Discernment
Guiding the Church with Biblical Clarity
Overview
What is Spiritual Discernment
1 John 4:1 exhorts believers to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God,” highlighting the critical need for spiritual discernment, a skill often neglected in modern Christianity. Discernment, defined as the Spirit-empowered ability to use God’s Word to distinguish between truth and error and right and wrong, is essential for preventing the spread of false teachings and immoral behaviors within the church. Many Christians lack this discernment, often due to a misunderstanding of its nature, seeing it as a subjective feeling or mere good decision-making. However, true biblical discernment involves a deep, Spirit-enabled engagement with Scripture to discern God’s truth from deception.
Discernment requires both divine enablement and human effort. It is a skill that believers must develop through consistent practice, as emphasized in Hebrews 5:14. This development involves a rigorous and continual commitment to understanding and applying God’s Word, rather than relying on subjective feelings or societal standards. Discernment also necessitates making clear distinctions between good and evil, truth and error, as highlighted in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22. In a culture resistant to absolute truths, Christians must use the objective standard of Scripture to guide their beliefs and behaviors, ensuring they align with God’s righteousness rather than the shifting norms of the world.
A Call for Discernment
In 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, Paul calls Christians to “examine everything carefully, hold fast to that which is good, and abstain from every form of evil.” This exhortation underscores the necessity of spiritual discernment, defined as the Spirit-empowered skill of using God’s Word to distinguish between truth and error and right and wrong. Today, discernment is often neglected as many Christians avoid conflict or fear the responsibility that comes with acknowledging sin and falsehood. However, the Bible is unequivocal about the need for discernment, urging believers to confront cultural and personal challenges with clear, scriptural distinctions.
The need for discernment arises from several crucial reasons. Firstly, it protects against false teaching, which can destabilize and destroy both individual believers and entire congregations. Discernment helps believers recognize and reject deceptive teachings that flatter and mislead. Secondly, discernment fosters spiritual maturity, as it requires believers to continually engage with and apply God’s Word, leading to growth in Christ. Tim Challies emphasizes that a lack of discernment signifies spiritual immaturity, while its practice leads to maturity and health in one’s faith journey.
Furthermore, discernment pleases Christ, who calls His followers to live sincerely and blamelessly according to His standards. It is essential for the church’s mission to uphold and proclaim the truth, guarding against distortion and error. Finally, discernment promotes the kingdom of God by ensuring that sound doctrine prevails, which fosters genuine love and advances God’s work on earth. Despite the obstacles and potential costs, the benefits of discernment—protection, maturity, pleasing Christ, fulfilling the church’s mission, and promoting the kingdom—are invaluable and underscore its critical role in Christian life.
Developing Discernment
Spiritual discernment, defined as the Spirit-empowered skill of using God’s Word to distinguish between right and wrong and truth and error, is essential for every believer. While some Christians are uniquely gifted with discernment, all believers are called to develop this skill through intentional effort. The pursuit of discernment involves several practical steps: seeking it with determination, praying for it, immersing oneself in Scripture, practicing obedience to God’s Word, engaging actively in a biblical church, and persevering in spiritual growth. These steps are crucial as discernment not only helps in recognizing false teachings but also fosters spiritual maturity and aligns believers with God’s will.
Despite the challenges and varying levels of proficiency in discernment among believers, everyone can grow in this skill. It requires overcoming procrastination, laziness, and the inherent difficulty of the task. Discernment also demands humility, acknowledging that growth is a continuous process dependent on God’s Word and Spirit. By being intentional in pursuing discernment, praying for it, and immersing in Scripture, believers can develop the ability to discern and apply God’s truth in their lives. This journey of growing in discernment is not only individual but also communal, with the church playing a pivotal role in fostering a culture of discernment and mutual growth.
The Dangers of Practicing Discernment
Discernment, while essential, often carries a negative reputation, frequently associated with divisiveness, judgmental attitudes, and heresy-hunting. This has led many Christians to shy away from practicing discernment due to its perceived negative connotations. However, discernment should be exercised in a Christ-like manner, avoiding pitfalls such as improper judgment, where believers judge others on matters of conscience, motives of the heart, or hypocritically. Instead, discernment should focus on evaluating doctrines and actions against Scripture, adhering to righteous judgment as instructed by Jesus.
Practicing discernment also requires avoiding an improper context. Christians should not become heresy-hunters, constantly seeking out errors and reveling in criticizing others. This approach can lead to cynicism and bitterness, rather than spiritual growth. Instead, believers should focus on what is true, good, and lovely, as advised in Philippians 4:8. Discernment should be applied when errors present themselves naturally in daily life, such as through reading or discussions within the church, rather than actively seeking out false teachings.
Finally, discernment should be used to protect spiritual well-being without becoming paranoid or overly critical. Believers with a balanced approach to discernment will safeguard themselves and their communities from real spiritual threats without seeking out conflicts unnecessarily. By exercising discernment in a loving, responsible manner, Christians can uphold truth and maintain unity within the church.
Decisions and Discernment
In our study of spiritual discernment, we learned that it should be guided by God’s Word under the Spirit’s influence, rather than our feelings. While emotions are part of our human experience and the fruit of the Spirit includes emotional aspects like love, joy, and peace, discernment involves making decisions based on biblical truths. To practice discernment biblically, we should first follow clear biblical commands. If the Bible doesn’t give explicit instructions, we turn to biblical principles by examining similar situations in Scripture. Seeking counsel from trusted believers can also help ensure our desires don’t cloud our judgment. When commands and principles don’t provide clear guidance, we follow our conscience, ensuring our decisions align with faith. Finally, if multiple options pass these tests, we can follow our desires, trusting God will work for His glory.
This method liberates believers from the anxiety of deciphering God’s hidden will, focusing instead on what is revealed in Scripture. By adhering to these steps, we can make decisions that honor God, relying on prayer for wisdom and discernment throughout the process. Spiritual discernment, then, becomes a skill to embrace and develop, helping us distinguish between truth and error, right and wrong, and ultimately live a life that glorifies Christ. This disciplined approach to decision-making fosters a deeper reliance on God’s Word and the Spirit’s guidance, equipping us to navigate life faithfully and effectively.