Discernment

Definition of discernment from Webster's Collage Dictionary

1: the quality of being able to grasp and comprehend what is obscure : skill in discerning

2: an act of perceiving or discerning something




Strong's Concordance

diakrisis: the act of judgment

Original Word: διάκρισις, εως, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine


Transliteration: diakrisis
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-ak'-ree-sis)
Definition: the act of judgment
Usage: distinguishing; hence: deciding, passing sentence on; the act of judgment, discernment.



1st John 4:1-6 1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3. And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.



Hebrews 4:12&13

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.



Hebrews 5:12-14

12. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.



Philippians 1:9-11

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

From reading these scriptures that it is not only ok to discern between right and wrong, good and bad. We are not to judge.

Where do you draw the line between discerning and judging? If you thank something is wrong how do you bring it up without starting a fight of words. I know I do not like to be told I am wrong. I was the director of sales and marketing for a large national janitorial company; I did not like it when someone would question the way I set things up in a contract to be done.

Hebrews 5 I am new to being a christian, I am sure I fall into that category of those that need milk. I want to grow into that christian that uses strong meat and are of full age. I have some growing to do.

I am looking forward to your input to help me understand it all.

Thanks KA

I would offer that this depends upon the spirit or mindset of the person you're dealing with. Paul angered so many people that in 2nd Timothy, we read that not only was he rejected by his Jewish brothers, but even the "Christians" had completely abandoned him (from the Province of Asia). And more . . . look at how many people Jesus made angry, and did this anger not lead to his death? Stephen was also murdered for bringing up his contentions.

It seems that there is also a level of skill that some have towards exposing the errors of others . . . I have never had this skill. I seem to cause others to become angry when I point out their offensive ways. But there are others who can point out flaws and establish friendship; I was just speaking to a person the other day who possesses this skill. If I could get to know him more, I'd actually ask him how he does it . . . what his approach is (in great detail). In minor detail, when we come to others with a sense of complaining, it probably won't come off well. But if we approach others with a smile and perhaps include our discussion with an offering of some sort, then perhaps we won't incur a new enemy.

In large, though, few people, and especially today, do not want to hear about how they are wrong in any way, shape, or form. It seems like watching the news and viewing how our politicians deal with each other proves this point. If our politicians cannot work with each other, it seems unreasonable to think that we, the people, would be much different.

Perhaps we must follow the advice of Paul when he said, "As much as it depends upon ourselves, live at peace with everyone." Surely, I could improve in this manner.

We are better to example what is right than to point out what is wrong.
Jesus did his throughout his ministry. He used terms as "consider this" and "you have heard it said but i say this" to drive his point home.
God in the old testament said "let us come together and reason".
A soft word spoken deters wrath.
We judge by the word of God but we teach with love and kindness of the spirit. For this is the patients of the saints.
As paul points out "we were once like them" .
Being a child of God does not give us the righteousness of judgement but a humbleness to correction.

We discern spirits, such as the spirit of a particular word, phrase, or teaching in regard to what we read or what we hear. That is, we have understanding of the underlying spirit by which the words are delivered.

Hence 1John4:6 "...Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."

We judge between truth and error not any person's state of salvation in particular. We just deliver the truth, the word of God.

We can discern the spirit of truth or error of anyone in particular's deliverance of the word, which "is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." But we leaving the judgment regarding salvation to God, trusting that "all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."

To me, if it the point in a discussion appears fruitless to continue, it is at the point I've discerned I might be speaking to the spirit of a mule, figuratively speaking, and so move on to more fruitful endeavors. However, I never do this without always keeping in mind the two-edged sword "judges' the thoughts and intents of my heart as much as any others.'

Read Proverbs 16

Discerning means detecting or noting the difference between what is true and what is false. Judging means ensuring that what is false is rejected and what is true is upheld.

I am sorry I am new here and I try and check everything out. I saw a verse the other day about taking the log out of your own Eye before mute the word was but did not know what it meant so looked it up it is like a chip or sliver in your brothers eye. I got the log because I have just started studying. I have been taking it word by word and if I am not sure I look it up using Biblehub, or my Webster so if I saw something that I thought was wrong and I came at you I am sorry. I want anyone that finds me off track to show me. But you have to show me from the bible. When I first got here someone told me to look up Acts 17 and study like the Barens. They had Paul teaching them but they still went home and surched the scriptures to if it were so. Wordy answer all to say if I offended you I am sorry.
KenA

I am sorry I wish I could remember what caused me to post the meaning of decrement and the verses to follow I was post #1 so I started all of this. I have always been kind-a-of a bull in the China shop. I do want to be in fellowship and study. I want to learn.

I don't want to be the judge God says that is his job. I do want to have open conversations about the bible. I don't thank God leaves it up to us to interpret what He said. I thank that if we dig for it the answer is there. I look forward to learning.
KenA

Hello Ken,

I've got a pretty short memory on who is going after me and who isn't. A person has to be either consistently rude to me or is so outrageous that I simply cannot forget their avatar/handle. That said, I don't recall you ever saying anything to me that could be taken as "coming after me" as you say.

No harm, no foul.

How admirable. You are a fantastic example for this entire forum to follow and model. It sounds to me like you've been awakened and just might have True, genuine, Fear of the Lord. Anyone with True Fear of the Lord will be a respecter of others, for they will realize that when we discredit another human, we are discrediting one of God's creations. This is likely why David did not kill king Saul, as David realized that God was the one who placed Saul in his position as king (though Saul spent much of his time trying to murder David).

Matthew 5:22 NLT - "But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell."

I was recently called a "moron" by a member, here. Don't follow that model at all . . . it's a dangerous position to place oneself into.

