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Why is Discernment So Important?

Our English word “discern” means “to separate” or “to distinguish between” and comes from Latin “to sift apart.” Now the thing that we first of all need to understand about “discernment” is that EVERYONE does it in some way. We have learned to “discern” whether we like or dislike the taste of apples or oranges or broccoli. We have “sifted apart” our food likes and dislikes into these “categories.” Tastes good verses tastes bad. In this instance they are personal but yet there is an acknowledged corporate “okay”with your decision because we all have different “tastes.” We have learned to discern whether we are “morning people” or “night people” by “distinguishing between” when we personally can get the most things done versus when we are non-productive. Since this is personal and individual it once again normally receives a corporate “okay.” But when it comes to teaching and knowledge of God and obedience to Him and our Christian character and witness we also need to discern. Why? The Scriptures give us many basic principles for discernment and reasons why we are to discern. Below is a general list with Scriptural references. I am providing them with a title and in what I believe to be a generally godly order or pattern.

THE GLORY OF HIS HOLY NAME THROUGH OUR INDIVIDUAL CHOICES

According to Ezekiel 22:26 (See terms & text for reference: this text speaks of “distinguishing” between holy things and profane things), unless we discern we will profane His name in the midst of the people. Make sure you catch that - we will profane His name - not simply internally or before Him alone - but in the midst of them. People will be helped or hindered in understanding the name of God (His deeds and character) based on how well we “discern” and act upon our discernment. This is quite visible and it is why the “worldly” brand of Christianity so prevalent in our day and age should be constantly rejected - it does not reflect the HOLINESS of God.

OUR CLEARLY IDENTIFYING WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN OUR CHOICES

According to I John 4:4-6 (See terms & text for reference) we can know the spirit of truth versus the spirit of error by whether or not we listen to the apostles words (teachings). Our proof in knowing God is because we participate with the people of God in the truth. The category of discernment in the text is truth versus error - not loving versus unloving or popular versus unpopular, etc. (We are to be loving as we discern, mind you.) If you remember back to chapter 1 of  I John he mentions the fact that the apostles made known the truth of what they had seen, felt, etc. This was so that then the people to whom he was communicating could have fellowship with them. Notice the order: first truth, then fellowship. Fellowship is to always follow after the truth and not vice versa. When truth is at stake - fellowship is temporarily place upon the back-burner. This is why all calls of unity - even based in Scripture - are to fall on the heels of a call to truth. The perfect example of this is Jesus High Priestly prayer in John 17. He does not pray simply that we Christians are to be one. He prays that we are one as He and the Father are one and that we are set apart both individually and corporately in the TRUTH OF THE WORD! The focus of oneness is not oneness - the focus of our oneness is God and His truth. This focus of oneness upon truth can also be seen in Ephesians 4:1-16 where the command for oneness in Spirit is clearly based in the unity of the faith, the one faith, one Lord, one baptism the no longer carried about by every wind of doctrine, and the speaking of truth in love.

OUR ABILITY TO HELP A WANDERING BROTHER OR SISTER 

According to James 5:19,20 (See terms & text for reference) we may help someone else by being discerning. The text tells us that we help someone by turning them back or turning them around from their wandering path. The path they are returned unto is the path of truth. This entire process of obedience on our part takes a discerning of the persons walk with God based on outward actions (either obviously ungodly or a lacking of a godly walk). And there are benefits that result if you will notice the end of the text. Telling people the objective truth of the Word of God when you see they are wandering away and they are receptive to it is always the most loving thing to do and should be done with an appropriate and godly character. (Sometimes we may find that God even uses us to tell people things when they are not receptive. But this is usually something we learn in maturing.)

