Because of fear, deception, and abuse, the gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit have been shut down or not welcomed fully in the Church. This has resulted in a loss of the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance for missions and ministry. (This has been the case in many evangelical, as well as liberal, mainline churches).
On the other hand, where there has been an uncritical acceptance of spiritual gifts, manifestations, and guidance without sufficient discernment as to what comes from the Holy Spirit and what comes from the human psyche, other problems have resulted, such as emotionalism, deception, schism, or heresy.
Oftentimes, we find this comes alongside a dishonoring of the gospel.
Discernment is a Process
Discernment involves human reason and observation, in which words or behaviors may be measured against the standard of scripture.
However, it is the eye-opening work of the Holy Spirit that reveals the source of some words or behaviors.
- Discernment is a supernatural gift given by the Holy Spirit.
- Discernment is given through the Holy Spirit dwelling within us and helping us detect truth from falsehood and the presence of evil spirits.
- With discernment coming from the image of God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all people, there exists a general awareness of spiritual realities that spring from the image of God.
There seems to be a natural human intuitive awareness of spiritual realities such as good and evil.
This awareness springs from the shattered remnants of the image of God that remains within us. Paul confirms this and suggests that the capacity to discern is in the human conscience.
Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.
Romans 2:14-15 (NIV) --PRMI.Org
Are you having trouble, as I am, in knowing truth when you hear, see, or read it? Especially when many are doing it on purpose? When have we ever been so encountered with so many people lying, willing to lie, and even changing their lies to meet their needs at any given time?
Recently, for a short time, I thought I was interacting with a writer whose book I had just read. There was one major question in my mind immediately: Why no comments, even a thanks, for my review? My first inclination was to think that was my being prideful--she had no responsibility to say anything about my thoughts on her book. I continued to interact believing, at first, I was interacting with an individual who I knew only through the news. I responded to that person as if I knew her. She or He played the part of that writer until the issue of money came up. It this case, I believe my discernment had already been watching as to what was being said, or, not said, until the individual was having trouble reacting to what I was saying, pointing out what was incorrect... Finally, I asked who it was and almost immediately the individual admitted that he had been lying.... Of course, I immediately deleted all possible interactions. But, it did bother me that at least for a short time I had "wanted" to believe she was who I wanted her to be... Note that I am talking about my own discernment... I hadn't even considered asking God...this was so routine for me to have interactions with writers... Until I was wrong...
Then one night recently I had a dream. I remember that I had found a number of videos about the Antichrist and marked them to watch later, skimming only one of them... The dream was a terrible one. I was in church with my mother. As we often did, we sat separately. I might be singing or playing the piano and would sit up front at those times. The pastor was new. At first I was happy because I hadn't been impressed with the last one. This one seemed to be saying the right things as I listened... But I noticed older boys--young men disrupting what was being said. The speaker didn't seem to mind, even laughed with those who were so disruptive to the service. And then a riot began, those who were being humored by the pastor began to harm those sitting in the church. I immediately worried about my mother and got up, pushing through these men who seemed to multiply by the minute and I noticed they had guns... Finally, I reached my mother, wrapped her up in her coat and carried her toward the door... I was being chased as I tried to get to my car... By the time I reached my car, my mother was dead and I realized that it was a dream, waking up...
But I had never had such a horrible dream before. I tried to calm down, shaking in distress. I pulled out my standard songs to calm me...
But I quickly stopped singing, I couldn't rest, wondering what had caused this terrible dream... First, I wondered about the interaction with the supposed writer and quickly decided that was not traumatic enough to have caused such a dream... Suddenly I remembered who had been identified as the Antichrist... Was this dream a confirmation of what will happen if he gained power to lead so many astray... For surely, disruption of a church in such a violent way could never be the result of a pastor sharing about God's Grace, His Love.
