BiblicalInsights.net

Spiritual insight is indispensable to spiritual discernment.  Spiritual discernment is the ability to utilize God’s Word in order to make judgments about all of life.  Jesus said, “Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24).  A righteous judgment is not merely an opinion drawn from experience.  A righteous judgment is a spiritually informed judgment (decision).  A righteous judgment is formed by considering the revelation that God has made to man through the holy Scriptures.  A righteous judgment is formed only when it is guided by spiritual insight.  Paul mentions the righteous judgment of God in Rom. 2:5, “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”  Paul states, “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead” (Acts 17:31).  Righteousness is defined by God.  Ultimately, it is God’s nature and God’s Word that determine what is righteous.  This is the standard upon which judgments (decisions) must be made regarding personal conduct.  Spiritual discernment is mentioned in Heb. 5:12-14.  “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.  But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”  Spiritual discernment is dependent upon God’s Word (God’s wisdom) and a Christian’s spiritual maturity which comes by knowledge of God’s Word and implementation of that Word in the heart and life of a Christian.  Outside of Christ, the understanding is darkened.  “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Eph. 4:17-18).  Ignorance of God’s Word produces darkness and blindness.  Ignorance of God and His Word is not beneficial for spiritual discernment.  This should tell us much about the lack of spiritual discernment on the part of those who are in sin, engulfed in worldliness and religious error.
Spiritual Hindsight
Hindsight is the ability to understand and realize something about an event or events after it or they have happened.  We commonly say, “hindsight is twenty-twenty.”  When we look at an event after it has happened, we have a historical view and are in possession of the facts of history which help educate us about what has happened.  Yet, even with this historical view, many people do not make better choices that would preserve their souls and prepare them for eternity.  A knowledge of sacred history, sacred revelation, and sacred heritage should inform spiritual insight and help us make righteous judgments.  In Acts 7, Stephen makes his defense before the Sanhedrin. He rehearses the history of Israel beginning with Abraham.  He mentions Isaac, Jacob and his sons regarding the promises of God to them.  He tells about Moses and how the fathers of the Jews to whom he spoke rejected Moses.  Moses prophecied about Christ (Deut. 18:18, Acts 7:37).  He mentions Joshua and the conquest of Canaan.  He refers to the promise God made to David (II Sam. 7:13-14)). He refers to Solomon who built the temple.  Stephen reveals that the father’s  of the Jews had persecuted the prophets.  Finally, he tells them that they had taken the Just One (v. 52) and betrayed and murdered Him.  The sacred history of the Jews led to Jesus.  The revelations (promises) led to Jesus.  The significant people in their heritage led to Jesus.  But, they rejected Jesus!  They made a judgment about Jesus, but it was not a righteous judgment.  Spiritual hindsight is indispensable to spiritual insight and spiritual discernment.  Spiritual hindsight goes all the way back to Adam.  It gives us a clear view of God’s purposes, promises, prophecies, and precepts.  Spiritual hindsight also informs us about Jesus.  The sacred history of the life of Jesus is found in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  From these books of the New Testament, we learn about Jesus’ pre-existence, Virgin birth, baptism, temptation, ministry in preaching and teaching God’s Word, power demonstrated in wonders, signs, and miracles, transfiguration, parables, prophecies, trials, death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven, and his present reign in heaven over His kingdom.  We also have the history of the church given in Acts and contained in the epistles of Paul, general epistles and even the book of Revelation.  The sacred revelation of God informs us about how God makes men righteous through Christ as well as the way God desires that we live our lives in reflection of His holiness.  The sacred heritage from the New Testament includes the apostles, prophets, evangelists, and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ too numerous to list.  Altogether, the Old Testament and the New Testament provide us with a body of knowledge, revealed by God, that informs spiritual insight which is indispensable to spiritual discernment.  Spiritual hindsight informs about God, Christ, our need to know our own sinfulness, the need to change (repent), the need to be saved, the need to be in Christ through an obedient faith, and the need to be faithful servants of Jesus Christ.
