seen in non-scriptural writings like the apocrypha and other texts.  (Historical evidence of common practice - Again Not Scripture) So what went so wrong?

The real poison is found in their desire to culturally assimilate (blend in).  Various texts show different levels of their intent (keep in mind the early disciples were Jewish but many spoke Greek = studied in Greek Schools), but some Jews took it to the extreme.  The most extreme would undergo a surgical procedure to make themselves uncircumcised.  Literally putting back the foreskin (possibly a set of procedures of cutting and stretching or a kind of primitive grafting procedure).  OUCH!  That is a pretty intense desire to fit in.

Why? Because unfortunately (for him) if a Jew really wanted to fit in he had to take part in Greek culture.  For Greeks the gymnasium was a part of everyday life and education.  It was the common practice and expected of all men in Greek societies to exercise nude.  Therefore, fitting in for the circumcised was impossible without such a procedure. 

Although, clearly God wanted his own to be set apart, who (on earth) could blame them for wanting to fit in.  Consider years and years of being without a king and kingdom-less, spending centuries under Persians then Greek rule, and being persecuted for traditions and laws.  I can certainly understand how they might lose their hope.

Today we see a similar kind of willingness to culturally assimilate.  Over 70% of Americans identify with Christianity.  But when you go to work, school, the mall, turn on the TV, or go just about anywhere else are you finding that 70% of the people, the products, or programming reflecting a 70% Christian attitude?  Do they even reflect 10% Christian attitude?  Are there "Christian" Book stores that that reflect less than 70%?  With #s like 70% if we refused to blend in both media and market would naturally follow.  We don't see Christian attitudes in reflected in today's society because we aren't seeking them!

The sad thing is that unlike ancient Jews modern Christians are completely without excuse!  We do not even know real persecution in America.  Furthermore, God has warned us of the coming persecutions, commanded us to be bold, and sent us the Holy Spirt to help.  But ask yourself, are we different?, are we bold? 

Who is commanding your destiny?  God or Fear?

Are we imitators?

This morning as I read 1st Thessalonians this is the question that popped into my head, "Are we imitators?"  But as I thought about it further, I recognized how absurd this question really is.  It is not possible to be original, unique, or something wholly different from everything else that surrounds us.  Truth be told there is only one authentically wholly entirely different from everything else we know, including ourselves.  The better question we should be asking ourselves daily is who are we imitating?

Paul makes it clear that if we want to grow we should be imitating the Lord and those who we know to be true disciples.

So who are you imitating?