A Desperate Lack of Discernment!

14 “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.” 1st Corinthians 2:14-15 (ESV)

Two events this week have reminded me again of the desperate lack of discernment among many of God’s people. The first was Joel Osteen’s unwillingness (or inability) to clearly articulate neither the Bible’s teaching about homosexuality nor the gospel, which is God’s solution to the problem of homosexuality! The second event was an unhappy reminder of the growing popularity of the, “health, wealth, and prosperity” non-gospel gospel.

In 1st Corinthians 2, Paul comments on the easily understandable lack of discernment on the part of unregenerate people. Of course, unsaved people cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God. What troubled him, and also troubles me, is the lack of discernment by those who are regenerate people!

“The spiritual person judges all things.” The word translated “discerned” in verse 14 and “judges” in verse 15 are from the same root word in the Greek, (anakrino) which means, “to examine, investigate, or question.” Therefore it is perfectly correct to say of verse 15 that it reminds us that the child of God is to, “examine, investigate, or question” all things!

We know that the world is being overwhelmed by false teachings. Some of them are minor disagreements over when the Lord will return, or which Bible version is best; but, some of them are over serious doctrinal matters! It is the sacred duty of God’s people to make “judgments” between differing understandings of what the Bible teaches.

These two issues: homosexuality and the health, wealth, and prosperity non-gospel gospel are issues that confront us today and will do so even more in the days and years ahead. Sadly, many truly regenerate people lack the knowledge and wisdom to deal with these matters in their lives.

The answer is simple! Paul writes in 2nd Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”
Again, Jude writes in Jude verse 3, “Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”

We are commanded in these verses to both discover and defend what the Bible teaches on these matters! Let’s get at it! Take every opportunity to listen to sound Bible teaching; and dig, dig, dig to get solid answers to every odd teaching you hear.

Beloved ones, it is always right to question unfamiliar teachings. Let us determine to discern and rightly divide God’s Word! Amen.