Undiscerning
by Terry Wane Benton
Did you know that being undiscerning is sinful and deserving of death? Paul lists it among the unrighteous things that are “deserving of death” in Romans 1:28-32.
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them" (NKJV).
The word “undiscerning” here is translated “without understanding” in other versions. There are those who make a great effort to “not understand” some things that are actually quite straightforward. For example, it is not really hard to draw the necessary inference from the obvious power and wisdom displayed in our universe, nature, and life that this all did not happen by accident. Life does not happen by accident. Yet, many try hard not to see the obvious intelligent design. Paul says in Romans 1:20 that “they are without excuse.” God expects us to be discerning and draw necessary conclusions from the things we can see and understand.
Likewise, none of the 3,000 Jews on Pentecost had any trouble discerning the power and implications of Peter’s sermon on the resurrected Jesus, who is “now both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36). They had no trouble discerning their guilt and broken relationship with God. But, others that day were “without understanding” or “undiscerning”, because they did not want to change. Therefore, they did not want to understand.
The 3,000 had no trouble understanding what they had to do to have their sins forgiven. There was nothing hard to understand about “repent…and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins” (Acts 2:38). Yet, many today twist and try hard not to understand such simplicity. They do so to their own destruction.
Many brethren try hard to discard necessary inference. They are “undiscerning” and choose to believe that God does not require discernment. Such shows a lack of understanding.
Remember, the warning in this text is that God requires discerning and honest hearts. Undiscerning people often approve of other undiscerning people, and they are “worthy of death” (separation from God). The bottom line is that God tells us it is a sin not to draw necessary inferences from the simple things we know and can learn. We must exercise our senses to discern good and evil (Hebrews 5:12f).
Be a discerning person. This is right!
