Discernment, Gift or Curse?

One of God’s greatest ambassadors left this earth destined for his heavenly home on Wednesday 21st February, aged 99 years. His legacy is unparalleled in the past century, and through his faith and ministry many millions around the world found Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Fittingly, there have been many tributes paid on TV, radio, and online.


But not everyone is convinced of his sincerity and this troubles me. Not because it comes from the unchristian unbeliever, but the very opposite. There are some who set themselves up as having a better understanding and the gift of discernment to the point that humility is lost, and pride has been replaced by elitism. Oh, they say they are speaking in love, but the least of us know that if those words have to be used at all, it’s because there is little if any love involved.


I use a couple of blogging sites to record my rambling thoughts, and I know there are many diverse points of view expressed out there. There can be great encouragement, but I had to read the views of a blogger who suggested that the great evangelist was seriously misguided. But what great sin has Billy Graham committed? Apparently he had the temerity to suggest a prayer outline for the seeking sinner to pray. That’s not on because the so called “sinner’s prayer” if not said just right, with the correct attitude and content, may have ended up with that sinner being bound for hell not heaven. In other words this evangelist is not so great after all because he couldn’t see the harm he was causing, but what I read was, you should ​trust me, I have read the Bible, and ​I can keep you right! All spoken or written from the safety and comfort of the computer keyboard and nowhere near the front line of the preaching ministry or outreach. How shallow, but then our God given free will and freedom of speech is ours to use, whether wisely or otherwise.

Ignorance Is No Excuse

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. Hosea 4:6

Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Isaiah 1:18

There seems to be a ‘go with the flow’ mentality in our society where we accept what others think and say because we don’t want to stick out as different. Peer pressure is a powerful force in young people, but what reasons or excuses do older folks have for not thinking some important things through?

The biggest question we face, whether young or old is whether there is a God or not. We live in a nation which at least claims to be Christian, but we skim over the meaning, don’t we? Once we answer the first big question to our own satisfaction, and after careful reason and thought, we are best placed to decide what effect it will have on our lives.

God makes it plain that we need to gather knowledge about Him, and use reason to fully understand our place in His creation. We cannot do that by forming a committee, or joining a help group. We must do it by ourselves. Great care must be taken because He says we will be rejected if we don’t give it due diligence. Don’t decide there is no God based on the shallow thoughts of a few friends who seem sincere. Trust me, they may be sincere, but they are sincerely wrong. Of course there is a lifestyle price to pay, and most of us don’t like that prospect. What, change my ways? Really? I know it doesn’t feel like it, but in spite of what your pals say, the changes we make when we find God (actually He has already searched us out) will be for the good every time. Give it some thought. It can’t hurt, right?

The Gospel of Information

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes. Romans 1:16

Have you been keeping an eye on the major UK church headlines recently? From the sexuality of the CofE bishops, the ‘flexibility’ of the CofS ministers to homosexuality, down to the effect on the ordinary parishioner, we are seeing a seismic shift in what is expected and presented by those who are our nation’s hierarchy of theology, and it stinks (in my humble opinion)!

However, there are other changes happening right under our noses, and it’s not all good news. Churches and Ministers of the Gospel (there’s a clue) are charged with preaching the Word of God. Why? Because the verse says it all. The Gospel of Christ is the power of God to Salvation, and that beats all knowledge and information (no matter how significant) hands down every time. The Gospel, in some churches, has been relegated to second place behind a well informed and educated sermon. Is it possible, even just a tiny bit, that we are becoming a little ashamed of this life changing Gospel?

To be honest, I am more concerned with the sure but certain lack of clear Gospel preaching and teaching, than I am about any Bishop’s sexual leanings. After all, if the Gospel was preached clearly and with conviction, there would be far fewer half baked christians (small ‘c’) in all of our churches. My thoughts are; preach the Word without shame, whether your parishioners like it or not. Don’t apologise for speaking truth, because Jesus Christ IS TRUTH! Preaching the Gospel of Salvation requires a response. Does your preacher, minister, or pastor ask for a personal response to the presentation of the Gospel?

Jesus said .. “I am the .. truth, no one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6