Discernment: Let’s Learn It #WilcoWednesday

Welcome to Wilco Wednesday! If you are a new around these parts, “Wilco” is Army-speak for “Will Comply.” Think of it as saying “Roger, God. Got it. Will do.”  So that is what Wednesday here at 7 Days Time is all about– exploring his decrees and seeking guidance for what complying with Him looks like in everyday life. The best part? He loves us for who we are, not what we do.  Remember: He doesn’t want perfection, just obedience. Share. Enjoy. Interact. And let’s respond to God’s call with  a hearty “Wilco, Lord!”  Welcome today my hilarious and super smart friend Lindsey as she shares some great real-life faith tips. 

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I used to teach middle school language arts and social studies. One of the main goals I had for my students was that they become critical thinkers. Because our educational system is severely messed up, critical thinking has been shoved to the side in place of tests and academic scores. But, I digress. I waded backwards through the typical teaching structure because I believe that critical thinking is important to life.

I taught my students to understand logical fallacies. We would dissect news articles, ads, and blog posts. I made them ask me why, and in turn, I would ask them why as well. Even though it sounds like I was trying to teach my students to be obstinate, authority rebelling stinkers, I was not (plus, I knew that they would learn to do that on their own—with or without my lessons). I was attempting to teach my students the value of logical reasoning, something that would pack a more useful life punch than comparing the book and movie versions of Lord of the Flies.

I am out of teaching now, but I still carry the self-inflicted burden of holding fast to logic and reason, especially where my faith is concerned. What was I trying to help my students develop by way of critical thinking? Discernment. And boy oh boy, do students have a fantastic need for discernment in a society riddled with all kinds of skewed opinions, half truths, and wacky information. We all do.

Our society has quickly made the turn into subjective moral relativism; where the objectivity of right and wrong, good and evil, has been skewed and, in many cases, completely erased. People actually struggle discerning right from wrong these days; something God has so clearly laid out for us. The world has adopted a mantra of tolerance: that as long as it isn’t “hurting anyone” we can basically do whatever we want. Be careful if you call something objectively wrong, because you will surely be labeled intolerant by the tolerant who will not allow themselves to tolerate the intolerant.

What’s a Christian to do in such turbulent waters where the world is screaming one thing, and God is whispering another? Matthew 22:37-18 says, “Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.’”

Everyone has heard this verse, but no one really thinks to ask what “loving with your mind” really means. Sounds gross. Is it even a thing? Oh yes, it is a big thing. We often neglect the growth of our minds in God, and focus on the growth of our hearts. That means that the growth of discernment, critical thinking, and a logical belief in God is often being overlooked. Ruh-row!

One of my favorite books is Love Your God With All Your Mind by my personal hero in the faith, J.P. Moreland. I have read this book many times, and my favorite quote is this: “I told my children that if they ever got to the point where they thought it was unreasonable to believe that Christianity was true, then they should abandon the faith.”

“Dear me!” you say as you clutch the string of pearls around your neck. What Moreland is getting at is the alternative that many of us are taking these days: believing in something without intelligent reasoning to back it up. Believing because Mommy said so. Believing because it feels nice. Believing out of fear.

Regardless of what you’ve been told, faith is not the act of blindly believing. Faith is a belief built on reason.

Many Christians do not have a faith built on reason. It is a faith built on feelings or convenience. Most people never take the time to dive into the Scripture or study the history of Christianity to see that God has actually provided logical, concrete reasons to commit to a life of following Him. Our faiths must be built on a foundation of truth.

Think of the scoffers of the world who misinterpret verses in an effort to discredit the Bible, and write blog posts on Why I’m Not A Christian. They make theological assumptions based on their feelings and whom they believe God should be. They scratch and claw at ideas like suffering in the world, Jesus’ resurrection, and Christian hypocrisy all the while saying, “Don’t you see how stupid (untrue, annoying, wrong, irrational) believing in God is?!” And then there is us, who don’t know enough about our own faiths to look at these rants and say, “Here is where you are wrong, good sir.” We close down the website and wonder if the ranters are right.

Hebrews 5:14 says, “But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”

To be trained is not a passive statement (English Major hint—trained is an active verb. You’re welcome). We can’t just ask God for some brains and expect he will magically create a discernable spirit within us. We must train ourselves (critically think) to discern.

Honestly, the Christian’s lack of care or concern for developing discernment grieves me. It scares me. We have moved away from God’s desire for us to love him—heart, soul, and mind, much to the detriment of our churches and our impact on the world as a whole. These things work in conjunction with one another, not as individually functioning entities.

Romans 12:2 states, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Jesus wants to renew our minds! He is there for us if we put in some effort. God wants us to develop our feels by way of our heart, yes. But he is a God who is logical too. He is the middle line between Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk, Marianne and Elinor, Leslie Knope and Ron Swanson, dry chicken and the most decadent cheesecake you’ve ever tasted. Perfect. Whole. Unwavering.

I can say with conviction that if you are also actively seeking God with your mind, you will never find a reason to abandon your faith. Because, guess what? There isn’t one! Using your logic to love God makes him concrete and real. It adds to an unshakeable faith; that firm foundation you’ve always wanted.

God does not expect us to have it all figured out. We are not God, as it turns out, and therefore will never fully understand His vastness. He is simply asking for us to try. Read the scripture. Ask questions. Know the theology and tenants of the Christian faith. Do some research. Maybe try not shaking nervously when I say “research.”

Critical thinking is an important life skill, and discernment is a critical faith skill. God calls us to develop our hearts, souls, and minds in Him. Align your mind to God and not to a world that is full of illogical people on par with my 8^th grade language arts class. Although you will have a laugh at their emotion-based rants, their ideas are not aligned with the objective truth of God. Know what you believe and why, and your faith will outlast the school day until that final bell rings.

Verses on Discernment- Hosea 14:9; Philippians 1:9-10; Isaiah 11:3; Psalm 119:66

Helpful “Love God With Your Mind” Links-

Nicene Creed (Do you believe this? Why?)
Reasonable Faith
JP Moreland (I had to…)
Bible Explained (Commentary on verses. Use your discernment!)

Lindsey is a military spouse and a mother by day, writer by night. She loves God. She has a couple of kids and a few pets. She likes them. Lindsey is an advocate for all cheesecake sponsored events. She also believes that there is nothing more hilarious in this life than unicycles and chickens. Together or separate, it doesn’t matter.