⭐ See content on my other sites here

Showing posts with label discerning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label discerning. Show all posts

Rightly Dividing or Wrongly Destroying: Exposing the Assault on Paul and the Word of Truth

Rightly Dividing or Wrongly Destroying: Exposing the Assault on Paul and the Word of Truth


False View Warning: A Tainted Doctrine Ahead

The following is a distorted perspective that elevates Jesus’ earthly teachings while rejecting the authority of Paul’s epistles, claiming they contradict Christ. This view misuses Scripture, applies a flawed interpretive lens (“Unity/duality”), and undermines the dispensational distinction between Jesus’ ministry to Israel and Paul’s revelation for the Body of Christ. It’s important to understand what some people believe—so we can rightly divide and correct it.

False View: A Sample of Tainted Doctrine from a comment I received

Some believe that Christians should follow Jesus Himself—not Paul, Peter, or any other apostle. They argue that Catholics follow a Pope who follows Peter, a dead Apostle, and Protestants (many unknowingly) follow Martin Luther, who followed Paul (also a dead Apostle). In contrast, they claim that true Christians should only love Jesus, the Son of God. Using a “Unity/duality” filter, they reinterpret verses by replacing terms like “evil” or “enemy” with “the person's name” to prove deity versus the fallibility of man's teachings and that only Jesus’ words make logical sense. Let me give a few examples:

To understand the “Unity” of Jesus Himself, they suggest putting His name in the "target" of His Own Words. For example:

  • Matthew 5:39—"Resist not evil" becomes [Resist not Jesus.]
  • Matthew 5:44—"Love thine enemies" becomes [Love your Jesus] / [Love your Christ]

They claim this makes logical sense and reflects true unity.

Then they apply the same “Unity/duality” filter to Paul’s words to expose what they see as contradiction or distortion. For example:

  • Ephesians 6:11—"Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes" becomes [Put on the full armor of Paul, so that you can make your stand against Paul’s schemes]

They argue this reveals duality, not unity. The same filter is applied to other apostles, such as James 4:7—“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,” which becomes [Submit yourselves, then, to James. Resist James, and he will flee from you.]

They conclude that only Jesus’ teachings reveal true unity, while apostolic writings reflect duality. Paul is especially criticised, with his teachings referred to as “divine taurum stercore” (Latin for “divine bull dung”). The post urges readers to reject Paul and listen only to Jesus Himself.

Numerous contrasts between Jesus’ teachings and Paul’s writings are listed to support this claim—these will be addressed and corrected later in the article.

Love That Approves is the Heart of Discernment (Part 4)



Love That Approves is the Heart of Discernment (Part 4)

As we journey through this study, we’ve uncovered a compelling spiritual progression. In Part 1, we introduced the scale of the mind—caught between proving and reprobation. Part 2 explored the Greek roots of dokimazō and adokimos, revealing the tension between approval and rejection. Then in Part 3, we recognised that every believer lives in a season of probation—a time of testing, where the mind is being shaped by its response to truth. Now, we turn to a vital truth that undergirds the entire process: love is the key to approving rightly. Without love, discernment falters. Without love, judgment becomes harsh. But when love abounds in knowledge and judgment, the believer is equipped to prove what pleases God.

Love That Discerns

Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1:9-10 is both profound and practical:

“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent…”

Here, love is not sentimental—it is intelligent. It is not blind—it is discerning. The Greek word for “judgment” (aisthēsis) speaks of moral insight, the ability to perceive what is spiritually valuable. And “approve” (dokimazō) again calls us to test and affirm what is excellent. But the condition is clear: love must abound first. Without love, knowledge becomes cold. Without love, judgment becomes critical. But when love abounds, the believer sees with clarity and responds with grace.

This is not a love that ignores truth—it is a love that seeks it. It is a love that discerns rightly because it desires what is good for others and what is pleasing to God. Paul does not separate love from doctrine—he binds them together. The more we love, the more we are able to judge rightly (discern wisely, or perceive clearly). And the more we judge rightly, the more we are able to approve what is excellent.