I know that I said I was going to do “blogging light” around here during the holidays, but sometimes things just beg to be written. Today I feel compelled to write about discernment.
I believe Holy Spirit-enabled discernment is critical to biblical living. Unfortunately, because our culture constantly preaches tolerance, many Christians have come to believe that demonstrating discernment and judging whether things are bibically true or not is somehow wrong. I am all for a simple relationship with Jesus because in a sense our salvation is simple. But there is nothing simple about living the Christian life in this day and age and in this culture. However much we may want that to be the case, it simply is not possible. Discernment and making judgements are critical to walking in biblical truth in this day and age.
Now I will admit that I am more “tuned in” to this kind of stuff than the average Christian. I know that discernment is one of my spiritual gifts. For years I never understood why things were so obvious to me and almost no one else could “see” it until much further down the line. I’ve walked into more situations than I can count and I immediately knew that there was something significantly amiss. Sometimes I knew right away what it was. Sometimes it took a little longer. But I could tell. It wasn’t until a while later that a friend who also has the gift of discernment helped me to understand that I, too, have that spiritual gift.
So while some Christians have to train themselves to be discerning, I am apparently already naturally wired by God that way. And discernment is a challenging gift to have and use appropriately. For someone who is naturally discerning, it is hard to “turn it off”. I don’t have to look for this stuff most of the time. It just jumps right out at me. It is like an editor who is reading the paper or a novel. She doesn’t have to look for the mistakes. She can’t NOT see them. They just glare off the page. So it is with people with the gift of discernment. The stuff just stares us right in the face, without our even looking for it. And because people with the gift of discernment so easily see this stuff, I think we are sometimes seen as overly critical or overly picky about things. That generally isn’t the case. We discern things without even trying. It is just there, screaming at us. The hard part is knowing what to do about it when you see it.
And so it was on Christmas Sunday.
Last year we attended a Christmas Eve service at a church. I was pleasantly surprised by it. I felt that it was pretty solid all the way around. Imagine my surprise this year when we went back to the same church for the Christmas Sunday service and it was oh so emergent in what happened. (This church is not in a denomination known for its movement toward all things emergent.)
I knew very shortly after the service started that this was not the same church we visited last year. And by the half way point of the service it took everything I had to not walk out of the service. After training my mind over the past year, certain things just glared at me. Reading the “Scriptures” from The Message. The “casual, conversational talk” rather than a biblical message. The overemphasis on love, acceptance, and “light” as opposed to explanation of why Christ the Savior is born. Sin was never mentioned. Repentance was never mentioned. But there was plenty of talk about the low class shepherds and going to Bethlehem. To what significant spiritual end, we were never actually told. There was just a lot of talk about “light”.
As I said after we left the service, if someone came into that service lost they never received enough biblical instruction to understand what it means to need a Savior. It grieved me deeply. After we left the service and started talking about it, David mentioned that he had noticed I was taking “notes” during the service. He had correctly guessed that they weren’t sermon notes. (There wasn’t any meat there for notes.) He had guessed they were thoughts to blog about and he was right. I was so disturbed by some of what was going on that I had to write it down. I could hardly focus on the service because I was so distressed by what was going on around me.
Along these same lines…
I am always amazed at the stuff that gets passed around the internet among Christians. Some of it is great and the great stuff usually finds it way onto my blog. Some of it, I believe, is blatantly unbiblical. It gets deleted after David and I have a lively conversation over it. Some of it bothers me right away, but it is so subtle in its unbiblicalness that I have to ponder it and pick it apart before I figure out what it is about it that bothers me. And some of it comes as an “angel of light”, but brings false and unbiblical messages. However, it looks so nice and uses such “biblical” words that many Christians pass it on without really understanding what it is they are passing on to others in their address book.
I just received one of these that I would call “an angel of light” type emails.
So in the interest of a good discussion (that I hope will remain non-controversial), I invite you to take this link and then leave a comment about whether or not you think I am right about this being an “angel of light”. What tips you off? What makes the red lights start flashing when you view this? Is this a biblical message? I hope this will be a good exercise in discernment for all of us.
It’s in the first line. And it’s not even that subtle. More like blatantly against what the Bible teaches.
A new consciousness? What happened to the old conscious? It was prophesied that Jesus would come to redeem us from our sins ever since the beginning in the book of Genesis. Maybe there’s more in that link, but I couldn’t listen to the rest after the first line.
Sallie, I can’t speak for where you might be going in your thoughts, but two Biblical teachings by Jesus Christ came to mind: John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Our peace is in Jesus Christ when we are born of his Spirit, it in not in the “night quietnes in this world”.
