Fear of reprisal from the “old guard”
Tradition. Not just Catholic tradition, but “this is the way we have always understood things”
The fear that if you discern the will of God, you will be obligated to obey.
The desire of promises in this life that are not ours to claim until the next.

We fail by believing that because something has been labeled “Christian” it means that it is actually Biblically sound. There are “Christian” movies and “Christian” TV stations and “Christian” music, but is all of it actually Christian? No, not really.

Many don’t spend the time to look critically at what they are watching, reading, or listening to. Also, many don’t have the Biblical knowledge to know how to discern the good from the bad.

I know my biggest fear, was hearing God purely because the times that I did, I couldn’t line up with what those around me were saying. I was always the odd man out.

I think too many Christians are just plain too lazy to think for themselves. I know countless person after person who would rather just believe what is told to them over the pulpit than figure it out for themselves.

Most are just too lazy to discern. Even if they are hearing something, that fear of not fitting in, or being the odd one out… over rides so much.

It did for me for years.

No longer praise God. The watchmen are not popular, but you ARE accountable to God when you truly hear.

The most obvious one to me is legalism. I think we tend to be afraid of pure grace and almost always throw in a little law ‘just to be safe’. I think this is the most crippling problem in our culture, and prevents us from living in freedom and true power.

I should add, I was referring to church culture.

One of the worst is shoot-the-messenger syndrome. I don’t know how many times I’ve seen someone (sometimes me) accused of causing division for pointing out that an elephant is trampling around in the middle of the living room and breaking all the furniture. In other words, we allow some gross error or sin to have free run in the church, and then when someone actually points it out, we accuse that person of causing the problems.

This sort of head-in-the-sand approach to conflict is fueled by the false notion that Christians must always be unconfrontational and nice. We expect each other to smile, speak softly, and sleep sweetly on a bed that was already on fire when we lay down on it.

There are two ways that have come to mind.

One: people are so desperate to see something good happening (more visitors coming to church, insert whatever) that they’ll hold back from pointing out any flaws or possible failures in what is going on. That, or they are guilty because they don’t make much effort, and so are hesistant to step all over someone’s big (even if flawed) new plan to accomplish XYZ.

Two: Laziness. Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. However, people are too lazy to get involved. The one/two or three people involved in XYZ develop a narrow vision, and no one will take the time to help broaden it.

Sounds like an interesting post. After missing my regular infusions of this blog, my hands are a little shaky. (We had a nasty storm here too, so I understand)

I was impressed with Doug’s observation “The fear that if you discern the will of God, you will be obligated to obey.” I think this underlies much of the problems in the church today. Concurrent with that is the knowledge that all of us have problems, and if we point out error, then we will have to fix our own house of cards.

Discernment takes effort. As someone told me the other day, “The guy who was teaching did all the research. All I had to do was sit in rapt attention.” When I pointed out that what he had taught was in error, the shutters went up because it took effort to find the error. It is easier in our TV dinner culture to be fed than it is to seek out truth.

Emotional triggers are easier to push that intellectual ones. Much of what passes for worship, teaching, and fellowship is actually just a series Hallmark moments. We seek to feel good. So the best ministers are the ones who can hold us in “rapt attention,” the best worship causes goosebumps, and the best prayer causes tears. But these are pablum, and we do not build spritual muscle on them. We become milk-fed veal, penned and weak, not open range buffalo.

I agree with the comment about legalism. It seems to me that many American Christians are quite good at discerning error, it’s one of our favorite things to do: parse out every statement made and exegete corresponding scripture.
So…in answer to your question, maybe one of the issues with discerning error is simply the traditional log in our own eye. We forget where we’ve been and how we had to grow and learn to get where we are - through God’s grace.

• Focusing too much on results and good intentions.
• Falling for a flawed definition of “success”.
• Favoring charisma and confidence (power) over humility and gentleness (weakness).
• Confusing discernment with judgementalism or condemnation.
• Exposure to “error discernment” done in a very unloving way.
• Never realizing it’s our biblically mandated responsibility in the first place. (maybe it’s someone else’s job - isn’t there some ruling authority that labels stuff “Christian”?)
• The belief that everything in Christian life is supposed to be positive.
• Lack of courage (not so much to discern error, but to expose it).

I guess these are more reasons than ways. Anyway, I’m looking forward to Monday’s post.

I agree with the comment on laziness and the next one that says discernment takes effort. I see so many people falling for any easy fix philosophy simply because the Living Word is not implanted in their hearts. I believe that Bible study is so essential. Not so that we’ll have all the answers or be able to beat someone over the head with our knowledge, but so that it will permeat the marrow of our bones.

You know the story of the counterfeit experts…they are taught how to identify counterfeit bills not by looking at all the ways money can be faked but by a constant handling of true bills. That way when a false one comes along they can instantly recognize it.

We need more people whose constant attention to the Word (for the purpose of transformation and desiring God) makes recognizing falsehood much easier.

I believe that there are many reasons that people fail to truly discern God’s will today. But there are two specific ones that I would like to mention, (1) the fear of being perceived legalistic, and (2) the desire to be entertained. I would like to address in some detail the first one, and maybe in a later comment the second.

The term legalism is often being used as a pejorative. And, it is obvious when asked how someone is being a legalist or being legalistic, many can give no real answer because they do not know or understand what it really is that they are saying. To make my point even clearer: it should be noted that not all who use the term legalism understand what it is (in fact most I believe do not … operating without knowledge, they simply use the word to attack others with different beliefs). Neither is everyone who is charged with being a legalist guilty. It is true, however, that legalism is real and alive. It was a problem in the first century and is still a problem today.

So, what is Legalism?

