...that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting...

  - Ephesians 4.14

Therefore we must pray God continually that He would bestow the light of true discretion to illumine this way, surrounded on every side by the world’s thick darkness, so that His true worshippers may be able to cross this darkness without error to Himself. So discretion has got its name from discerning, for the reason that it discerns in us between good and evil, and also between the moderate and the complete.

  - Columbanus, Monks’ Rule, Irish, 7th century[1]

Paul’s reference to our being “no longer children” points to the exercise of discernment in matters of truth and error, right and wrong, good and evil. We are “no longer children” in the faith when our lives are characterized by discernment, when we walk in “the light of true discretion” and make progress daily in the Lord.

The “thick darkness” of our secular age is the result of rampant narcissism and undiscerning tolerance. Churches do not escape this blight, but show themselves all too eager to appeal to people’s self-interest in worship and congregational life, and to pass judgment only on those outside the church. Rather than help congregations discern truth from error, right from wrong, and good from evil, we pander to their self-interest to keep them happy and coming back.

We treat them like children, in other words, rather than mature believers who are living with the mind of Christ.

This childish mindset shows up in another way in churches where the buzz-word is not discernment, but tolerance. We’re told we’re all broken people, all prone to wander and likely to stumble; none of us is perfect, and God knows we’re all sinners. So we are encouraged to be open and accepting of people, not to judge them, so that they’ll feel comfortable in our midst, and we can travel our journey of faith together in love.

But if people insist on dragging the baggage of error, deceit, sin, and lies with them into the church, we are remiss if we fail to correct them. If, that is, we can discern where they are going astray.

The practice of discernment is a daily duty and requires a firm foundation in truth if we are to succeed. “True discretion” must be based in truth from God, derived from the study of His Word and deep, consistent fellowship with Him. If we give way to the narcissistic and all-tolerant impulse of the age, the only “truth” we’ll ever embrace is whatever will satisfy our selfish desires. This is how children think, and if we are to be “no longer children”, we need to overcome this tendency.

They who are growing in the Lord Jesus and the knowledge of His way will find that they can discern the winds of false teaching and questionable practices. They understand that self-love must be crucified on the cross of following Jesus, so that we can discern the way of self-denial, sacrifice, and love for God and neighbor, and that mere tolerance must be replaced by righteous judgment in all things (Jn. 7.24).

It’s a lot easier, I’ll grant you, just to allow everyone to believe whatever he or she wants, or to practice the faith of Christ in whatever way suits them. It’s easier, but Jesus never promised us an easy road.

The darkness of sin encroaches continually on the way of light, inviting travelers to detour from truth into half-truths, good ideas, self-indulgent ways, and interesting diversions or strange side paths. The exercise of discernment can keep us from these traps, but only if we are “no longer children” and actively growing in the Lord.

Seek the Lord in prayer and in His Word, so that His discernment might be with you, and help you stay on the path of light. You and everyone in your Personal Mission Field will benefit from your being no longer a child.

Psalm 25.4, 5, 21, 22 (Festal Song: Revive Thy Work, O Lord)
Make me to know Your ways, teach me Your paths, O Lord!
My Savior, all day long I wait and seek You in Your Word.

Preserve me in Your way, redeem Your people, Lord!
We wait for You and refuge seek in Your own faithful Word.

Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah! Lead me only in Your path of light and Truth.

As you pray…
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T. M. Moore, Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.