DISCERNMENT

Living Fully in the World With Christian Discernment

PurposeThe United States is a pluralistic society in which orthodox Christian

believers will increasingly live among people who do not share our

deepest convictions and values.

The main purpose of this class is to :

• Grow in awe of God, his grace and his word.

• Practice discernment - our ability to respond winsomely to those

who see things differently.

• Grow in understanding of our time in history and why many do not

share our scriptural convictions.

• Grow in love for those who see things differently

Discernment Exercise #1

A Better Connected World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaNfeClDMu0

Discernment Exercise # 2

Prince EA “Can we Auto Correct Humanity”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRl8EIhrQjQ&t=17s

Discernment

• What is being said? What’s at stake or being argued for?

• What’s the essential or foundational issue?

• What’s being made attractive? How?

• Where do I agree? Seek points of agreement first; Christian have

an unfortunate reputation of being negative, condescending, and

disagreeable.

• What might I challenge?

• What is a Christian response?

What is a Person?

Nancy Pearcey

“Moral issues always bring us to the question – What

is a person?”

To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion

to the youth – Let the wise hear and increase in learning,

and the one who understands obtain guidance, to

understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise

and their riddles. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of

knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1

The Beginning of Wisdom

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to

our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has

spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all

things, through whom also he created the world. He is the

radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his

nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his

power.

Hebrews 1.1-3

The Beginning of Wisdom

Christ

Theology

Philosophy

Biology

Law (Justice)

Ethics

Economics

Politics

Sociology

Government

History

Art

Math /Physics

Music

10

Western Civilization on one Slide!

Pre-ModernClassical Period -1600 AD

Modern1600 AD – 1945 AD

Post Modern1945 – Present

1300 AD 2013 AD

Enlightenment

Nihilism /

RelativismRenaissance

Reformation

Scientific

Revolution1300-1550

1450-1600

1550-17271860-Present

1650-1945

Middle Ages

& Church

Fathers

An age of ultimate confidence in the autonomous

individual, free from all tradition, guided by human reason

,science, and technology as the universally valid arbiters of

truth.

“…immaturity is self-incurred if its cause is not lack of understanding, but

lack of resolution and courage to use it without the guidance of another.

The motto of the enlightenment is therefore: ‘Sapre aude!’ Have courage

to use your own understanding”

Emmanuel Kant

What was the Enlightenment (or Modernity)?

Pre-Modern Basis of Truth

Reason

Revelation (Scripture)

Tradition

Enlightenment (Modern) Basis of Truth (This is the setting into which Darwinistic Naturalism was introduced)

Reason

Revelation (Scripture) Tradition

Post Modern (No Truth – Just Individual Choice)

ReasonRevelation (Scripture) Tradition

Individual

15

Center of Meaning for Each Age

Pre-Modern

Classical Period -1600 AD

Modern /

Enlightenment

1600 AD – 1945 AD

Post Modern

1945 AD – Present

30 AD 2013 AD

Creator God Individual Reason Individual Will

Discernment Exercise #3

Neil Postman, "Technology“ (start at 6.05 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbAPtGYiRvg&t=116s

Discernment Exercise #4

Pride, Lust, Technology—and the Bible. A Conversation

with Leon Kass (end at 1.26 min)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsvaWsFpLsM&t=112s

Main Points• Technology isn’t just an assembly of gadgets , devices, or

techniques; but rather more ; like a principality or a power

• Technology can seduce us into believing a lie that sin and death

can be eradicated by our reason, hard work, and creativity

• A utopian view of technology ignore the scriptural claim that we

are broken and sinful.

• Wisdom is the recognition of our “creatureliness” and that the

world is given to us by our creator with a way of life designed

into it.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his

might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able

to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not

wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,

against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this

present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the

heavenly places. .

Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Faith, Salvation, Spirit, Word

Ephesians 6.12

The Beginning of Wisdom

The Limits of Science and Technology

“The existence of a limit to science is, however, made clear by its inability

to answer childlike questions having to do with first and last things –

questions such as ‘How did everything begin’; ‘ what are we all here for?;

‘what is the point of living?’ ”Sir Peter Medawar

“Science can tell you that, if you add strychnine to someone’s drink it will

kill them. But science cannot tell you whether it is morally right or wrong to

put strychnine into your grandmother’s tea so you can have her property”John Lennox

“Great God, Creator of the Universe, and our eternal power, how

great thy fame in every corner of the whole wide world! How

great thy glory, which flies wondrously above the far flung

ramparts of the heavens with rushing wings! “

Johannes Kepler(1571-1630)

German Astronomer – Developed Key Laws of Planetary Motion

The Secret of the Universe

Viewing Science and Technology “Christianly”

“Speculations? I have none. I am resting on certainties. I know whom

I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which

I have committed unto him against that day.”

Michael Faraday (1791-1867)

Major contributor to Electromagnetism and Electrochemistry

Viewing Science and Technology “Christianly”

Louis Pasteur (1827-1912)

Discovered the principles of vaccination, microbial fermentation and pasteurization.

“Posterity will one day laugh at the foolishness of modern

materialistic philosophers. The more I study nature, the more I

stand amazed at the work of the Creator. I pray while I am engaged

at my work in the laboratory.”[As quoted in The Literary Digest (18 October 1902)]

Viewing Science and Technology “Christianly”

J.J. Thompson (1856-1940)

Nobel Laureate in Physics, Discoverer of the Electron, Founder of Atomic Physics

"As we conquer peak after peak we see in front of us regions full of interest and

beauty, but we do not see our goal, we do not see the horizon; in the distance

towers still higher peaks, which will yield to those who ascend them still wider

prospects, and deepen the feeling, the truth of which is emphasized by every

advance in science, that 'Great are the Works of the Lord'." (Thomson 1909, Nature, vol. 81, p. 257)

Viewing Science and Technology “Christianly”

Main Points• Technology isn’t just an assembly of gadgets , devices, or

techniques; but rather more ; like a principality or a power

• Technology can seduce us into believing a lie that sin and death

can be eradicated by our reason, hard work, and creativity

• A utopian view of technology ignore the scriptural claim that we

are broken and sinful.

• Wisdom is the recognition of our “creatureliness” and that the

world is given to us by our creator with a way of life designed

into it.