Spiritual Foresight
Spiritual hindsight informs spiritual insight.  Spiritual foresight also informs spiritual insight.  Spiritual insight is indispensable to spiritual discernment.  Foresight is the ability to imagine or anticipate what might happen in the future.  It involves care in providing for the future.  It is discernment, perception, and good judgment in practical matters.  Spiritual foresight is based upon the wisdom of God and knowledge of the truth regarding future events.  the Bible contains promises of significant future events.  Consider the following:  the Second Coming of Jesus (John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11; I Thess. 4:13-18); the resurrection of the dead (John 5:28-29); the end of the world (Ii Pet. 3:10-11); the judgment of all men by God through Christ (Rom. 2:4-11; II Cor. 5:10); and eternity or the world to come (Matt. 12:32; II Pet. 3:13).  Based upon the promise of the Second Coming of Jesus, we should lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven (Matt. 6:19-20; I Tim. 6:17-18).  Christians should live in hope (Phil. 3:13-15), anticipate their glorification with Christ (Rom. 8:16-18); and long for heaven (I Pet. 1:4-5).  Because Jesus is coming again, we must perfect faith (I Pet. 1:7); be resilient in the face of persecution and suffering (I Pet. 1:7); walk in love (I Pet. 1:8); and look forward to the reward of faith (I Pet. 1:8-9).  Paul states that if there is no resurrection of the dead, we should eat and drink for tomorrow we die.  However, there is a resurrection of the dead and so “Awake to righteousness and sin not” (I Cor. 15:34.  In view of the end of the world, Peter states, “what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?” (II Pet. 3:9-13).  The Holy Spirit declares, “Follow peace and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord (Heb. 12:14).  Moral integrity is essential to pleasing God and being with God eternally.  Spiritual foresight informs us that we should be involved in good works (Matt. 6:19-20; 5:16; Gal. 6:10).  God will judge the world by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31).  Judgment is the execution of justice by God on the basis of the truth revealed by Jesus (John 12:48).  Our words and our deeds will be judged by God (Rom. 2:6; Matt. 13:37; Eccl. 12:14).  We should turn from evil and serve the living God (Acts 17:30).  Spiritual foresight leads to repentance and acceptance of God’s terms of pardon.
Spiritual Discernment
Spiritual hindsight and spiritual foresight inform spiritual insight.  Spiritual insight (enlightenment by truth) is indispensable to spiritual discernment.  When Jesus said, “judge righteous judgment”, He instructed His hearers to make decisions based upon the sum total of the sacred history, sacred revelations, and sacred heritage that is revealed in His Word.  Spiritual discernment is much more than a human opinion.  It is a righteous judgment based upon the sum total of the revelation God has made of Himself and His Will for us.

Social engineering is the engineering of consent.  It is a means of bringing about changes in values and beliefs of large numbers of people over a relatively short period of time.  Dr. Samuel A. Stouffer director of the Laboratory of Social Relations, Harvard University, said, “it was a good working rule that people’s attitudes are more easily reached through their emotions than through their intellects” (Hidden Persuaders, Vance Packard, p. 221).
One way social engineering is accomplished is through media saturation.  Media critic, Todd Gitlin, argues that media images and soundscapes have become so accessible in restaurants, in homes, at school, and on the street that they combine to become a constant, forceful flow–a “torrent.”  The presence of media in society has grown into “an accompaniment to life that has become a central experience of life” (Todd Gitliln, Media Unlimited, Popologetics, p. 159).  Further, we have become supersaturated with media, we have become addicted to the emotional and sensual “hit” that media offers.  We have become an easily distractible people–a people who are easily bored, easily mollified.  We yearn for what media offers: disposable feelings.  We don’t pay attention to the content of the media because it has become the wallpaper of our lives (Popologetics, p.159).
Here is a warning for Christians.  We must not allow the various forms of media that we experience to determine our beliefs and values.  We must engage all media forms (movies, television, radio, music, newspapers, magazines, books, advertising, etc.) with critical discernment and intentional choices guided by the truth of God’s Word.
One area of concern is entertainment or recreation.  Many of the forms of media just mentioned are experienced when our guard is down.  We are most vulnerable when we are pursuing a good time.  Sinful amusements and entertainment can be vehicles of social engineering.  When the lusts of the flesh are engaged and emotions are activated, one’s thinking can be altered.  “Sinful amusement exploits, addicts, degrades, and dehumanizes, and so twists and distorts the original playful element of God-given shalom” (Popologetics, Ted Turnau, p. 148).
Social engineering has been used to change public opinion regarding homosexuality.  Regarding homosexuality, the emotional argument has been forceful.  Humor, sarcasm, and pathos have been used to change hearts first and then change minds.  Humor has been used in sitcoms on television.  Sarcasm is used to expose supposed homophobia or bigotry.  Pathos has been used in movies to generate sympathy for homosexuals when persecuted by others.  The change that has taken place is one of the most dramatic in human history.  Homosexuality which was once condemned by many is now glorified by many.  We have witnessed the power of the media over the past fifty years to affect social change.
