We can always do the ‘discernment’ bit and sometimes all too easily, but what about the ‘love’ part? In the world we are encouraged to ‘give the benefit of the doubt’ and I agree with that sentiment. Our laws even bear this out because we are ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Why then do we as Christians have a problem when we deal with others in the church?
The more we read the Bible as the Word of God, the more we realise how little we know or understand. The truth is, at the start of our faith journey, sometimes we have it all together, and know all the answers. Oh we don’t say that, but we act like it. I suppose it is easier to stand on top of the moral high ground and point down, than it is to get down with the same folks we criticise and be the Godly example they might need and want to see.
Discernment is a God given gift of the Spirit, not given to all, and should not be used lightly or abused. Worse still it should not be practiced by someone who has not been granted that gift directly from God. On the other side of the coin we have love, and let’s face it, we are all encouraged and able to show love. Love to other Christians and those we like to be around, but also to those we don’t like, and wouldn’t have as a friend normally. So, which is better? To show a misplaced knowledge of discernment, or to show love to all of God’s creation? The moral of this is that it isn’t always right or good to take the easy option.
….for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:13,14
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