Also in Matthew 10:19-24 “When they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up agaist their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. ..The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.”
Christ did not have a peaceful life or death. Historically Christianity has not been peaceful in this world, and it’s future doesn’t look too peaceful either. Pam
The second verse conveniently got left out…no shepherds quaking here, alone heavenly hosts singing Alleluia, or most importantly, Christ as Savior.
Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heav’nly hosts sing Alleluia;
Christ the Savior is born;
Christ the Savior is born.
That should be let alone heavenly hosts singing Alleluia.
Sorry.
Not an “angel of light”. Just a humanistic (read: a sinful, imperfect) and neglectful interpretation of a beautiful Christmas hymn. The author, obviously new age-y spiritually and not into Christianity really at all, is exposed on her website linked at the end of the presentation.
The presentation is seductive as it projects that feel-good-and-fuzzy emotion without ever confronting individuals that this “child” (Jesus, whose name is never mentioned) came to save us from our miserable sins that we imperfect, sinful humans perpetrated and continue to do so still. God’s Peace is different than our human interpretation of peace that this artist tries to push. . . I prefer God’s Peace over whatever is “within me” devoid of the Holy Spirit.
Redlights: no mention what Christ’s birth ultimately meant for us, the words “consciousness”/”within” (etc.), and how the simple and straightforth message of Christ’s birth was perverted into this woman’s soapbox for her own vision from “within” her. Very seductive and tempting for those who don’t want to confront their sinfulness or have to humble themselves before our Lord.
It always disturbs me when people show Christ as only a mere philosopher guy who set a good example.
I would have to say that I don’t see it as an Angel of Light because it is really obvious that it is not about Christ, our Savior. It appears to be about the value of silence, which is great, I could use a little more in my life.
For Christians to be deceived, I would think it would have to be a lot more subtle.
I would think that a non-Christian, one who knew little of the Bible, would see this movie and ask a lot of questions about Jesus. HOW does Jesus bring peace and what kind of peace is it? WHY did He come as He did? WHY is Christmas such a big deal etc?
Some of the statements in the movie are true, some are strange. Although God does sometimes speak in a “still, small voice” I don’t remember the Bible saying anything about Him speaking in the “Silence”. Maybe I better go look and see.
Thanks for getting my mind stirring this morning.
She also left out “the Child’s” (when grown) own words “For I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” Matt 10:34
Red flags from the beginning—His birth didn’t bring a new way to think, to the contrary, His birth was the revelation of God’s mind to man, from days of old…so that HIS SPIRIT could dwell within us.
unifying silence felt throughout the world? How does she know? Did she know anyone there at the time? I laughed out loud at this part!
“This birth brings all people together on one night, a silent night, a heartfelt night, a connecting night, to God and man and all of nature”
REALLY? Seems to me there was a wicked king who had murder in his heart for the baby of peace…seems nature forgot someone!
I haven’t even gotten to the second verse yet…I can’t go on!
Sallie, you are right about discernment, it is a lost gift, and something that we are instructed to practice. “Be wise as serpents, innocent as doves” We need to take care what we allow to pass for sound doctrine 1 Thess 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
GREAT post! Thank you!
It shouldn’t be controversial, but to some, probably is.
(I couldn’t watch the whole thing).
I had the same experience with a book (part of it was a Bible story seen fictionally seen through the eyes of a women) that was recommended by a Christian friend. All the way through, I was saying, “That’s not what the Bible said.”
Sometimes I feel like I’m here to be the sand in the eye of “fluffbunny Christians”
Thank you for this post on discernment! I confess that I’ve been lax to practice discernent, especially for those of us who do not have this gift. So I was able to watch this movie and got it immediately. This whole consciousness was the tip off. Just blantant New Age, one world religion, feel good peace movement. However if we are not careful, it does leave a good fuzzy, warm, feeling that deceives you into thinking it is “spiritual”, and therefore good and biblical. Thanks for the tip off.
The name Jesus Christ was never mentioned, nor was the child refered to as savior of the world. The message of religious tolerance came across loud and clear. Lots of feel good words but no Biblical truth….a very worldly message.
One would have to be seriously lacking in discernment to misunderstand that message. It is clearly not biblical.
Reminds me of Oprah’s ideology.
Did you check out the producer’s website? “Remember…YOU are love.” Yikes!!!
Where to start? From the first line about “consciousness” and “alignment” to “Spirit within” – which spirit, I would like to know. Everyone has mentioned most of the same things that grabbed my attention, so I’ll stop there. Deceiving to those ungrounded in Scripture, I think. And I don’t think it would draw any unbelievers to Jesus. It wasn’t about Jesus. Jesus came to bring salvation, not a new consciousness.
