Where Discernment Goes Wrong

Discernment has a bad reputation. While discernment can definitely be done well and with grace and love, often times it is done rudely and poorly.

Discernment is known as the ministry in which a person warns others of false teachers and their teachings. They point out their errors and direct us back to Scripture. This has the possibility is being a gracious gift to the church. However, because of sinful nature, it can become monstrous—and this kind of discernment is right hated. Here are four ways discernment can go wrong.

Discernment is Based on Conscience Issues and not Biblical Issues

When calling someone out as a false teacher, we must be careful that the issues we’re raising are actually unbiblical and not simply preference or a conscience issue. Paul discusses the issue of convictions versus command in Romans 14; these are the grey areas in which the Bible gives no specific command and we are free to choose by means of our conscience and our understanding of what the Bible does command.

Some examples of personal convictions (not direct commands from God) are:

• Homeschooling vs. public school

• Public school vs. Christian school

• Vaccinations

• Working mom vs. stay at home mom

• Not listening to secular music

These are all issues of the conscience, not law. Two Christians can disagree on issues such as these and both still be in obedience to God if their conscience is clear before him. And because these are conscience issues and not law issues, we can’t condemn a teacher for holding a different view on them.

How do we make sure we are not doing this in our discernment? We test ourselves by Scripture. What you are calling sin, does the Bible also clearly call sin? Test your claims thoroughly before making them public.

Discernment is Based on Lies and/or Rumours

We can discredit our discernment when we use incorrect information. This happens in a number of ways:

• Using false information they read/heard from someone else

• Not doing our own thorough research—and relying on second-hand information

• Taking words out of context

• Making claims that can’t be backed up

• Basing our claims on rumours rather than proven facts

Spreading false information is slander, which is a ninth commandment violation. It’s right to call out false teachers when they go against Scripture, but it’s not okay to spread wrong information about them, whether intentionally or not. It’s our job to make sure the claims we are making about a false teacher are accurate. If we’re making a claim that a certain teacher believes heresy, we need to have evidence of them teaching this false doctrine. False teacher or not, they are still humans created in the image of God, and God commands you to speak truthfully about them.

Prayerfully consider each claim made against them. If you don’t have the time to do thorough and proper research, then you are not qualified to speak out against those false teachers.

Discernment is Spoken with Angry, Mean Words

Jesus called out the Pharisees regularly. He publicly spoke to them as those who were in rebellion against God and called them to repent.

However, he didn’t make fun of them. He didn’t unleash unrighteous anger upon them. He spoke with righteous anger that was concerned for God’s glory and the spiritual welfare of the people under their lies. If you’re calling out false teachers in an angry, hateful way, do not qualify yourself by saying, “Jesus did it too.” Jesus, being the perfect Son of God, did so without sin.

We should also consider the purpose and efficacy of our words. How many people are being encouraged, changed, or helped by our sarcasm? Will unkind words really turn the false teachers from their false gospel to the right gospel? Proverbs says a gentle answer turns away wrath.

“A soft answer turns away wrath,
    but a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
    but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
    keeping watch on the evil and the good.
A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
    but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” (Prov. 15:1–4 ESV)

Consider the people who are entranced in their false ministries and love them. Do you truly believe your cynicism and mocking will open their eyes to the truth? Or will it simply make them more likely to run back to their false teacher for comfort?

How were you won over to the truth? Through unkind words? Through name-calling? How did God change your hardened heart? “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8 NASB). Remember the love that was shown to you while you were in rebellion against God, and let that love control the way you act towards these false teachings.

Discernment is Rooted in Pride Instead of Love for God’s Glory

Anger and slander come from prideful hearts. We care more about looking smart and witty than helping the people burning up in the lies. We care more about our voice being heard and having people agree with us than God being honoured.

If we desire to see people transformed for God’s glory, if we love our fellow believers who are deceived, we wouldn’t speak rudely and ruthlessly. If we care about God’s glory, we should take the time to do proper research. Biblical discernment must start in the heart with a love for God’s people and his glory. Without that, your ministry is in vain.

All discernment should begin with examining ourselves, as Jesus reminded us:

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matt. 7:1–5 NASB)

Begin with asking why you are attempting to speak out against this false teacher. Once your motives are in place, do your research and find out if they are actually a false teacher—determine if they are speaking against biblical doctrine, and find out if the claims made against them are accurate. Then speak, and do so in love.

If you have made a disaster of discernment in the past, don’t let it discourage you. Remember God is abundant in grace and will forgive his children. Repent and seek to mend the wrongs you have done, and rely on God’s grace throughout it all.

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