Quote: “Satan is most effective in the church when he comes not as an open enemy, but as a false friend; not when he persecutes the church, but when he joins it; not when he attacks the pulpit, but when he stands in it.” That was one of the many truths I learned from one who mentored me. He has since gone on to his reward. He fought the good fight and now has received his inheritance.

There are many reasons for appreciating this wisdom from him. One of the biggest is because of its clarion call to discern. It is easy to point out flaws in the church or any organization, of course. They’re both comprised of people and wherever people are, there’s sin in the camp. No surprise there. But the call to discern is fundamental for Christians. Think of just a few of the countless times we are commanded to be discerning:

• “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their power of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb 5:14, ESV).
• “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 Jn 4:1, ESV).
• “If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end” (Dt 32:29, ESV).
• And your servant thought, ‘The word of my lord the king will set me at rest,’ for my lord the king is like the angel of God to discern good and evil. The LORD your God be with you!” (2 Sam 14:17, ESV)
• “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” (1 Kings 3:9, ESV).
• “The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth” (Pr 17:24, ESV).
• “Do not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom 12:2, ESV).

The list goes on and on in Scripture: 1 Cor 1:19; 1 Cor 2:14; 1 Cor 11:29; Eph 5:10; Philippians 1:9; Hb 4:12, and on and on. Since the church is commanded to be discerning, how do we explain the shallowness and utter dearth of discernment of so many who claim to be Christians? I think it’s because the visible church is populated by many unbelievers. They’re checking the box of church attendance, Bible study, fellowships, service, giving, etc. but they’ve not been regenerated. They’re cultural Christians. They wear Christian swag, but their minds and hearts have yet to be gripped savingly by God.

We were told this, too, up front by God in Scripture (Mt 13:30, ESV). Or Jesus’ sermon in Matthew 7:15: “Beware of false prophets, who come in to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” Or think of when Paul spoke to the Ephesian elders: “I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;” (Ac 20:29, ESV).

Encouragement: There’s an endless supply of information available in our day, that’s for sure. The masses amuse themselves to death with entertainment and palaver. But where’s the discernment? Where’s wisdom? How might things improve if we were a people of discernment instead?

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