Many are intrigued by the concept of spiritual gifts, and among them, the gift of discernment often stands out. However, popular understanding of this gift frequently falls short of its true biblical meaning. It’s often simplified to just good decision-making or knowing which way to turn in life’s choices. Yet, Scripture reveals a far richer and more profound understanding. This exploration delves into the spiritual gift of discernment, drawing from biblical teachings to illuminate what it truly is, how one might recognize it, and its purpose in the life of a believer and the church.
To understand spiritual discernment, it’s important to place it within the broader context of spiritual gifts as outlined in the Bible. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians provides foundational insights into these gifts, applicable across different theological perspectives. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:4-7). This passage highlights key principles: the diversity of spiritual gifts, their source in the Holy Spirit, their presence in all believers, their nature as manifestations of the Spirit, and their ultimate purpose for the collective benefit of the Christian community. With this foundation, we can more deeply appreciate the unique role of spiritual discernment.
What Exactly is the Gift of Spiritual Discernment?
The early church faced a significant challenge: the presence of false prophets and teachers who falsely claimed divine authority. These individuals, detached from God, presented deceptive teachings that could easily mislead believers. This context underscores the critical need for discernment, as emphasized throughout Scripture. John’s words are a clear warning: “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). Building on the earlier mention of the Holy Spirit as evidence of God’s presence (1 John 3:24), John cautions against indiscriminate acceptance of spiritual claims. The spiritual realm, while beyond our immediate sensory experience, is not exclusively divine; many spirits are influenced by Satan, the originator of deceit. Therefore, testing or proving the spirits becomes essential to distinguish divine truth from falsehood.
While some connect the gift of prophecy directly to discerning of spirits, the scope of discernment appears broader. Combined with Paul’s instruction to “test everything” (1 Thessalonians 5:21), the gift of discernment likely extends beyond just prophetic utterances. It’s a vital capacity for evaluating various forms of spiritual and religious claims.
Indeed, all Christians are called to exercise discernment and evaluate teachings. The Bereans are commended for their noble approach to Paul and Silas’ teachings, receiving them with eagerness and diligently “examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). They exemplified the responsibility of every believer to test even apostolic teachings against the established Word of God. Ultimately, each Christian is accountable for their beliefs, regardless of whether they possess the spiritual gift of discernment in a specialized sense.
The gift of discernment is understood as the Holy Spirit’s distinct provision to guard against the falsehoods originating from deceptive spirits.
However, it’s evident that some individuals are uniquely endowed by God with a heightened capacity for discernment. This gift isn’t merely an aptitude but a divine enablement for a crucial responsibility within the church. As New Testament scholar Lenski notes, “Certain difficult cases occur, for which more than common Christian discernment is necessary. False prophets love to use deceptive language. For the purpose of unmasking these prophets the Lord provides this gift and thus enables his church to turn from lying spirits to the one Spirit of truth.” The gift of discernment, therefore, acts as a specialized defense mechanism, empowered by the Spirit, against the pervasive influence of deceptive spiritual forces.
Consequently, every statement about God or purported divine origin must undergo careful scrutiny and evaluation in light of the Bible.
The influence of spirits, whether divine or deceptive, can manifest in words, actions, and even appearances. Satan’s communication is characterized by contradictions to Scripture and the propagation of demonstrable falsehoods. The serpent’s encounter with Eve in Genesis 3:4 exemplifies this, directly opposing God’s explicit command. Similarly, Jesus’s sharp rebuke of Peter in Matthew 16:23, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man,” reveals discernment at work. Jesus recognized the deceptive spirit influencing Peter’s words, distinguishing between human sentiment and spiritual deception. Therefore, rigorous testing and examination of any claim concerning God, based on the Bible, are essential.
Beyond words, deceptive spirits also operate through deeds. Just as divine power manifests in miracles, Satan and his agents can perform deceptive signs and wonders. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 cautions about “the coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders.” Jesus himself warned in Matthew 24:24 about the emergence of “false christs and false prophets” who “will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” Therefore, actions, regardless of their apparent extraordinariness or seeming benefit, must be rigorously evaluated and compared against the unchanging standard of God’s Word.
Deception can even extend to appearances. Satan’s infiltration of the Christian community involves introducing false teachers and leaders who mimic genuine spirituality. These individuals invariably introduce teachings that deviate from or contradict Scripture. In Acts 16, the encounter with the slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination illustrates this point. Individuals with the gift of discernment possess a special ability to distinguish between authentic and deceptive words, deeds, and appearances. For days, she followed Paul and Silas, proclaiming, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation” (Acts 16:17). While her words were factually accurate, the underlying spirit was impure, intending to manipulate truth for deceptive purposes and ultimately discredit the gospel. Paul discerned the insincerity behind her seemingly pious appearance and actions. Appearances, therefore, must be carefully assessed and measured against the touchstone of Scripture.
Those with the gift of discernment are uniquely equipped to differentiate between truth and falsehood, right and wrong, in words, deeds, and appearances. John MacArthur, in his commentary on 1 Corinthians, succinctly captures the essence of this gift: “It can be said that the gift of discernment is given to tell if the other gifts are of the Holy Spirit, if they are merely natural imitations, or if they are demonic counterfeits. I believe God still empowers some of His people to unmask false prophets and carnal hypocrites. He gives them insight to expose imitations and deceptions that most Christians would take as genuine.” Christians gifted with discernment can effectively compare ungodly words, deeds, and appearances with God’s revealed truth in Scripture, exposing fraudulent leaders and teachings for what they are. They possess an exceptional ability to separate genuine truth from deceptive error.
