Some Christians seem to be specially gifted when it comes to spiritual discernment. Others take a special interest in discernment and expend the hard effort of growing in the discipline of it. But they may sometimes wonder: What should I do with this discernment? What is it useful for? How does God mean for me to exercise it?
If our task as Christians is to glorify God by doing good to others, it stands to reason that the primary purpose of discernment is to serve our fellow Christians—to protect other believers and to protect the local church. In general, then, those who are skilled in discernment should be able to identify and expose the work of Satan as he opposes the work of God. While all believers are exhorted that they must “not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1), those who are especially discerning have a broader ability to do so. They are able to see to the heart of the issues and to see Satan’s shadow behind what does not accord with the Word of God.
With that in mind, here are some specific and practical ways to exercise discernment in the church today.
Separating Truth from Error. The primary task of discernment is to separate what is true from what is false. Thus the primary way a discerning person can serve the church is to be a student of the Word and to use his understanding of Scripture to distinguish between what is true and what is erroneous. It is the discerning person who will be most dedicated to comparing the words of the preacher with Scripture, and who will lead the way in warning others of false teaching.
Discerning the Will of God. Discernment concerns the truth of God but also the will of God. A person who is gifted in matters of discernment may be especially well suited to assist others as they attempt to seek and find God’s will for the circumstances of their lives.
Identifying the Presence and Work of the Holy Spirit. Discerning Christians are finely tuned to the presence and the work of the Holy Spirit. They are able, based on their knowledge of God and the truths he has revealed about himself, to understand how he works and where he is working. They are gifted in being able to tell where the Spirit is not present and in warning others of counterfeit teaching or counterfeit Christians.
Identifying Worldliness. Because the spirit of Satan breeds worldliness rather than godliness, men and women with a gift of spiritual discernment are able to see worldliness for what it is. Many Christians, and especially young Christians, confuse carnality for godliness and man-made rules for God-ordained holiness. Discerning Christians will be able to distinguish between what is truly holy and what is simply a manufactured holiness that leads only to failure and discouragement.
Overseeing the Exercise of Spiritual Gifts. People with special skill at discernment are able to oversee the exercise of other gifts, ensuring that they are done in a way that brings honor to God and serves other believers. They are able to see when the exercise of gifts is inconsistent with Scripture.
Deciding Disputes. First Corinthians 6 finds Paul criticizing the church at Corinth for taking disputes between believers before the world. “Can it be,” he asks, “that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers?” (1 Corinthians 6:5b). To settle a dispute is to judge a dispute and it is likely that Paul is indicating that believers who are gifted in discernment should lead in settling quarrels, using their knowledge of God’s truth to judge or distinguish between what is right and wrong.
Protecting New Christians. Because discernment depends so much on knowledge of God’s truth, Christians who are gifted in discernment should place particular emphasis on protecting the young and the immature believers who have not had time and opportunity to grow in their understanding of the Bible. Such discerning believers are able to surround and protect them, shepherding them by ensuring they are not led astray and leading them to greater understanding of what the Bible teaches.
John MacArthur has often made the important point that the gift of discernment is especially necessary and especially valuable when Christianity is considered acceptable in society. When the church is enduring an era of persecution, there are bound to be few false teachers, for not many people are willing to risk their very lives for something they believe to be false. The stakes are simply too high for such false teachers.
But, as church history can attest, when Christianity is accepted and tolerated, false teachers arise quickly and soon fill the church. Those of us who are privileged to live in nations that allow us freedom to worship must be particularly cautious. The truth is always under attack and that is true as much today as at any other time in history. This should not be surprising in a culture that so values religious freedom and tolerance. Add to this the unparalleled speed of communication and the ability to publish books and other writings quickly and easily, and we can rightly conclude that error is being spread with startling speed and efficiency. What the church needs today is believers who are trained and gifted in discernment and who will serve the church by protecting the church.
