A NEW ADVENT APPROACH? PART 3 OF 4: AN ADVENT OF TRUTH AND DISCERNMENT

 

Nativity Scene and sign for '23 Advent Christmas Sermon Series at Northside Baptist Church, Indianapolis. The title is taken from a song on Jonathan & Emily Martin's Advent album "Tell Me The Story."

I have proposed a new set of Advent focuses. Two weeks ago, I introduced an Advent of Gratitude and Encouragement; last week, I suggested an Advent of Mercy and Grace.

Would you agree with me that an appropriate theme of the 3rd week is an Advent of Truth and Discernment? You would agree with me there's a need for it, wouldn't you?

This society, in it's blindness, clinging to the moral absolute that there's no moral absolutes (obviously an irrational - maybe anti-rational - contradiction). We need to build our house on the solid rock of God's Truth, not on the sand of the latest ideas. 

Of course, the problem is sometimes it is hard to tell the truth from an error. The most effective errors consist 1% lie with 99% truth, but that 1% is enough to poison the beverage. That's where discernment comes in.

Many point out the most quoted verse of the Bible is not John 3:16 but rather Matthew 7:1, "Judge not lest you be judged." Of course, the reason for quoting that verse often is "Don't call my wickedness wickedness; better to call it something attractive rather than be honest about my sin." No, the Bible does not tell us not to call out sin.

But too many go the other, equally errant, extreme. They pretend Jesus' command to His disciples in Matthew 7:1 doesn't mean what it says (even the contextual emphasis of not condemning others), and make believe that the real command is "Judge with righteous Judgment" (John 7:24), ignoring that this was actually in context a rebuke to the Pharisees. 

Let me put it another, hopefully clearer way. Some people accuse those who are discerning as being judgmental/condemning, while others break Jesus' commandment not to judge and pat themselves on the back for being discerning.

Let's remember when we're speaking truth and discerning truth from error, we're to at the same time show grace and mercy, that is, God's love.