Discernment: Telling good from evil

According to Proverbs 3, discernment is, along with sound judgment, something we need to preserve and treasure. Add Hebrews 5 and we get a fuller picture:

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."

If discernment is 'distinguishing between good and evil' how do we do it and what are the parameters?

Revsimmy throws Matthew 7:20 into the pot, reminding us that it is 'by their fruits that we will whether the tree is good or bad'. One of the features of some of the obviously non-Christian sects and groups is that they work hard at appearing to produce good fruit. People see them doing good and being nice people and think, "I'll go join them, what a nice bunch!" - guess it's called PR and marketing.

For me, I would need to see that the group are 'orthodox' in that they stand the test of being examined with regard to 'Scripture, Reason and Tradition' (Experience also being valid here).

I also consider the structure of the group and the ways that people relate within it. What looks like a loving group from the outside can be extremely controlling and very different from within. I'd also have to look at the history of the group and the reasons it came into being. Those who founded it are often telling too!

Another area of consideration has to be consistency and purpose. If a Vegetarian group suddenly decided that being carnivorous was cool, I'd have to ask what brought about this sea change. The same is true for some of the groups (i.e. LDS) who were extremely antagonistic about being called 'Christian' and yet are now spending money to convince people they are. Why? I assume it's because if they can be labelled 'Christian' then those with no understanding of what Christian really is will be more easily attracted. They know the brand name but don't know what it offers and so they're easy pickings!

I am having the same concerns over some of the other groups who keep their structures, leaders and the like but have brought their group into the fold. Revelation of the truth or realisation that by appearing to be sound there are people on the edges who might be won in and restore the revenue of the good old days?

So, when looking at a Church, denomination, local fellowship or whatever, it seems to me that we need to employ the following checks:

ORTHODOXY - Scripture, Reason, Tradition and Experience (needs to be more than a 'tick the box' exercise

FRUITS

ORIGINS - Key people then (and now), beliefs, reason for coming into being

ORGANISATION & STRUCTURE - How it runs, what it does with money, how do the members relate with each other (and the leadership)

JESUS - We need to be able to see Jesus in the organisation - its mission, ministry, life and attitudes. If we can't then it just isn't Christian even if the words used or the beliefs stated make us want to be lazy and welcome them in.

This is an area that I confess I have been lazy with. I haven't thought about protecting those around me because the threats aren't there. But when they come it would have been easy for me to have been asleep. Something those of us who are called to shepherd the sheep and to be watchmen over must never do.

Be on your guard for "Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Pe 5:8

Pax