Biblical Discernment

Discernment is simply the ability to decide between what is true and false. This ability is an incredible challenge in the 21st century because there is no standard of truth for the secular world. However, for Christians whose standard of truth is Scripture, the ability to think with discernment is tantamount to an ability to think biblically.

Biblical discernment is the careful process of wading through and analyzing truth claims to arrive at the clearest possible decision regarding their trustworthiness and value as it relates to Scripture and Christian doctrine. Every believer is commanded to exercise biblical discernment, which means that we are to think from a biblical vantage point about every issue in life (1 Thess 5:21-22). It requires us to engage our minds by informing ourselves through the study of the truth revealed in God’s Word. Being grounded in the truth of Scripture is the surest way to prepare ourselves to be able to recognize error. If we fail to distinguish between truth and error, then we have left ourselves open to all kinds of false teaching that can and most often will lead to an unbiblical mindset, which provides all the makings necessary for living a life of compromise in the faith.

Discernment is seen in Scripture as an essential component for spiritual growth. The author of Hebrews conveys the importance of spiritually mature believers regularly and routinely making their decisions by distinguishing between the principles of good and evil: “Solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil” (Heb 5:14). In the Old Testament the prophet Ezekiel makes clear that spiritually mature leaders will teach others how to recognize accurately the difference between the holy and the unholy (Ezek. 44:23). Discernment, according to Scripture, is a vital part of Christian life.

My prayer for our faith family is that we will intentionally think biblically about life and that we will exercise biblical discernment as we walk on this side of eternity together so that we do not fall prey to being “tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” (Eph 4:14).

Brent