Do Charismatic/Pentecostal Christians lack discernment?

[Yitzchak]

Here are some more passages. I would say that the idea of the word and the Holy Spirit giving us discernment are both scriptural.

1Co 11:29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

1Co 12:10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Heb 5:12 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.
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
Heb 5:14 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

1Ki 3:10 And the speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing.
1Ki 3:11 And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment;

Eze 44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.

 

[Yitzchak]

Discern simply means to understand something correctly. To be aware of something. Whether it is discerning doctrine or discerning Spirits it is the same. Our discernment needs to be spiritual and from God and not our own earthly wisdom.
Some discernment comes instantly by a free gift that The Holy Spirit gives us. Some discernment is obtained by a process.
The gift of dsicernment that is most needed is the gift to discern when we don't discern. In other words, people who think they know something but don't really know it are a menace to both themselves and to the Christian community.

Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Rom 12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
Rom 12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

1Co 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

I think this sums it up

1Co 14:26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

There are lots of people out there with discernment /understanding on a whole lot of issues. One of the major problems we see in Pentecostal Churches is that a small group of people seem to get the corner on the market in their church , so to speak, because they are gifted or charasmatic in one or two areas. And so they become the gatekeepers of what is allowed and not allowed in the church. It was not that way at Azusa Street...

 

[Seeking Him]

Possibly but that is why we are admonished to 'search the scriptures daily to see if these things be so'. There is no accounting for stupidity or resistance to being lead by the Spirit. The point is the truth is IN THERE as opposed to out there as The X files claim. LOL>
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Possibly but that is why we are admonished to 'search the scriptures daily to see if these things be so'. There is no accounting for stupidity or resistance to being lead by the Spirit. The point is the truth is IN THERE as opposed to out there as The X files claim. LOL>
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

okay .

1) (more of a thought provoking question, you don't have to answer) So it is okay to question the integrity of scripture?

2) Have you ever changed your view on how to interpret scriptures? if so how can you be sure of your interpretation at any given time?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Regarding truth .. Jesus said "I am the Truth, the Way, the Life"

so if Jesus is truth .. and is three-four dimensional human being and the written words are one and two dimensional ..

by saying the bible is truth .. what are we missing?

 

[Faulty]

Regarding truth .. Jesus said "I am the Truth, the Way, the Life"

so if Jesus is truth .. and is three-four dimensional human being and the written words are one and two dimensional ..

by saying the bible is truth .. what are we missing?

What does physical dimensions have to do with anything?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

What does physical dimensions have to do with anything?

Parable of spiritual depth to truth .

 

[Gregory Thompson]

A human being .. being truth . means the truth is alive . and so are we in it .

A book .. being truth .. means truth is the strings of a puppeteer .

.. and we are its slaves .

 

[Gregory Thompson]

But the truth sets us free ..

so Jesus is the truth . insomuch that He sets us free from the bondage of the previous covenant . to participate in the freedom of the new covenant written on our hearts .

 

[gratefulgrace]

okay .

1) (more of a thought provoking question, you don't have to answer) So it is okay to question the integrity of scripture?

2) Have you ever changed your view on how to interpret scriptures? if so how can you be sure of your interpretation at any given time?

Are you getting that out of MY post or is this just a general question. I hopw not as my point was we filter all teaching through the integrity of scripture as final authority. gg

 

[gratefulgrace]

I do not understand what you are trying to say in your latest post it would help me if you could explain a bit more fully what you mean here

A book .. being truth .. means truth is the strings of a puppeteer .

.. and we are its slaves .

Remember truth comes by revelation of scripture by the Holy Spirit which indwells all born again believers. This is the final authority not one over the other but together in agreement. IMHO>
and to answer your quesion
2) Have you ever changed your view on how to interpret scriptures? if so how can you be sure of your interpretation at any given time?

No I don't think I ever have once I have been enlightened by the Spirit. However I assume there is much left in there for the Spirit to reveal to me as I grow in grace and the knowledge of my Lord Jesus. Peace GG

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Are you getting that out of MY post or is this just a general question. I hopw not as my point was we filter all teaching through the integrity of scripture as final authority. gg

well it was an interesting transitional issue that Paul's teachings that became scripture were subject to scritiny . just found it interesting .

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I do not understand what you are trying to say in your latest post it would help me if you could explain a bit more fully what you mean here

A book .. being truth .. means truth is the strings of a puppeteer .

.. and we are its slaves .

Remember truth comes by revelation of scripture by the Holy Spirit which indwells all born again believers. This is the final authority not one over the other but together in agreement. IMHO>
and to answer your quesion
2) Have you ever changed your view on how to interpret scriptures? if so how can you be sure of your interpretation at any given time?

No I don't think I ever have once I have been enlightened by the Spirit. However I assume there is much left in there for the Spirit to reveal to me as I grow in grace and the knowledge of my Lord Jesus. Peace GG

I suppose the whole deal of discussion is which one comes first in the discernment process .

i appreciate your response to my response . peace .

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I was alluding to Paul's rift where people who rely on the law are under the law and under its bondage just like a puppeteer has the puppets in bondage . but in the Spirit is freedom . so in other words, (for me the correct order is) the Spirit first . then the remembrance .

i see Jesus saying to fulfill the law in contrast with Moses who says to follow the law . its a subtle change that changes everything . IMHO .