Is there a scriptural basis for discernment? Part 2 - By Elizabeth Prata

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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Ms. Prata is back in our pages and is still unable to understand the issues surrounding discernment. Discernment is a spiritual gift, which means the Holy Spirit gives it for a spiritual purpose. She rejects this, substituting refined doctrine and study instead. While having good doctrine and studying Scripture is necessary these are not the spiritual gift of discernment.

The title of Ms. Prata's article tells us she wants to teach us about the Bible, but amazingly, she only manages to quote two Scriptures, neither of which are about discernment.

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Part 1 here: Why are there so many false pastors?

In these biblically illiterate days, many people focus their anger on the person calling out false teachers. They become angry with those who are warning against false doctrines or movements. Discernment is important! But, is there a scriptural basis for discernment activity, such as calling out false teachers, or warning the brethren of faddish leaven-soaked movements?

Yes.

The fact of the Spiritual gift: Some in the faith have been given the spiritual gift of “discerning of spirits.” Some translations say “distinguishing of spirits.” (Ms. Prata will never discuss how spirits are discerned.)

This is embedded in the list of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11. 

( Let's quote it, since Ms. Prata is unwilling: 

1Co. 12:4-11 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

Ms. Prata is a cessationist who doesn't believe in at least half of these spiritual gifts. But the one she believes in, discernment, is also the one she believes she possesses. And as we read farther we shall discover that the discernment she thinks she possesses is not the spiritual gift at all.)

The purpose of the spiritual gift: The reason some have been given this spiritual gift is to be a smoke alarm for the local body, an early warning system as it were. ALL spiritual gifts are to be employed for the good of the church and the glory of God. Discerners are to use their gift of discernment to warn others so that false doctrine does not creep in. False doctrine is deadly. It’s “leaven” that pollutes the whole loaf. (Ms. Prata defines discernment in terms of recognizing false doctrine. She does not tell us where the Bible says this about discernment.)

Did you know that every New Testament book except Philemon warns of false doctrine or false teachers and outlines the impact falsity has on the church? It is a HUGE issue. It is something the NT does not ignore, and we should not either. So the Spirit installed discerners to help keep His church pure.

Discerners do not have extra sensory perception, nor direct revelations from God. It’s not a mystical activity. (Summary denials. Ms. Prata frequently makes these kinds of assertions without referencing or quoting the Bible.

She eliminates supernatural involvement. Therefore, she thinks the spiritual gift of discernment is not spiritual, it is natural.)

They just know the Word so well, they can spot a counterfeit at 100 paces. (Bible knowledge is her determiner for possessing discernment, protecting against false doctrine. This is not discernment, this is Bible knowledge.)

It would insult the Spirit to have been given the gift of discernment by Him but to remain silent and not use it. (Now Ms. Prata swerves back to the spiritual nature of discernment, having previously denied it. 

All spiritual gifts are empowerments by the Holy Spirit. By definition a spiritual gift is spiritual, not a natural ability. From the above passage there is a verse, the impact of which Ms. Prata seems to have missed, 1Cor. 12:11:

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.

A spiritual gift is the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer. He gives them as He chooses. The Greek word "gift" is charisma. Charisma ...divinely empowers a believer to share God's work with others, i.e. Spirit-empowered service to the Church to carry out His plan for His people. 

Charisma comes from the root word charis, which in English is "grace." Grace is frequently mis-defined as underserved favor, but this is incorrect. Basically, grace is "extension towards:" 

...preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them").

5485 /xáris ("grace") answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná ("grace, extension-toward"). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.

Therefore, charisma is the grace of God extending Holy Spirit empowerment as He desires to bless and be near us for the benefit and building up of the church.

Discernment, then, is a supernatural power endowment.)

Jesus rebuked the church at Thyatira in Revelation 2, for knowing the metaphorical Jezebel was teaching falsely, but did nothing about it.

Discernment for the layman: Though some do not possess the specific spiritual gift of discernment, ALL people in the faith are to work at honing their discernment. Hebrews 5:13-14 expects the believer to train in discernment. (Sigh. Let's quote it:

He. 5:13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. He. 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

So Ms. Prata makes a distinction between the spiritual gift of discernment and the discipline of coming to maturity via study. It appears to be identical to what she described above.

She will not explain how she determined this distinction, nor will she document the idea.)

Acts 17:11 tells us all to be like the noble Bereans who consulted the word to compare whether what they were hearing was true or false. (Again we shall quote it:

Ac. 17:11 Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Ms. Prata misrepresents this Scripture. The Bereans were not discerning correct doctrine, or even discerning spirits. Paul was presenting them with novel teaching. They had never heard such things. The Bereans were remarkable to Luke in that they searched the OT [the only Scriptures there were at the time] to see if Paul was accurately explaining these things, and received the Gospel eagerly.) 

1 John 4:1 tells us to test the spirits to see if they are from God. (Here's the verse:

1Jn. 4:1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Let's look at some more Greek words. First, "believe," which means to put faith in. "Test" is to try (test) to show something is acceptable (real, approved); put to the test to reveal what is good. 

So, is this spirit good or bad, from God or not? If it is tested and determined to be from God, then trust it.

This has nothing to do with learning proper doctrine or increasing one's studies of the Bible.