The problem is that homosexuality is a sin in the sight of God (Romans 1:18-32; I Cor. 6:9-10).  This eternal truth cannot be changed by social engineering.  It cannot be changed by political will.  It cannot be changed by the American legislative system.  God’s authority supersedes man’s authority and we ought to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29).

Protagoras (ca. 490 BC-420 BC) was a pre-Socratic Greek philosopher and is numbered as one of the sophists by Plato.  His most famous quote is, “Man is the measure of all things: of things which are, that they are, and of things which are not, that they are not.”  In philosophical terms, this is called epistemological relativism.  Epistemology is the study of the nature and scope of knowledge and relativism is the belief that reality is determined by subjective thoughts and feelings.  Epistemological relativism is an aspect of postmodernism.  Postmodernism is in conflict with the Christian worldview in America.  Protagoras’ quote, “man is the measure of all things” takes the focus off of God and puts it on man.  This leads to a real difference in how one sees the world.  One area in which this is true is spiritual discernment.  What is spiritual discernment and why is it important?
What is Spiritual Discernment?
Discernment means “to separate one thing from another, to distinguish, to divide.”  It is a function of the mind of man.  There are two derivative meanings:  (1)  to evaluate according to a standard; and (2) to condemn or acquit (disapprove or approve).
Spiritual discernment involves the ability to distinguish between what God approves and disapproves based upon the righteous standard of His holy Word.  Objective truth exists and it is found in God’s Word (John 17:17).  Christians are set apart from the world by conformity to God’s Word.  By faith, we accept and follow what God desires and shun what He condemns.  We must be able to distinguish between truth and error, good from evil and right from wrong.  Spiritual discernment is applied in the areas of: words, actions, and character.  The purpose of spiritual discernment is to stop the advancement of worldliness in the church, prevent the infiltration of erroneous doctrines and keep the church pure.
Why Do Many Lack Spiritual Discernment?
First, God’s Word is no longer recognized as the standard by which to judge words, actions and character.  The rejection of God’s Word leads to establishing approval for all types of behavior that God defines as sinful.  The rejection of God’s Word has paved the way for many of the social changes that are taking place in America today.  Many individuals and groups of individuals work to marginalize and eliminate any influence of God’s Word on the hearts of men.  This leads to tremendous advancement in evil.  American culture is changing, but the change is not in God’s direction.  Evil is advancing in the form of abortions, gambling, homosexuality,drug use including alcohol, sexual immorality which includes fornication and adultery.  When God’s Word is correctly understood, these sins are eliminated as disapproved by God.  True wisdom and knowledge come from God (I Cor. 2:13-15).  Both knowledge and wisdom are essential to spiritual discernment.
Second, many lack spiritual discernment because they have rejected sound reason and logic.  Today’s prevailing philosophy is:  “if it feels right, then, do it.”  Feelings, especially pleasurable feelings, are often tied to the lusts of the flesh.  We seek emotional highs instead of conformity to God’s Will.  The result:  it is no longer a matter of what God wants, but what I like.  God has created us in His image.  Consequently, man is a rational being with the ability to think, discern, understand and decide.  We can understand God’s Will (Eph. 5:16).  We can know the truth (John 8:32).  Equipped with both knowledge of the truth and understanding of God’s Will we can spiritually discern those things that God approves and disapproves.
Third, many lack spiritual discernment because they have accepted the “no judging” rule of our culture.  In postmodernism, all judgment is suspended because there is no objective truth.  Every person determines what is right for them based upon their own subjective feelings and perceptions.  Every person creates their own reality.  This means that one person cannot stand in judgment upon another because there is no basis upon which to make value judgments.  Some even use Matthew 7:1 to forbid all judging.  However, Jesus was not forbidding all types of judging.  He was forbidding self-righteous judgments based upon self-righteous standards.  In John 7:24, Jesus said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”  In Luke 12:57, Jesus said, “Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?”  So, the Lord commands certain types of judgment.  Indeed, spiritual discernment is essential to making the correct decisions regarding our words, actions, and character that will please God and make us acceptable to Him.
Jesus will judge us in the last day!  (John 12:48, II Cor. 5:10).  What criteria or standard will He use?  The answer is in John 12:48, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him:  the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”