Tag: discernment

Profound Life Advice: Stay Teachable and Discern Truth

Profound Life Advice: Stay Teachable and Discern Truth

my grandfather was a minister. He served the Church in many capacities, pastor, evangelist, director of interracial evangelism, conference superintendent, and editor of the denominations preachers monthly magazine, ‘The Sermon Builder’. He was also an author of several books. Finally he was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and above all a servant. my grandfather gave me a lot of great advice over the years but one particular bit of advice stands out over the rest.

i was in my early 20’s. We had just been discussing life and what the future holds for me over a game of Rummy. We played Rummy a lot my grandfather and i, and it was over those games many profound conversations took place. i wish i could remember them all. However, the one i believe he wanted me to take to heart, to make a part of who i was and who i was becoming was this; “Don’t ever think that you know everything about anything so that you remain teachable. However, know your stuff so that you can discern truth from lies.”

In a world of A.I. and content being created faster than anytime in known human history, no advice is of greater importance. Especially, if you are a follower of The Way. If you call yourself a Christian. If you want to follow Jesus it is absolutely imperative that you heed the advice of my grandfather, especially that last part. “However, know your stuff so that you can discern truth from lies.”

The Church, perhaps more so than anytime in its history, must be discerning. Why? Because the deception talked about in Revelation and by Yahoshua (Jesus) in Matthew 24, is without a doubt approaching. We must be like the Berean’s in Acts 17 (v11-12). “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.”

Paul reiterates this to a young preacher named Timothy. In a letter to him he gives the following advice: “But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yahoshua. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.“

We must know the Word inside and out. We must take the notes from the messages we are being taught and search out the Scriptures to see whether or not what is being taught is truth. The “All Scripture” that Paul is referring to is the Tanakh, what is known unfortunately as the “Old Testament”. i say unfortunately, because, ‘Old’ gives the impression that it is outdated or unnecessary and that couldn’t be farther from the truth. It is in fact where we test things. Does it lineup with what the Father has already revealed?

It is important to remain open-minded however even more so it is important to remain rooted in Scripture. “Don’t ever think that you know everything about anything so that you remain teachable. However, know your stuff so that you can discern truth from lies.”

You are loved,
cj

Lessons from My Grandfather on Discernment

Lessons from My Grandfather on Discernment
Daily writing prompt
Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.
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When I was younger in ministry, just starting out. my grandfather, who was an ordained minister, served as a Conference Superintendent for his denomination. He also served as the Director of Interracial Evangelism and worked with an inner city school in Shreveport Louisiana. Writer of many books and editor of a once greatly sought after ministry magazine, ‘The Sermon Builder.’ Said to me, “Don’t ever think that you know everything, so that you remain teachable. However, know the Word, so that you can discern Truth from lies.”

I held to that lesson from my grandpa. I taught on it. Used it in many a sermon illustration. I would have told you that I was living that advice. Yet, I was more interested in what others had to say about the Word than the Word itself. Which didn’t allow for true discernment. Oh, I knew chapter and verse just fine. But I leaned more on voices I thought were in my circle of influence and therefore must be right, right?

I lacked the Truth of the Word, to discern properly. I simply regurgitated what I was fed. My awakening to the wholeness of Scripture was stirring for years. It started to gain traction however after hearing the testimony of an Africa Region, Missionary. It was Fall. He talked about his first time in America. He saw all the pumpkins on the porches of ‘Christian’ homes. He expressed the confusion and sorrow of his heart in that moment. “Do Americans not know the symbolism of a lit gourd?” My heart was stirred and I turned to the pages of Scripture. We are called to be set apart, not to assimilate. We are not to Worship as the pagans do.

I put down books that repeated what I had been told is true. I set aside opinions and doctrines of men. I picked up the Word and began to read, and read, and read. I recalled the words of wisdom from my grandfather. My heart was broken for the many wasted years. These were years filled with misunderstandings, poor translations, and Christian hypocrisy.

I felt like I had grasped my grandfathers wisdom. That I had learned that lesson. Unfortunately, I had not. I missed the most important part of his wisdom, “Know the WORD, so that you can discern TRUTH from LIES.” I am now a student of the Word, not of man. My eyes are open. I have taken up the cause. I do not wish to enter arguments. Instead, I want to stir desires within others to read, and read, and read the WORD. In doing so, they can gain TRUTH, so others can discern the Way of the Rabbi. Had I learned this lesson earlier in ministry, perhaps I could have avoided the many pitfalls I have found myself in.

“But you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, recalling the people from whom you learned it; and recalling too how from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which can give you the wisdom that leads to deliverance through trusting in Yahoshua the Messiah. All Scripture is breathed by Elohim and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in right living; thus anyone who belongs to Elohim may be fully equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:14-17