...so that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine...

  - 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

Paul’s reference to our being “no longer children” surely 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.

They who are growing in the Lord Jesus and the knowledge of His way will find that they are not vulnerable to being “blown off course” by whatever new teaching or questionable practice happens to well up from within the Church or waft in from the world.

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.

Today the buzz-word in many churches is not discernment, but tolerance. We are called to be open to 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 confront and correct them.

If, that is, we are able to discern where they are going astray.

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 on the way of light at all times, inviting travelers to detour from truth into half-truths, “good ideas,” and interesting but devastating 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 to stay on the path of light. You and everyone in your Personal Mission Field will benefit from it.

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.

What’s the funny logo at your website?
I get asked that a lot – about the Ailbe Cross that’s in our banner. Well, visit the website and watch the new 8-minute movie explaining the Ailbe Cross and it’s role as a symbol of our ministry. Scroll down to the video panel, expand the video to fill your screen (click to arrows box at the lower right of the video), and watch the presentation. While you’re there, download your copy of our Personal Mission Field worksheet (print it on two sides of a single sheet of paper, then fold into three panels). Now you’re ready to begin living and working with real discernment in the mission field to which the Lord has sent you.

T. M. Moore, Principal
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