Good thoughts, here, but as you continue to study, you'll find that Paul teaches that we [are] to judge in certain situations. And at the very least, there is a form of judgment that we should all be making about others. For example: You definitely want your daughter to make judgments about men when she is choosing which one she ought to marry. So this shows you that there is a specific form of judgement that is up to the Lord . . . and not ourselves.

Drawing the line between Discernment and Judging should be no problem if you understand what discernment means in scripture ======

Discernment is a Gift from the Holy Spirit ---it is 1 of the 9 gifts that the Holy Spirit can gift a Believer with ------the discernment of Spirits ---and ---the discernment of one preaching the Gospel and knowing what is truth and what is false teachings that are being presented ------so you are not being drawn away from the Truth of the Word -----Discerning who you should listen to and who you should run from -----

Discernment allows the believer to live a uncompromising life ------

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Judging on the other hand is not a Gift from the Holy Spirit and many Christians judge wrongly the actions of the unsaved person ------there is only one Judge and that is God -----Rightly Judging someone needs careful attention of looking at ones own self making sure that you are not doing what you shouldn't be doing ------

Judging can make one a Hypocrite very fast ------- as what your judging the person for may just be one of the things the person has done themselves -----and you become a Hypocritical person in your judgment -----

God says this about Judgment ------

Luke 6:42

Verse (Click for Chapter)
New International Version
How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Now ----Believers are never to judge unbelievers ------why -----because they are living in the world doing what the world Does --and God is their judge not us -----

! Corinthians 5 verse 12 ---says

12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.

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Believers are to righteously Judge other believers when they go astray ---that is allowed and encouraged in Scripture -----this Judgment is to be done out of our love for God and keeping our bothers and sisters on the right track ------


Righteous Judgment by Paul against Peter --

Galatians 2:11-13

New Living Translation



Paul Confronts Peter
11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. 12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. 13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.


Jesus showed Righteous Anger and ---Righteous Judgment when He over turned the money changers Tables in the Temple yard --

Righteous anger and Righteous judgment will keep you out of committing a sinful action ------

Myth Busters did a Bull in China Shop Episode, the Bull did not knock down one thing.

thanks
This old bull would not make it out without breaking something BIG

First of all, you raised a good question.
For example, if you are an American, you may hate Russia and China because of what the media reports.
If you obey the worldly vision, you can only be the one who drinks milk.
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge.
We can't have two masters,we should only obey what the Bible teaching us.Love your enemy.
Seek more knowledge about God's love,Instead of seeking the world's point of view to distinguish right from wrong.

As a Chinese, I hate what the United States have done,this may also be due to the reports of the Chinese media. But as a Christian, I know I should pray for America,cuz the Bible teaching me, love your enemy and pray for them.When I understand that I am a Christian, I no longer have hatred,but peace in mind and heart.

If you are going to exercise discernment, you will not be able to avoid judging true from false and right from wrong. God is the Judge of All, but He expects you to make righteous judgments. Discernment primarily relates to deception in spiritual matters, and being able to detect deception by using the Word of God as the filter.

It is our responsibility to judge others. How else are we to determine who is doing evil?

1 Corinthians 5:12-13 NLT - "It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. God will judge those on the outside; but as the Scriptures say, "You must remove the evil person from among you."

It is necessary to judge evil words and behavior. What we are not to judge, or assume, is what someone things and feels. It is even risky to judge someone's eternity. However, we are told to test each other to determine if one is saved or not . . . to determine if they are genuine or a false teacher.

[1Jo 4:1 NKJV] "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."

Hi KA,

Pleased to meet you and enter in to this very good discussion. So we have a few things going on here.

Discernment in the things we believe, relates to the truths of Christ, His character and His Purposes for the Body of Christ, for Israel and for the nations. Get those confused and scripture becomes a muddle. Remember Christ is the center of His word not us. So if someone is not speaking the truth of these about the Lord then we can discern that they speak in error.

Judging is more related to just wiping a person off because they have done wrong or said wrong things. Only God can see in the heart and if that person will repent and change, but we are to be forgiving and gracious as we are all learning and make mistakes.

So to helping others. As you grow in knowing the Lord and understanding Him and His purposes you will be able to discern where people are at spiritually. Are they teachable? Are they wanting help? Are they ready to receive the bit of knowledge you want to impart?

Our/your attitude also needs to be humble as - listening to the other person to find out what they do know, and if it is right to give them more information at this time. Remembering that we are not the `fount of all wisdom` and not everyone is ready or able to receive what we want to share. That is why the Lord said `to make disciples.` For you see those relationships are the ones who will receive from us as they see us in everyday life in other circumstances than just `teaching.`

Look at Paul and his disciples the Thessalonians. He came to them as a `nursing mother, and a `caring father.` (1 Thess. 2: 7 & 11)

Build relationships first and bit by bit you can share as `Oh I`ve just learnt ....` or `isn`t it wonderful that Jesus....` Let it be part of your conversation sometimes and people wont think you are `preaching at them,` but just sharing your life.

regards, Marilyn.

Discernment would be noticing signs that your brother might be drinking, but not sure if you should ask him about it because you don't want to accuse him of drinking if he isn't. Because you don't want to "judge" him.

The kind of Judgment Jesus warned against is best understood by reading the context where Jesus talked about it.

If you discern through reasonable indications that there is something to be concerned about you are not judging by paying attention to the red flags. We should not ignore warning signals because we are afraid of "judging." If we do that it means we don't understand what Jesus meant by judging.

Pay attention to the warning signs and ask questions when it is necessary to do so to determine whether your discernment is leading you to the right conclusions before you make said conclusions and you will never be guilty of doing the wrong kind of judging that Jesus talked about.