OUR EFFECTIVENESS IN UNDERSTANDING AND WALKING WITH GOD

According to Matthew 6:22-23 (See terms & text for reference), the eye of our hearts is to be single upon the righteousness of His kingdom (verse 33.) (Jesus is relating the physical to the spiritual.) If we do not line up or measure that which comes into our lives based upon a standard (which is His kingdom and His righteousness) that which we thought was okay ends up becoming a terrible impediment. Jesus tells us in a parallel passage in Luke 11:35 to make sure that the light in you is not really darkness.  (We are responsible and commanded to discern for ourselves by Jesus!!! See also Luke 12:57) All things are to be measured by a standard. And if we are to have a single life unto Him then that standard is not us or the world or family or friends or the most current polls or surveys or even the church - but His Kingdom and His righteousness as revealed in His Word. The God-ordained standard is His self-disclosure in Holy Scripture. It is our responsibility to take the standard and to then measure what comes into us in such a way that we are lining up everything into categories; is it true or not, does it further enhance my passion for Him or not, is it according to His will or not, is it based in love as defined in I Corinthians 13 or not, etc. This is discernment and it affects and effects us (eye as lamp versus body as life) as to whether we do it well or not. i.e. To the extent that your spiritual eye is single (discerning that which enters it and sifts it based on the standard and then embraces or discards it) - to that extent your life either will have great darkness (which you may think is light since you didn't discern) or it will be filled with His true light. And our Lord Jesus Christ taught it to us in THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT! And it is NOT someone else's responsibility - it is our individual responsibility! YOU make sure that the light in you is not really darkness. YOU are to make sure that the light in you is really God's truth from His Word - which is true light! Because lies can come into us disguised as truth if we are not careful - and they will affect our life. So the bottom line is: you are to discern because your actually and truly living unto Him is at stake! Not whether you think you are but whether you really are based through the eye being single (discerning) the light (kingdom) standard. This is profound - and it is what Jesus Himself taught. (Please take special note: The Matthew 6 text where Jesus taught us this principle comes immediately before Matthew 7:1.  This is the often quoted and yet often completely misunderstood and misapplied judge not lest you be judged.)

TRUE DISCERNMENT ENHANCES GODLY CONFIDENCE 

According to I Corinthians 2:13-15 the spiritual man discerns all things yet he is not discerned by anyone. We must keep this within context. They are discerning because they are concerned about the thoughts of God which are expressed in words. (verse 13) And they are not judged by human opinion because they have already given themselves to a higher judge - God himself. If you will notice in another text (II Corinthians 4:1-5) Paul articulates this truth about the reality of he himself being examined by the Lord and his not being conscious of anything against himself. We must always leave room for the final judgment of God in any matters in this text. And please note one important point: it is only God's final judgment that can disclose the issue of the heart. In other words – the judgment will show the true motive of everyone. So - if we are spiritual - we judge ourselves - we judge teachings - we judge outward behaviors - but we can never truly judge motives in others and we have to consciously do it even for ourselves (because we are prone to sin).

DISCERNMENT CAN KEEP US FROM UNCONSCIOUS YET CULPABLE SINNING 

According to II John 8-11 (See terms & text for reference) we may actually participate in wickedness if we are not discerning. (This text may be one of the most overlooked texts in Christendom today - and it is having spiritually deadly effects.) The text tells us that we can participate in someone else's wickedness through support and the wickedness described is not moral but didactic. The people described go beyond the teaching of Christ. They cannot nor will not stay within the framework of the truths of Scripture. And if anyone helps them in any way - then they are actually helping them and participating with them in this teaching wickedness! So if we buy a Christian book and it ends up being the book of a heretic - we have to a degree participated with that heretic in his evil teaching by lending him our monetary support! And you and I are responsible for the knowing and doing! And the Apostle John was made responsible for the telling (inspiration of the Holy Spirit) and the preacher in preaching the truth and us in obeying the truth because it is Holy Scripture and we are under its' authority. So we discern so that we won't be judged as participating in wickedness. Make sure you caught this. We judge correctly and act accordingly so that we won't be judged as participating in their wickedness!!! Unfortunately, in our day and age, the proliferation of Christian books, television ministries, and our own general willingness to give may be actually placing a greater judgment upon us and because of our lack of Scriptural understanding we don't even know it! You should know what your Christian support is actually supporting! You know it! And what you really should know about the current seed-faith teachings is that if we sew our seed to a heretic or a false teacher or a false prophet - then we are going to reap that reward since God is not mocked (Galatians 6:7) and we have disobeyed the clear teachings of this Scripture in II John 8-11.

OUR DISCERNMENT IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO OUR JUDGMENT BY JESUS CHRIST 

According to II Corinthians 5:10 we should discern because we will each have to give an account to Jesus Christ at His judgment seat. Jesus Christ Himself will discern if our deeds are good or bad. (You should do a study of all the Scriptural teachings upon the subject judge so you will be most soundly informed.) But simply asked: what is the basis of His judgment?  Will it be us telling him: well I thought that....or....my brother wanted me to....or...it just happened by accident...or...my pastor told me that…or...it was easier to...? We should not be surprised when we find that He will judge us out of our own words but based in His standard - the WORD OF GOD! Do not fear what your answer will be someday! Instead, right now, fear God who told us to love, fear, enjoy, suffer for and obey Him and gave us the standard of judgment beforehand and the very reason why we should be concerned and discern! (Refer to I Peter 1:13-21; Hebrews 12:14-29; John 12:44-50)

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