10/7/2015
Notes from Charles Swindoll, Growing Deep in the Christian Life, pp. 37f
Knowledge
First it is important to remember that
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.”
–1 Cor 13:1-2
The reference to knowledge is a factual, doctrinal, theological, biblical kind of knowledge. But don’t miss the emphasis: “Let there be love with knowledge!” Without love, all those facts leave us empty— hence “I am nothing.”
“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
–2 Cor 10:3-5
Our enemy often targets our knowledge of God. Satan’s lies are meant to get us to misunderstand God! Knowledge without love is not enough but we must be knowledgeable!
Discernment
The ability to perceive beyond what is being said. It is perceiving something that’s either present or lacking in another person’s words, behavior or attitude.
Spiritual discernment enters into the realm of wisdom– the wisdom of God.
Discernment includes the idea of sizing up a situation or a person correctly. Spotting evil that’s lurking in the shadows. Sensing something that’s missing. Not just matters of evil, but also discernment helps us sense truth and good.
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight (discernment)…” Phil 1:9
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits (discernment) to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” –1 John 4:1
I do not believe you can spell out the process of learning discernment in a step-by-step, one-two- three-four fashion. Discernment isn’t taught as much as it’s caught. But it can happen if you seek it and spend time with those who model it
Balance
By balance I have in mind remaining free of extremes, being able to see the whole picture– not just one side or a small part of it.
Maintaining one’s spiritual equilibrium is another way to describe balance.
Balanced Christians …
- are realistic tolerant people, patient with those who disagree.
- are serious when necessary, yet still having fun, still enjoying life.
- are less and less intense, free from fanaticism, not afraid to say, “I don’t know.”
- listen to and value another opinion, even one with which they may disagree.
- uphold the dignity of others, refusing to put them down.
- are not easily threatened. Why? They’re balanced! They’re open to the possibility of alternative positions that give new slants and fresh perspective.
It has been said that heresy is nothing more than truth taken to an extreme. Check that out. Trace the heresies and you will find that they usually began with a certain truth that was pushed to an out-of- balance extreme.
Questions & Reflections
Think about the people you have met that are balanced Christians.
What traits do you appreciate the most about these people?
What has helped you as a Christian maintain balance?
Great blog! Thanks!