Ladies,
Wow! Thank you for all of your great comments. With this being a holiday week and all I was afraid I might just get crickets chirping after I put this up. I am glad so many of you took the time to jump in and leave your observations.
To clarify what I meant by an “Angel of Light”… I meant that I get some of these mailings and they are so beautiful, peaceful, warm and fuzzy… And they use “biblical” words and concepts… They appear to be full of light, but they are not. I think a lot of Christians let their guard down and just read them, find a few words and/or pictures they like, and pass them on without thinking about many of the issues already raised by all of you. They see “child” in reference to Christmas, but don’t think about the fact that the Child as revealed in Scripture is not being accurately portrayed here. They hear “Silent Night” and see a picture of a church building and assume this must be “Christian”. They don’t THINK. They just react without discernment which was the point I was trying to make. Along the same vein, I wonder how many other Christians in the church service on Sunday were troubled by what was said, or more specifically, not said. Or do they just passively let things slide by and never take the extra mental and spiritual energy to critique and process what is being said from up front?
One of the BIG red flgas for me is “Spirit”. Oprah talks about “Spirit” and it is NOT the Holy Spirit, part of the Godhead, that she is talking about. And yet how many people will skim over something like this slideshow, see “Spirit”, think Holy Spirit, and not realize that that is not at ALL what the author is intending.
I find it very troublesome how many Christians can sit in church, read emails, go to websites, and this stuff never occurs to them! And we wonder why our culture is not transformed and our churches look like “Saturday Night Live”!
(Sallie climbs down off soapbox…)
Deceiving to those ungrounded in Scripture, I think.
Carrie left this comment when I was writing mine. EXACTLY. And why are people ungrounded in Scripture? Maybe because all they get read to them is The Message and hear about how God wants them to have peace and be successful. A severe lack of Biblical literacy in the basics of the Christian faith is killing the church and leading so many astray. I’m not even talking about studying theology. I’m talking basic, basic truths of salvation, Scripture and the Godhead. This is not advanced systematic theology here, folks. It makes me tremble to think of being a pastor who neglects feeding his congregation and having to answer for all those people, all those Sundays, all those years…
Excellent post, Sallie. Too many of us get sucked into the “Oprah-style” self-help, politically correct religion of today. Lots of “warm-fuzzies”, pats on the back, and spiritual sounding yada yada yada. We would not intentionally go after new age philosophies, but without a solid understanding of the Bible and critical thinking skills, so many actually believe this stuff, and do not have the resources to discern good from evil. It has filtered into every facet of our lives, and it is showing in the fruitlessness of people that say they love the Lord. Maybe we could call it the “Dumbing Down” of Christianity.
I didn’t read all the other posts, sorry if I overlapped. We had a wonderful topical study on Sunday morning on Jesus as the Branch. One of the many different names of Jesus, that I want to explore more indepth for myself. We were blessed and so was our Christmas Company.
Sallie, I appreciate this post on discernment very much. I can so relate to the experience of having spiritual problems just JUMP out at me- they seem absolutely highlighted to me and flashing in neon lights, and other people accuse me of just _looking_ for things to criticise.
I knew what you meant by ‘Angel of light.’ Satan masquerades as one. I watched the video once (it was very hard to watch it all the way through), and made notes as I watched about the things that concerned me, and then I came and read the comments. I’m glad to see others as ‘nitpicky’ as I am.=)
Here’s my list (I did go look up the exact scripture reference when I was done):
1. My guard is always up immediately when an attempt is made to manipulate my thinking through an appeal to my emotions.
2. Consciousness- ugh
3. ‘new way of thinking?’ Not.
4. the ‘power’ of thought? How about the power of God?
5.I don’t need to connect to the spirit within. I need to connect to the spirit of God, and yes, The Holy Spirit will be within me if I am saved- but it’s not ‘my’ spirit that I’m connecting to.
6. Minor point- if by kings the film-maker means the magi, well, but Kings did not converge with the shepherds and angels on the night Jesus was born. I know most people think this is nitpicky, and in some cases it is. But if I don’t tell my kids about Santa because I don’t want to lie to them, I don’t see why I would tell them untrue things about the birth of Jesus to make some political point about egalitarianism, either. (I like the point the other commentor made about Herod being a king, and he sure wasn’t feeling peaceful about this birth!)