We wonder if Ms. Prata will ever explain what the discerning of spirits might be.)

So even if a person does not have the gift, they are to be working at being discerning themselves through constantly being in the Word and by training and practice of discernment.

Calling out the false: The folks that feel they possess the gift, or are pastors or teachers in charge of the sheep, have a DUTY to warn. Jude speaks to this, in just one of many examples. Jude 1:22 speaks of snatching some from the fire. (Again we quote:

Jude 22-23 Be merciful to those who doubt; Jude 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear — hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.

Here Jude was writing to help those who doubt, it's not about refuting false doctrine.)

Matthew 7:15 says to “beware” of false prophets that come in like hungry wolves. Beware is an action, we must be on guard. (The verse:

Mt. 7:15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Ms. Prata would need to tell us what false prophets have came to her or her church.)

And many other verses… (None of which Ms. Prata bothers to quote...)

So if one person who is more mature than another (Hebrews 5:14) (He. 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.) 

sees that their friend is about to be devoured by a wolf, or led astray, or headed to a shipwreck (all allusions in the NT for what happens to the undiscerning), is it loving to look away, go home, and pray? Yes, prayer is effective (James 5:16). (The passage:

Ja. 5:14-16 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the  church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Ms. Prata does not believe very much of this either.)

But paired with a gentle but direct warning, it is even more effective.

Discernment Police: The person who chides the discerner is usually one who likes their idols. (Ms. Prata tries to excuse her offensive methods by blaming others.)

They should be concerned with their own walk and its purity and holiness. (All her critics are sinful and are not minding their own business.)

Though I rarely receive this kind of reply, the reply I’d love to see is this:

“Oh no, you say So and So is false? Please tell me more. I want to honor Jesus with all my might, and would be crushed to think I’m polluting my faith by being unwary. Help me understand.”

THAT is the answer we all hope to get, SHOULD get, because Jesus is more important than anything. (Well actually, for the "discernment police," being right is more important than anything.)

People have too soft of an attitude toward false teachers and false doctrine. The serpent deceived Eve with one question. He tried to bamboozle JESUS of all people, tempting THE Word with the word of God. (Apparently Jesus exercised the gift of discernment.)

The concern for all of us should be holiness and purity of our walk, training in discernment, and being so knowledgeable of the word (What about evangelism? Worship? Prayer? Generosity? Ms. Prata's priorities are not necessarily everyone else's.)

that we are immersed in truth as our armor. (Well, truth is the belt [Ep. 6:14], but there is more to the armor.)

Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 14; 2 Timothy 3:5; 2 John 10 in some form or fashion tell us to mark and avoid the false teachers. (Let's quote them: 

Ro. 16:17 I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. 

1Co. 5:11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 

2Th. 3:6 In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 

2Th. 3:14 If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed.

2Ti. 3:5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. 

2Jn. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not take him into your house or welcome him.)

These are commands. We cannot mark nor avoid if we do not know who they are. (Perhaps Ms. Prata might explain how she keeps away from, does not eat with, has nothing to do with, does not associate with, or has the risk of taking a false teacher into her house. Please excuse our sarcasm, but none of these verses have anything to do with Ms. Prata's version of discernment. 

All these verses have to do with the local church, the church Ms. Prata is a part of. There is nothing here about "discerning" a pastor who lives in another city 1000 miles away.)

We should thank discerners for helping us to do this.

WHY are there so many warnings about false doctrine in the New Testament? Because it’s important! And because we are all easily deceived: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12 (Sigh, finally an actual Bible quote, which Ms. Prata gets wrong. Paul was warning the Corinthian church to not get arrogant or too confident, because that makes it easy to fall. This has nothing about being easy to deceive.

Let's take it a step farther. If we're easy to deceive, then so is Ms. Prata. But anyone who comes along to correct her is likely going to be fiercely opposed.)

Balance: Now it is true that some people get so consumed with discernment that they wind up looking for the dirt rather than focusing on Jesus. They are imbalanced, spending too much time on discernment and not enough in the word and other spiritual disciplines. Discerners like that give the spiritual gift a bad name. (Hmmm. Remember when Ms. Prata said, 

The person who chides the discerner is usually one who likes their idols. They should be concerned with their own walk and its purity and holiness. 

Now she has left her readers with no way out. If a person who claims the gift of discernment ist "imbalanced," then someone who questions this person would be is chiding and an idolater, has a faulty walk, and is impure and unholy. Who would risk approaching a person like Ms. Prata given these conditions?)

Balance and moderation is key.

Resource: Balance in our theology is important

Grace: If someone is charging you dear reader, with being too active in discernment, is it because they’re concerned for your balance? Do they think you call out TOO much? On the other hand, are your naysayers uninformed of the verses on discernment, or uninterested in battling against the false in themselves or in their sphere? Are they misunderstanding the importance, given the time and space the NT gives to it? In that case, give them grace and help them learn why it’s important. (We just quoted Ms. Prata's idea of grace. It isn't very graceful at all.)

Proverbs 11:30, The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Resources:

Part 1 here: Why are there so many false pastors?

What does the Bible teach about Discernment?

John MacArthur, “Defining Discernment”

Ligonier (Sinclair Ferguson) “What is Discernment?”