Legalism is a term frequently used to describe Bible-believing Christians who are zealous for pure doctrine and who desire to maintain holy standards of living in this wicked world. It is often used by such “free thinking” people as the one that expressed to me recently: “We don’t believe in a fundamentalist approach. We don’t set ground rules. Our teaching is non-directive. We want to encourage people to make their own choices.” Those who have this type of unscriptural mindset label the “old-fashioned” Bible centered Christian as being a “legalist” or a “Pharisee.”

Please make this mental note: the Pharisee’s error was not his love for the truth and his zeal for Bible righteousness. The Pharisee did not love the truth; he loved tradition (Matthew 15:1-9). If the Pharisee had loved the truth, he would have loved Jesus Christ (John 8:47)! The Pharisee did not love Bible defined righteousness; he loved his own self-righteousness (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee did not have a zeal for God; he had a zeal for his own false religion (Matthew 23:15) … in other words he wanted to do things his way not God’s. The Pharisee, Jesus said, must be obeyed and listened to when they teach from Moses for the real authority for behavior was the Word … the real problem was in their personal behavior … they refused to acknowledge their own need to be dependent upon God and their drive was to be seen by men (Matthew 23:1-10).

Jesus also said that “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Jesus sought to call his followers to a more inward form of obedience, in which righteous acts stemmed from an inward love of God, rather than a desire to please others, to seem holy in the eyes of others, and thus elevated to a position over others by virtue of these self-imposed standards.

Legalism is often used as a word or phrase that implies contempt or disapproval, as well as implying an allegation of pride and the neglect of mercy, and ignorance of the grace of God. Legalism, in Christian theology, specifically refers to an improper fixation on law or codes of conduct, or legal ideas. Simply put, legalism is the belief, stated or implied, that law, not faith, is the pre-eminent principle of redemption.

Many times when someone demands a “thus says the Lord”, they are charged with being legalists. So, let’s first clarify what legalism is not:

Legalism is not making a plea for Bible authority. All that we do in word or in deed is to be in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17). This does not mean that it is done giving lip service to Jesus, or done to advertise Jesus, or done somehow to nebulously glorify Jesus (to glorify Jesus truly seems to be connected to the revealed Word of Jesus — John 16:14, and to obeying the commandments of Jesus — John 14:13-15). In short, to do something in the name of another is to do so by his authority (cf. Acts 4:7). Thus, Paul’s instructions of Colossians 3:17 demand that we make such a plea for Bible authority.

Legalism is not an effort to be obedient. Striving to obey the Lord and demand that others do so as well, is not legalism because God demands that we obey Him.

Was it legalism when God placed the demand on Adam and Eve not to eat of the tree in the midst of the Garden (Genesis 2:16-17)? Was it legalism at work when God killed Nadab and Abihu for offering “unauthorized fire” (Leviticus 10:1-3; Numbers 3:4)? Was it legalism when Naaman was commanded to wash 7 times in the Jordan in order to be cleansed of his leprosy (2 Kings 5:1-15)?

Eternal salvation is offered to those that obey (Hebrews 5:8-9; Matthew 7:21). Only those that obey are purified (1 Peter 1:22). Everlasting destruction is promised to those that obey not the gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9).

What then is legalism? It is making laws or regulations where God has made none … believing that in keeping those laws one knows better than God and thus God owes him a place in heaven because of his keeping those added laws and regulations. It is then insisting that others follow the added laws and regulations as a requirement of their own salvation as well.

To get back to the original point … it is the fear of being labeled a legalist that I have observed has caused many to back down from clear Biblical teaching and turn away from using discernment.

Thanks for letting me get on my soap box.

I second Kaye’s oservation on people who can recognize counterfeit currency. We should not be looking for error, but engaged in good; the error is then obvious, because it is not good. The word that comes to mind is “virtue” — “moral excellence,” per my desktop dictionary.

Virtue is not a wimpy word, but is manly, strong, able to stand on its own two feet. The motto of Scottish Clan Robertson is, “Virtutis gloria merces” — “Glory is the reward of valor.” (I’ll take on anyone who says the Scots were not valorous! And valor is virtue in action.)

Virtue = power

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

Mark 5:30 (KJV), Luke 8:46 (KJV); see also Luke 6:19 (KJV)

Virtue = excellence

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 (KJV)

Virtue = goodness

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

2 Peter 1:2-9

All good comments!

To me, American Christians fail to discern error in our midst for a number of reasons:
political correctness (we don’t like to point out the error we recognize)
unfamiliarity with scripture (we don’t always know what error is)
cultural ignorance (we don’t recognize that what’s okay among us may be repugnant among others)
self-righteousness (we think we’re above error because what we believe has been taught for so long)
… and a bunch more.

We tend to preach a lot about the sins of others, but rarely our own. (When was the last time you heard a sermon about selling your possessions and giving to the poor? being meek? turning the other cheek? counting others better than one’s self?)

Being transparent, humble, and penitent is not our strong suit as Americans.

Hmmm, quick thoughts off the top…

1. Worship of mammon. Trusting more in our bank accounts and budgets than we do on the direction of God.
2. Building churches in the image of business rather than the church of God’s word.
3. Building leadership in the image of the world rather than Jesus

I think the error we fail to discern is the mindset that as Christians, our concerns should be what sort of worship music to play, what the pews in the church should be like, whether or not to buy a latte machine for the fellowship room, and things of that nature. Our concern should be the poor among us. If we are not concerned with the poor, as Jesus was, then we are in serious error.

I would suggest the Corinthian characteristic of looking to the world for the definition of success rather than God’s definition. More attendance must equal God’s bleesing, right?

The Church doesn’t discern well because it doesn’t understand the definition.

Is this gonna end someday??

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