What is biblical discernment and why is it important? (By John MacArthur) In its simplest definition, discernment is nothing more than the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. In other words, the ability to think with discernment is synonymous with an ability to think biblically. First Thessalonians 5:21-22 teaches that it is the responsibility of every Christian to be discerning: "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." The apostle John issues a similar warning when he says, "Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1). According to the New Testament, discernment is not optional for the believer-it is required. The key to living an uncompromising life lies in one's ability to exercise discernment in every area of his or her life. For example, failure to distinguish between truth and error leaves the Christian subject to all manner of false teaching. False teaching then leads to an unbiblical mindset, which results in unfruitful and disobedient living-a certain recipe for compromise. Unfortunately, discernment is an area where most Christians stumble. They exhibit little ability to measure the things they are taught against the infallible standard of God's Word, and they unwittingly engage in all kinds of unbiblical decision-making and behavior. In short, they are not armed to take a decidedly biblical stand against the onslaught of unbiblical thinking and attitudes that face them throughout their day. Discernment intersects the Christian life at every point. And God's Word provides us with the needed discernment about every issue of life. According to Peter, God "has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3). You see, it is through the "true knowledge of Him," that we have been given everything we need to live a Christian life in this fallen world. And how else do we have true knowledge of God but through the pages of His Word, the Bible? In fact, Peter goes on to say that such knowledge comes through God's granting "to us His precious and magnificent promises" (2 Peter 1:4). Discernment -- the ability to think biblically about all areas of life -- is indispensable to an uncompromising life. It is incumbent upon the Christian to seize upon the discernment that God has provided for in His precious truth! Without it, Christians are at risk of being "tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine" (Ephesians 4:14). (Source of this blog: www.gty.org/Resources/Questions/QA138) 48 Bible Verses about Discernment Biblical Discernment Wreck-It Ralph is a 2012 American computer-animated family-comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It is the 52nd animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. The film was directed by Rich Moore, who has directed episodes of The Simpsons and Futurama, and the screenplay was written by Jennifer Lee and Phil Johnston from a story by Moore, Johnston and Jim Reardon. John Lasseter served as the executive producer. The film features the voices of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch. A tribute to over 30 years of the gaming industry, the film tells the story of the titular arcade game villain who rebels against his role and dreams of becoming a hero. He travels between games in the arcade, and ultimately must eliminate a dire threat that could affect the entire arcade, and one that Ralph himself inadvertently started. Wreck-It Ralph premiered at the El Capitan Theatre on October 29, 2012, and went into general release on November 2. The film has earned $471 million in worldwide box office revenue, $189 million of which was earned in the United States and Canada; it was met with critical and commercial success, winning the Annie Award for Best Animated Feature and receiving nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film and the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. . . continue reading>> What 'Wreck-It Ralph' Can Teach Us About Life (by Gerry Gavin - Huff Post) Every animated child's movie has some sort of moral to the story. Generally they are predictable and revolve around the basic things that we teach our kids about good guys always winning and bad guy always losing in the end. But "Wreck-It Ralph" has more. "Wreck-It Ralph" is the story of an arcade video game character. He is the bad guy who wrecks everything in sight so that "Fix it Felix," the hero and namesake of the game, can fix it. The game ends with Felix always getting a medal for his good deeds. It takes us behind the scenes, when the arcade closes, and the characters "come to life" and socialize with other arcade game characters before getting back to the roles that they have to play the next morning when the arcade opens. But even though they are not "on stage" for the gamers, the characters still distain Ralph and love Felix. . . continue reading>> Being the "bad guy" has never been so popular. You can hardly go wrong as a baddie -- if you're a totally evil psychopath, people love to hate you, and love to see you defeated. If you're misunderstood, or have a sympathetic back-story, people fall in love with you, and wish you over to the good side. Everyone knows who their favorite villain is. Very often they get more attention than the hero. Sometimes they are the hero. . . continue reading>> The movie begins with the following dialogue. My name’s Ralph, and I am a bad guy.... I’m a wrecker. I wreck things professionally. . . Though Satan’s emissaries cloak their actions in words of benevolence and righteousness, underneath is the true heart of their master. Satan comes only to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). He is not, and never has been, the friend of mankind. . . Wreck-It Ralph is a type of Satan. Although there is an actual character named Satan (Saitine) who appears briefly, the attributes of Satan are clearly seen in the character of Wreck-It Ralph, often in very obvious ways. The character Fix-It Felix is a type of Christ. He is also at times a type of a false Christ that must appear at the end of the age. Not surprisingly, Ralph is depicted as powerful and manly while Felix is depicted as weak both physically and emotionally. Ralph is by far the more sympathetic character. . . continue reading>> |
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