Rick,
I’ll email you my bookmarks for the low low price of $19.94.

So if Chris L uses a source from the internet like this, it must be true, but if someone else (i.e. anyone labeled ODM) uses a source from the internet…

Brendt: If I had “got the point,” I wouldn’t be asking, would I? Forgive me for participating.

Keith – I think the point is that the internet is filled with truth, half truths, and lies. Everyone chooses which and will answer to God. Some use honest discernment, some use scorched earth discerment, some use little or no discernment.

Lions and tigers and bears, Oh my…

The journey is serious and with many deceptions. Some deceptions compromise truth. Some deceptions compromise grace. The greatest deception is to think you are not deceived about anything.

My sight/site is THE GOLD STANDARD!!!

It is a work of the Spirit. There are many subtlties and nuances about this “discernment” ministry thing. Just the title gives an impression of spiritual insight and prescience. The opportunity for pride is monumental and without an uncomfortable humility and even a chronic unveiling of your own shortcomings and sins the discerner becomes unusable.

I have written some things and absorbed a great deal of fleshly pride even while believing what I wrote. I have, to God’s glory, written in the Spirit as well and felt I knew less about the subject when I posted than when I began. The “discernment” ministry is perhaps been given a misleading title that gives way to a seer mentality wrought with pride.

Maybe an “appeal” ministry would be better served, but in any case Iwe all must not become magnetized to anyone or any one flavor of discernment. Why are there no discernment ministries that expose the sins of the orthodox? Do they have no sins and shortcomings? MacArthur (for example) is above criticism? And is it not obvious that when we post a blog article that all the agreement chambers come running to fill our perspective basket with praise?

I still contend that humility and a sacrificial brand of love must be sought and practiced. And if we are to speak about errors we see, we cannot crowd our blog with nonsense like divorces or art or music style or a host of other soap box outlets for the flesh. That compromises any credibility one might have in legitimate areas.

So to answer your question, Keith, it must be searched in the Spirit with a healthy dose of discernment about the discernment ministries. Rule of thumb for me is if it makes me angry and hateful about someone I avoid it, and if it promtes error without any correction I avoid it. So with those ingredients in mind where do I go??

Yep, FJL. At least I know that hypocrite is sincere!