For 35 years, the Motion Picture Production Code served as a moral guideline for American filmmakers (according to writer, Cal Thomas). The code, which the filmmakers were required to adhere, included this paragraph: “No picture shall be produced which will lower the moral standards of those who see it. Hence the sympathy of the audience shall never be thrown to the side of crime, wrongdoing, evil, or sin.” Clearly, things in our culture have changed. And not always for the better!.

In chapter 18 of Deuteronomy, Moses continues to prepare the next generation to enter into and conquer the Promised Land. Part of that preparation is to set the value of discernment as they encounter a culture with dark elements like they had never experienced before. It doesn’t take long to look around our culture to observe dark elements today. How can we navigate and live in the culture without being consumed by it? Moses reveals two valuable ways that discernment is essential when dealing with the dark elements of the culture we live in.

Discernment Protects You from the Darkness within the Culture (vv.9-13):

Moses challenges this new generation as they encounter the pagan culture of the Promised Land: “do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there (v. 9).” “Detestable ways” does not beat around the bush; it gets straight to the darkness within this culture. It refers to practices that are morally disgusting, dangerous to life, sinister and abhorrent. We might think, why would they be tempted to imitate anything like that? The key is found in the form of the word, “learn” and the meaning of the term, “imitate”. Learn is in a form that refers to causing you to learn. It points to something that has an influence on your thinking, your values and choices. The word, “imitate” has a root meaning of to make or create. In other words, if you do not willfully, purposely, personally resist the influence of the dark elements within a culture, it will over time shape your thinking and eventually your life in ways you never thought it could. It will draw you into its darkness.

This warning is given 2,600 times in the Old Testament — clearly this is really important and relevant! Paul in the New Testament stated it this way: “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2a).” If you do not recognize the danger and resist it, you will be engulfed by the darkness within the culture. Through Christ we can live in the world without becoming of it.

In verse 13, Moses shows us how to resist the dark elements within culture: “You must be blameless before the Lord your God.” “Blameless” does not refer to Photoshop version of human perfection. It means to be complete. God is the One Who makes you complete. When you choose each new day to align and re-align your mind and heart with Him, He will make you blameless, or as Moses referred to it earlier in Deuteronomy, “righteous” (right with God). This describes a believer who seeks God’s forgiveness when it is needed and relies on God’s grace as a way of life. Living in the world without becoming of it requires purposeful effort at resisting the darkness inherent in every culture. Don’t allow the cultural drift to pull you away from Christ.

Discernment Leads to the Truth from God (vv.21-22):

Moses also tells this new generation to discern carefully what is true and who they can trust. He encourages them to question what is spoken as truth even when coming from the lips of someone claiming to be speaking “in the name of the Lord” (v.22). If something is spoken that contradicts the truth of God’s written Word, it is not truth. Timothy makes it clear that God’s Word is, “God- breathed”,  not something of human invention (2 Timothy 2:15). Discernment therefore, is not founded on intuition or how you feel, but the bedrock of truth God has revealed. You do not have to guess at the truth; God leads you to it through His Word.

Consider This:

To navigate the culture we live in requires a expanding depth of discernment. This occurs through a growing understanding and responsiveness to the truth revealed in God’s Word. Does that describe your life? True discernment will protect you and lead you, but you have to choose each new day to engage it on a personal basis.

Deuteronomy 18:9-13, 21-22

“When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord and because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the Lord your God.

You may say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?’ If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.”