WHAT IS BIBLICAL DISCERNMENT?

Where do you have the most difficulty in making wise choices in life? How hard is it to discern what is right and wrong? In its simplest definition, discernment is nothing more than the ability to decide between truth and error, right and wrong. Discernment is the process of making careful distinctions in our thinking about truth. Although discernment is engrained in the human brain (thinking process), only the Christian has the Spirit of God within him to make right choices at the right time. When one reaches the age of accountability, he must make a choice to humble himself and yield to God's way (the truth) or take on the world's bombardment of choices by his own choosing. He is on his own without the Spirit of God in him.

According to the New Testament, discernment is not optional for the believer-it is required. First Thessalonians 5:21-22 teaches that it is the responsibility of every Christian to be discerning: "But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil." The apostle John issues a similar warning when he says, "Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" (1 John 4:1).

Unfortunately, discernment is an area where most Christians stumble. They exhibit little ability to measure the things they are taught against the infallible standard of God's Word, and they unwittingly engage in all kinds of unbiblical decision-making and behavior. In short, they are not armed to take a decidedly biblical stand against the onslaught of unbiblical thinking and attitudes that face them throughout their day.

Discernment intersects the Christian life at every point. And God's Word provides us with the needed discernment about every issue of life. According to Peter, God "has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3). You see, it is through the "true knowledge of Him," that we have been given everything we need to live a Christian life in this fallen world.

Have you ever thought about the enemy's tactic of using Biblical words and turning them around to an evil and deceiving way? For instance, "Freedom of Choice." "Pro-Choice." Free spirit versus "God's freedom from sin."

Where do you have the most difficulty in making wise choices in life?

How hard is it to discern what is right and wrong?