“More trouble with murder or men?” “Both. How am I supposed to figure out what I want to do about men with one unholy mess after another plopping down in front of me? I gave myself a year to figure out what to make of Jim’s betrayal. I don’t think I’ve given up on men, but I’m not ready to pick one. Help!” “Have you been practicing discernimiento like Father Martin told you to do?” “When?” I replied, feeling picked on—not by Bernadette—by life in general. Father Martin had indeed suggested that I try developing my capacity for discernment to make wise choices and sound decisions. By that, he meant starting with a philosophical principle that had sounded vaguely familiar—something I’d studied in a college philosophy course: the desire to choose the good. I’d replied with some cheeky comment about the fact that both Paul and Frank looked good to me was part of the problem. “That’s exactly what St. Ignatius’ other rules for discernment help us do—make choices from among attractive alternatives. We’ve got to take the time to examine the inner movements of our hearts in a disciplined and systematic way rather than let enthusiasm carry us this way or that way like a leaf in the wind.” “I’ve got a long way to go to acquire ‘the gift of the reasoning heart.’ I do need to learn to curb my enthusiasm in matters of murder and men. We’re lucky no one was shot last night. Going after David Madison seemed like such a good idea at the time.” “Come on. You’re not the only one. We all got carried away. All’s well that ends well. A dead accountant wouldn’t make you feel better. If you hadn’t tried to find him and convince him his hideout was too easy to find, you’d be blaming yourself if he’d been shot.” “Well said, oh wise woman,” I agreed as I finished my coffee and gave her a kiss. “Thank goodness you didn’t go out and buy yourself a set of army surplus camo pants since I hope we won’t ever go on a mission like that again.” “Not right away, anyway. I can use a few days to recover, too, Nina! We have a different kind of mission today. Your mom needs support. She’s got a tough week ahead.” “Yes, I know. See what I mean? How am I going to try to decide what to do about Frank or Paul when Mom needs me? The work’s piling up, too.” I was getting worked up and was about to pour more coffee when Bernadette stopped me. “More caffeine won’t help you curb your enthusiasm. Basta! Mothers and work take up time for most people. Stop complainin’.” I wasn’t done yet with my lament. “It’s worse than that! There’s a scumbag out there shooting at people. Maybe it’s the same person who killed my client, but maybe not. That well-dressed con artist and ex-Palm Beach ‘walker’ is on the loose trying to push women into fraudulent investments. Let’s not forget the Chairwoman of the ARC who wished Beverly would drop dead, her party-loving General Contractor, and a dog-hating sneak thief. It’s a crudslide! Look out below!” “You have a lot of worries on your mind. That’s more reason to get organized and do what Father Martin tells you to do to sort stuff out.” Anastasia loved it when I shouted what must have sounded like a command. She was on alert. Her tail beat frantically in anticipation of my next word or move. I shook my head and smiled. “Having a dog puts your life in perspective, huh? I’m ranting and she takes it as an invitation to romp.” I leaned over, rubbed her soft ears, and was rewarded with a puppy smooch. “I don’t know about romp, but a walk would give you time for discernimiento.”
And when I got up to start this post, I immediately found the first video above... Surely these God Incidents were confirming that we all needed to learn and practice discernment of what is right or wrong...Given my terror waking up from such a dream, I finally figured that what I needed to know was very important...
Can we see what is happening in America, across the world and know what is right, what is truth? I think we can... There is evidence that we ultimately can discern. Know that somebody who speaks lies, who condones violence, even incites it, can only be seen as not of God. He demands no holy wars from us, for His Son, Jesus, came to give His ultimate and ever-lasting love to all who will acknowledge Him and want to follow Him. He does not demand, He does not threaten, He does not lie and condone lies to gain power or gold or position of authority in our lives...
Matthew 31:Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. 32:And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
When we learn Discernment either logically or Biblically, we will recognize and differentiate as we are led... But just as Christ wasn't concerned about what man might say about Him personally, we must also see that His Holy Spirit, Who Speaks from God to each of us who carry some small or larger awareness of God within us, must be discerned. We move quickly to realize that if God Through Jesus His Son gave us just two points for us to remember, then, we, in my opinion, must be able to discern when that is not happening...
Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you. 34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. —John 13:33–35 (KJV; emphasis added)
One other point I have thought about quite a lot since the insertion of religion into government has been through deals, deception, lies and chaos, I want to spotlight what Jesus did to those who were not of His origin... I've chosen to provide it from Wikipedia because I want to have readers dwell on the choice of Jesus versus those in America who wish to move us backward in time, supposedly, as it was in early Christian times in America...
The parable of the Good Samaritan is told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke.[1] It is about a traveler (implicitly understood to be Jewish) who is stripped of clothing, beaten, and left half dead alongside the road. First, a Jewish priest and then a Levite come by, but both avoid the man. Finally, a Samaritan happens upon the traveler. Although Samaritans and Jews were generally antagonistic towards each other, the Samaritan helps the injured man. Jesus is described as telling the parable in response to a provocative question from a lawyer, "And who is my neighbor?", in the context of the Great Commandment. The conclusion is that the neighbor figure in the parable is the one who shows mercy to their fellow man.
Some Christians, such as Augustine, have interpreted the parable allegorically, with the Samaritan representing Jesus Christ, who saves the sinful soul.[2] Others, however, discount this allegory as unrelated to the parable's original meaning[2] and see the parable as exemplifying the ethics of Jesus.[3]
The parable has inspired painting, sculpture, satire, poetry, photography, and film. The phrase "Good Samaritan", meaning someone who helps a stranger, derives from this parable, and many hospitals and charitable organizations are named after the Good Samaritan. The word "Samaritan" has also gained, besides the ethnoreligious meaning, the sense of a charitable person.
Even though there have always been differences of opinion about what scripture parables mean, for me, some are so logical that they don't need further discernment... Take, for instance, the Samaritan. We who know The Great Commandment automatically are sure that Jesus will not pass by someone hurt, hungry, or, simply because they were of a different faith or religion. His offering of love was routinely extended to all, even though it sometimes was refused or ridiculed, or, worse, killed for that Love He Offered.
He offered it to all and asked that if we Loved Jesus then we should love all peoples... Not just christians, not just jewish people...but everybody... Then he added that, Whoever comes to know you should be able to see the Love of Jesus... I believe America was based upon that principle... There are many Samaritans who came to America searching for freedom. America provided freedom... But, even then, some chose the historical commandments from the Bible and saw these other people as those to be rejected. But the majority of American chosen freedom that welcomed those Samaritans, no matter where they came from or what their need was, or, even, what their religion was...
That is the America when France saw the love extended and created a symbol of what they saw in our country as a whole:
Gabbie
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