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(This article written by Harry Bethel appeared in the 3/1996 issue of Pulpit Helps, a periodical with a distribution of more than 100,000 to readers all over the world, most of whom are "pastors," teachers, church leaders, Bible college students and seminary students.)

Have you ever wondered why there is so much error among brethren concerning doctrine? Much of the problem can be attributed to carnality or a party spirit (denominational or sectarian), but much of it is directly related to the fact that there is simply a lack of discernment among church leaders and other Christians in these last days.

If there ever was a need for the gift of discernment it is now. But a truly discerning Christian who has a teachable spirit and is more concerned about scriptural truth than denominational or congregational loyalty is a rare one indeed. And it is difficult to find a "pastor" who fears God more than the deacon board or whoever does the hiring and firing. (Of course hiring and firing pastors is as unscriptural as myriad other practices among most church groups today.)

There are, however, many sincere church leaders who are doing the best they can, but are far from the New Testament pattern. Why is this the case? One reason is a lack of discernment. But the problem is not with God and Him not being willing to give discernment to His saints. The problem is with us, because we have divided hearts. We want what the world has to offer more than we want God and the fullness of the Holy Spirit, and the power and discernment to be had. "And He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul" (Ps. 106:15).

Quenching the Holy Spirit

There is much spiritual leanness today because of Christians filling their minds with the filth and humanistic philosophy on the television and in the newspapers and suchlike. The Holy Spirit has been so quenched that they can no longer discern the more subtle tactics of the enemy. We are like those Old Testament saints spoken of in the book of Judges, "Every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (17:6).

Many Christians have become desensitized by listening to the enemy saying again and again concerning so many teachings in the Scriptures, "Yea, hath God said...."

And during this time of apostasy new Christians look to the leaders and say, Well it must be okay to strip down half-naked and go to the beach if the pastor and his wife do it. It must be okay to go to the ball games and jump up and down and yell like the other fans (fanatics) if the pastor does it. It must be okay to watch the popular programs and slanderous news on TV if the pastor does it. It must be okay to go into debt to buy a house and a car if the "pastor" does it. "He gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul."

Christians cannot indulge in the carnal offerings of the world and expect to be discerning. The Scriptures teach not only that there is a gift of discerning of spirits but that we can also learn to discern. This can only come as we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. But the learning is a result of the Holy Spirit teaching us, and discernment being a spiritual ability, one must be spiritual as opposed to carnal. There is a high price to pay for indulging in that which appeals to the carnal nature. And, most important, there is an eternal cost that involves the loss of eternal rewards.

Needed: a Few Good Men

The only hope (if there is any) for the apostatizing Church is for a few Spirit-filled men of God with a backbone to say "No" to the worldly enticements that have entrapped most church leaders who should know better but don't. May God raise up even a handful of men who have the discernment to see through the mist and refuse to "play church" like the vast majority of Christians in this country today. The Church desperately needs men like that, even though they don't want them. There are many "pastors" who suspect that something is seriously wrong with the way things are, but they don't know what to do about it or else they don't want to jeopardize losing their "job" or most of the congregation who has one eye on God and one eye on the world.

We need men today who will preach with a loving spirit, but will nonetheless preach the truth---and let the carnal ones kick and scream if they don't want to repent. True revival preaching is needed today, but it is a rare thing in these last days of apostasy.

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