The Mandate of Discernment (2)

The discerning of Truth from error is not a minor concern in Scripture, but is, in fact, a recurring theme throughout. Continuing that thought, the Apostle Paul wrote the Thessalonians, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil” (I Thes. 5:21-22). “Prove” is  dokimazō, which means “test, pronounce good, establish by trial.” A related word, dokimos, was originally used as a technical term for coins that were genuine. So Paul is saying, “Examine everything, put everything to the test, verify each item to see if it is genuine or if it is a fake.” If it’s good, seize it and hold on to it. If it’s not, however, withdraw from it. A growing number in the Church today are constantly seeking something new, novel, and non-conforming. But what is desperately needed is not what is new, but what is true.

The Apostle John echoes Paul’s mandate to discernment by also using dokimazō: “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world” (I Jn. 4:1, emphasis added). How much clearer could Scripture be? There are countless claims to spiritual authority today, innumerable assertions that “this is what the bible says,” but every single one of these is to be examined, tested, and verified.

Finally, Hebrews 4:12 is among the strongest New Testament statements about discernment: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Greek for “discerner” is kritikos, which appears only here in the New Testament and which from Plato’s day onward referred to “a competent, experienced judge.” What a perfect description of the Word of God!—The Discerner, The Judge of men’s thoughts and even their intentions, ideas, notions, and purposes (Greek, ennoia).

Now, before we go on, we should also address one other verse that always arises with this issue, Matthew 7:1: “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” This is used by most people to say, “See there, Jesus says we are not supposed to be critical of anyone; we should not criticize what they believe or say.” But is that what the verse says? Of course not. If it did, Paul contradicted the Lord Jesus many times. What such people fail to do is read the context (vs. 2-5), where Jesus clearly says that we are not to judge and discern hypocritically or judge someone’s motives and attitudes. We are all tempted to hold others to a higher standard than we hold ourselves, which is hypocrisy, so we must first make sure of our own life, make sure our standard is consistent, and then discern actions. In fact, that is exactly what Jesus says: “First, get the log out of your own eye and then you can remove the splinter that’s in your brother’s eye.”

Besides the texts we’ve examined, Scripture over, and over, and over again mandates discernment and warns of the dangers of false doctrine. Here are just a few I would encourage you to read: Matthew 7:15-16; 24:23-26; Acts 20:28-31; II Corinthians 11:3, 13-14; I Timothy 6:20-21; Philippians 3:2; Colossians 2:8; II Peter 2:1-2.

Never before has the Church been in such a need of discernment and pure doctrine as it is today. One of the best statements on place of doctrine in the Church was written back in 1983 by pastor and theologian Gordon Clark: “Today liberals, humanists, behaviorists, and the neo-orthodox attack doctrine; but what is worse, those who think of themselves as devout evangelicals strongly insisting on the inerrancy of Scripture, ignore doctrine. They favor pastoral counseling, they prate about four spiritual laws, sing Gospel dance tunes, testify to their happiness, even read some of the Bible, but they read it without trying to understand it. Nor is the major blame to be put on the congregation; most of whom know no Greek; the major blame lies on ministers who know no Greek and not much theology. They do not speak evil of God’s work: they simply do not speak. A friend of mine, who did his best to preach the whole counsel of God, had a conversation with a very popular preacher and author. Said the popular idol to my friend, “I believe the same doctrines you do.” Said my friend, “I am delighted, I wouldn’t have known it, if you hadn’t told me.”

Indeed, in many circles today, doctrine is avoided at all costs. What folly this is! Doctrine is the foundation on which we stand, and we must discern it carefully.