The Bible on Trial

Discretion~

You have heard the phrase, "Discretion is the better part of valor." This means in part 'Don't get into a dangerous situation that you can't get out of'. Underlaying this is the concept that there is a choice to make when confronted with an issue or situation that could have dire or deadly consequences to your well being.

Applying discretion can be a wise choice when, say for instance, a delivery person wants to put a package inside a fence where there is a huge guard dog, or whether to decide to go to a Christmas party on a freezing winter night, with ice on the roads, and a blizzard in progress.

But there are instances in which discretion is not applicable to an issue or situation, an instance where you have NO CHOICE, that if you are going to live you must simply "Do, or don't do, there is no 'try'". (Mr. Miyagi - Karate Kid, 1986).

This concept is particularly true when it comes to the Law, and lawful behavior.  In Law discretion is not a factor. When a Law relies on the discretion of the state to 'show cause' in applying that law, that law become moot on it's face.  A federal judge just enjoined (stopped the actionof) the State of New York in several parts of their concealed carry law that relied on the discretion of the state in prohibiting certain people from being issues carry permits. Discretion is not a valid option in the application of Law.

Christians believe that Paul said that after the resurrection of Jesus, God decided that He could apply His own discretion in saying that people can choose to not obey His Commands and still become members of His Kingdom, and thus be saved. God, through Jesus, NEVER made this statement. Neither is there power inherent in an individual to decide to use discretion in choosing to obey the Commandments, or not. 

Believing you have this discretion is very dangerous, indeed!