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Principles of Spiritual Discernment

Dr. Randy WhiteSadly, the word gullible could be used to describe the masses of Evangelical Christianity. Google defines “sheeple” as “people compared to sheep in being docile, foolish, or easily led.” The usage of the derogatory term has skyrocketed in recent years (see usage graph).According to Scripture, spiritual maturity takes place when we have our “senses trained to discern good and evil” (Hebrews 12:14). Our senses are the key to discernment, and these senses can be trained.

  • If the eye is not trained, “the whole body will be full of darkness” (Matthew 6:22-23).
  • The ear is to be trained: “Does not the ear test words, As the palate tastes its food?” (Job 12:11).
  • The heart can be trained: “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9).
  • The mind needs to do a “spiritual appraisal” of the things of the eyes, ears, and heart. “But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
A spiritual appraisal involves an investigation and asking questions.I must admit that I am a naturally gullible person. I have had to train myself to appraise thoughts, agendas, and ideas. I am the product of a world system which promotes blind acceptance (trust the system, the teacher, the newspaper, etc). Through the years, however, I have learned to ask questions, and, even more importantly, to be a good Berean, “examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Along the way, here are a few things I’ve learned:
  • Look for declarations. Ignore the story and the anecdotal evidence (designed to stir the emotion and convince the mind before it asks the questions).
  • Search the Scripture to see if the declaration is true.
  • Question the logic of the declaration.
  • Question the viability of the declaration. What if  everybody always did this?
  • Question the agenda of the declaration.
The journey to spiritual discernment is a long one, but you need to begin the journey!To view my one-hour presentation, which gives examples of declarations, use the viewer below or watch on our LiveStream page. To download the PowerPoint slides in PDF version, click here.Join us each Thursday for more Bible studies just like this one!