7. The birth was not the one peaceful moment felt all over the world. It’s not even the most important thing that ever happened in the world. The birth, in fact, while *marvelous*, means absolutely nothing without the death, burial, and ressurection- it is the Cross that matters most. and while I’m thinking about it- Jesus didn’t come to bring peace,, except peace between God and man. He came not to bring peace but a sword and division(
Matt 10:34-36
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.)
8. God becomes man and dwells among us, taking on sinful flesh to put it to death on the cross and redeem the lost by his sinless, perfect sacrifice, and his birth is about connecting us to….. nature?
9. “Nothing else matters but silent connection to “Spirit” on this night.” Whoa. Whose spirit? Why isn’t it named?
10. feel the oneness-
11. loves deepest connection- the Bible says the Greatest love is to lay down one’s life
Thanks again for an interesting exercise!
Someone took small pieces of the life of Christ and filled in the gaps with an eastern philosophy that completely ignores His true message and purpose. The sublty comes with the much-loved music and images. The sad thing is the emptiness of the message. While sitting there relaxing into silenceand thinking of nothing, you can’t think of the incredible amount of love it took for God to humble Himself and be born a Servant to save us all. Instead of the greatest act of love in the history of mankind, you are sitting there embracing nothiness. Thank you for your voice for a real message that brings real hope, forgiveness and purpose. You can’t beat that!
I only have a few minutes but in looking at this the headline of the website…The Masterminding Maven. Red Flags Flying there.
“A” Silent Night – subtle change, hmmm
Visualization exercise
no scripture references at all
New age based on feelings, knowing, understanding (emotions)
No Saviour
Material focus in the pictures – Christmas Lights, nature, Christmas tree, gifts
New Consciousness – yeah right. not for me.
False Peace and Prosperity – flows right with the coming antichrist and his message.
I found myself shaking my head thru your post. Yes…someone else who understands what it’s like to know something is amiss when others can’t get it.
Thanks for the exercise Sally.
Sherri
The main thing I missed that there was absolutely no reference to Christ, our Savior. Only mentioning the child, but not God’s child, His Son?
well, what a lot of waffle it contained! it was so hard to watch it to the end–i just wanted to click it off! i second about every comment previously posted on what was wrong with it. 🙂 the “consciousness” tipped me of straight away…
I’m with #19 – the clip made no reference to the name of Jesus. I hope I never experience a Christmas night without the powerful name of Jesus on my lips, and that name doesn’t make me want to be silent at all! It makes me want to cry out with the multitude of the heavenly host “Glory to God in the highest!”
Sarah Joy said in comment #17: The sad thing is the emptiness of the message. … Instead of the greatest act of love in the history of mankind, you are sitting there embracing nothiness.
Her comments helped me figure out what the “video” seemed to be. The vagueness reminded me of how a haiku sounds. It’s has an air of “depth”, but it seems more hollow and vague and mysterious. Therefore it could be interpreted more to what someone wants it to be.
Fortunately the Bible is more exact about what it says and we’re not left with grasping at shifting clouds.
There were lots of red flags right from the beginning but the one that got me was that this child’s birth (whose child??) was uniting everyone in peace. The Bible clearly states that Jesus is an offense and stumbling stone.
I agree with whoever it was who said it’s the CROSS that’s important, not the cradle.
Thank you for this wonderful post.
Spirit? What is this Spirit?
That was my first reaction. It’s a tip-off to me when people don’t use a personal reference to THE Holy Spirit. Yes, indeed, there are spirits, and then there is HIS Spirit. Big difference. And a major glossing-over of the fact that He Himself said “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.” And that he warned his own disciples that they, too, would be opposed and hated by the world system, as he was. And that He was, in the words of Simeon, a “a sign that is opposed…so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed” (not to mention that a sword would pierce his own mother’s heart as a result of his fulfilling prophecy). And that, of course, he came to be sacrificed for our sins.
I’m not sure if it’s an intentionally subtle attempt to undermine Christianity, though. More like a blatant effort at money-making mixed with total biblical ignorance, if you check out the main website. MasterMinding 101? Power of positive thinking stuff… pseudo-new-age. Perverting the gospel into a money-making scheme. Bad enough stuff right there.
HI,
Well, I had a hard time finishing the video. The pictures were beautiful. The words? Jiberish. What on earth did it all mean? I mean really, none of it made any clear sense at all. I tend to be on the discerning side as well, although it may not specifically be my spiritual gift. I loved all that you said. We really need to be thinking and on guard at all times. The devil will try to deceive with his part truth part lie tactics. I cam ove from JenIg’s blog. I’ll have to check in more often. Thanks for making us think.
Susan