Discernment is the ability to judge well and make wise decisions. It involves being able to separate truth from error, right from wrong, pure motives from impure. Discernment is essential for every believer in Jesus Christ because we live in a fallen world filled with deception, false teaching, and flawed human wisdom. Thankfully, God has not left us defenseless. His Word provides clear guidance on cultivating discernment so we can navigate life successfully according to His will.
The Bible has much to say about discernment and warns believers to beware of false prophets and teachers who can easily mislead people. Jesus cautioned that “false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mark 13:22). The apostle Paul urged, “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-21).
How can we test teachings and prophecies? By comparing them to the Bible. God’s Word is the ultimate standard of truth. Isaiah 8:20 declares, “To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.” Any doctrine or spiritual experience must align with the entirety of Scripture to be valid.
In addition to testing teachings, the Bible exhorts us to test the spirits behind them. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). We must carefully discern if a teacher or prophet truly represents the Spirit of Christ or a different spirit.
Scripture lists several virtues and practices that enable careful discernment:
- Prayer – Ask God for wisdom to understand His Word properly and identify deceit (James 1:5).
- Knowledge of Scripture – Be thoroughly familiar with biblical truths to recognize counterfeits (Hebrews 5:14).
- Spiritual maturity – Grow in Christ-likeness through obedience, which develops discernment (Philippians 1:9-10).
- Accountability – Submit to godly leadership in the church who can guide and correct you (Hebrews 13:17).
- Cautiousness – Have a discerning mindset that tests everything carefully (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).
In exercising discernment, we must be sure our motives are pure. We should approach teaching humbly and without judgment or pride, considering our own weakness (Galatians 6:1). Our aim must be to please God and uphold His truth, not simply prove ourselves right.
God promises that if we ask Him, He will generously grant discernment: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5). As we stay rooted in Scripture and cultivate discernment, we can avoid deception and walk in God’s truth.
Old Testament Teachings on Discernment
The Old Testament provides foundational understanding of discernment. Moses challenged Israel to wholeheartedly obey God’s commands, warning that lacking discernment to do so would lead to curse and judgment (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). Solomon frequently exhorted acquiring wisdom and discernment, saying “fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). Godly discernment applies wisdom to make prudent decisions and reject foolishness.
False prophets plagued Israel, yet God provided tests to discern them. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 directs examining prophecies against Scripture and rejecting false prophets, even if they performed signs and wonders. Likewise, Isaiah 8:20 charges validating messengers by God’s instruction and testimony. Only messages aligned with established revelation were to be heeded.
Discernment is often connected to understanding and following God’s Law. Psalm 119, the longest psalm exalting God’s Word, says discerning God’s decrees grants insight (119:99-100). The Law outlines how to apply discernment in God’s will. It provides objective revelation to guide subjective discernment.
Proverbs especially emphasizes acquiring wisdom, which is essentially godly discernment. It begins, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” (Proverbs 1:7). Revering God starts one on the path of discernment. Studying wisdom then enables prudent decisions, instructs behaviors that please God, and preserves one from foolishness and sin.
New Testament Teachings on Discernment
Jesus demonstrated discernment throughout His ministry. He perceived people’s thoughts (Luke 5:22), identified the true source of miracles (Matthew 12:25-28), and knew Judas’s deceitful heart (John 6:64). Since Jesus relied on the Spirit, He is our model of spiritual discernment empowered by intimacy with God.
Jesus warned His disciples to “beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matthew 7:15). He stressed judging fruit to assess if a teacher’s character lines up with God’s Word (Matthew 7:15-23). Christ modeled carefully testing religious authority against Scripture, not blindly following it.
In Jesus’s high priestly prayer, He asked the Father to sanctify believers in truth and keep them from the evil one (John 17:17-19). Sanctification comes through applying Christ’s teachings by the Spirit’s power. This enables discernment to reject worldly attitudes and values that contradict God’s truth.
The New Testament epistles continue the emphasis on discernment. Paul encouraged distinguishing good and evil (Hebrews 5:14) and testing everything while holding fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). John exhorted testing spirits behind prophets (1 John 4:1-3) and commended the Berean church for examining Paul’s teaching against Scripture (Acts 17:11).
Believers are to exercise discernment corporately through church leadership. Elders must be “able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). The church should exercise discernment and discipline together when necessary (1 Corinthians 5:12-13).
How to Grow in Biblical Discernment
Scripture encourages believers to cultivate discernment. Here are some key ways to grow:
- Pray for wisdom (James 1:5)
- Study and memorize Scripture (Psalm 119:9-11)
- Live obediently to become discerning (John 7:17)
- Examine fruits and test teachings (Matthew 7:15-20)
- Rely on the Holy Spirit’s guidance (1 Corinthians 2:12-14)
- Submit to godly leadership (Hebrews 13:17)
As we devote ourselves to prayerfully applying God’s Word under the Spirit’s guidance, we will increase in discernment. If we stay humble and teachable, wisdom enables us to reflect Christ and walk in His truth while navigating deception in the world.
Dangers of Lacking Discernment
Discernment is crucial because lacking it leads believers into deception, sin and destruction. Scripture contains many warnings about this:
- “Whoever lacks sense entrusts himself to a way that leads to ruin.” (Proverbs 12:26)
- “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
- “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company ruins good morals.’” (1 Corinthians 15:33)
- “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith.” (2 Corinthians 13:5)
Without discernment, it is easy to be led astray by falsehoods that seem true or enticed by sinful temptations that appear harmless. We can fail to recognize hazardous teachings or rationalize drifting from biblical morality. Discernment protects us from subtle dangers we may not anticipate or understand.
Benefits of Discerning Well
Growing in biblical discernment produces many positive fruits:
- Ability to distinguish truth and error
- Wisdom to make sound decisions
- Capacity to assess teachers and teachings accurately
- Protection from false doctrines and sinful philosophies
- Clarity to understand God’s will
- Insight to recognize the spiritual forces behind influences
Through discernment, we can avoid pitfalls and stay on the path of following Jesus through the jungle of conflicting worldviews and moral confusion in our culture. We access the mind of Christ to filter ideas and philosophies through His perfect truth.
Discerning Wisely in Gray Areas
While Scripture gives clear guidance on essential doctrines and moral issues, many details of theology and lifestyle remain debatable. Wise discernment:
- Accepts ambiguity on secondary issues
- Allows freedom within biblical bounds
- Distinguishes core commands from applications
- Shows grace to those with different conclusions
On disputable matters, we must be careful not to equate our conclusions with absolute truth. Humility, respect for others, and maintaining unity should characterize our discernment on secondary issues.
Conclusion
God commands and equips us to exercise discernment. As culture grows increasingly confused about truth, discernment becomes more vital for believers seeking to live faithfully. Scripture exhorts us to continually grow in discipleship, test all teachings, rely on the Spirit’s wisdom, submit to church authority, and base our lives entirely on God’s Word. By His grace, discernment allows us to walk in the light of Christ and fulfill His purposes.
