The Ability To Discern, Hebrews 5:14

The Hebrew writer, commenting on spiritual maturity, listed ability to eat and digest meat and the ability to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:14). According to Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the Greek word translated discern means, "a distinguishing, a clear discrimination, discerning, judging” (electronic version).  This discerning requires the use of the “senses” trained to view the world through the lens of Scripture.  At no time in the history of mankind is the ability to discern any more needed then today.

Everything related to godly living is under attack in our world from a variety of sources.  First consider the entertainment industry.  The foundation of society, the home, is under attack.  The Biblical model of one man and one woman uniting in marriage for one lifetime is depicted in less than desirable ways.  Often married men are depicted as unhappy, chained down by responsibility and bored by the routines of family life. Their single counterparts on the other hand are seen having lives of spontaneous fun and adventure.

Another aspect of family life under attack is child rearing.  The biblical model has a man and women marrying and then bearing and raising children.  No longer is it necessary for a woman to be married before having children.  All one must do to see the new attitude is look at the coverage of Madonna and her children.  She has brought two children into this world without marrying.  Yet her pregnancies are considered news, and she is described as a good, loving mother to her children.  The fact she engaged in fornication and did not see the need for a father in the lives of her children is not a problem.

The one man one woman for marriage is also under attack.  With the controversy over same-sex unions raging, the entertainment has weighed in.  Several successful television programs, both comedies and dramas, have depicted homosexuals in very favorable light.  The emotions are used to promote the idea of unfairness in not allowing same-sex couples to wed.   Consider one example:  A recent episode of the television drama ER had a segment designed to promote same-sex marriage. A dying female cancer patient was brought in to the emergency room by another elderly lady.  With no husband or children, the decision about heroic measures to save her life would be left to her brother who lived half way across the country.  It later came out the two ladies were “partners” in a committed relationship for many years.  The dying lady had fought with her brother over letting their mother go under similar circumstances.  She had discussed this often with her partner and told her she did not want her suffering prolonged as her mother’s was.  Her partner was far more capable of knowing the will of the dying lady than the brother she had not spoken with in ten years.  But the law would not recognize her right to make such decisions.  The scene was intended to create sympathy for both women.  The lady dying of cancer would not be allowed to end her physical suffering as she wished.  Her committed partner would see the suffering prolonged against the dying woman’s wishes all because their committed loving relationship was not recognized by society.

This illustrates the need for discernment.  We need to go deeper than just surface emotional appeals to determine whether something is right or wrong.

—Denny