Three Keys to Biblical Discernment

And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.  – Philippians 1:9-11

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. – John 7:24

Back in the early days of my walk with the Lord, I embraced just about everything with the name of Jesus attached.  If the movement identified as “Christian,” I assumed it was.  If an eloquent speaker quoted a few Bible verses, I believed everything he or she said without reservation.  If the music was upbeat and somehow linked to Jesus, then it must be healthy spiritually.

The Bible is clear, however, that with spiritual maturity comes discernment.  The Scriptures repeatedly direct that all things must be tested according to the truth of God’s word.  So today with so many diverse opinions and perspectives, how do we “judge with right judgment” as Jesus instructs in John 7:24?  There are three criteria to keep in mind, all of which pertain to Scripture.

First of all, what does this person or movement believe about the nature of Scripture?  Has it been inspired and preserved by God and preserved by God?  Is it authoritative?  Is it inerrant in all that it affirms?  Answering “yes” to these questions is a good indication.  Answering “no” or “it depends” is a red flag.  Be sure that the nature of Scripture is understood to be a high one.  Casting doubts on the authority of what Scripture teaches due to intellectual reservations or cultural practices is a step in the wrong direction.

Second, are the Scriptures understood to be sufficient?  That is, do we need personal revelation from other sources in addition to the Bible that we may be all God would have us to be?  2 Peter 1:3-4 says, His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.  Seeking personal “words from the Lord,” decisive dreams and visions, and enlightening experiences undermine the authority and reliability of the Scriptures God has imparted to us.

Third, how are the Scriptures being interpreted?  There are two basic ways to interpret the Bible.  The first is by reading meaning into the text, or eisegesis.  This practice is a dangerous one, but all too common with speakers and authors bearing the title of Christian.  It’s tempting to read meaning into Scripture, seeking to make the Bible say something it really doesn’t say.  The second way to interpret the Bible is by drawing meaning from the text, or exegesis.  Good exegesis of Scripture only says what the text actually says, and considers the context in which it’s said.

Acts 17:10-11 reads, The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

What made the Jews in Berea more noble than the Jews in Thessalonica?  It was that they received what Paul and Silas said with great eagerness, and examined the Scriptures repeatedly to see if those things were true.  For these Bereans, the Scriptures were authoritative, sufficient (even in the presence of popular teachers), and interpreted wisely.  The Bereans were commended for their practice of Biblical discernment.  Today, may we just not assume everything we read and hear is Gospel truth. May we be Bereans.  May we judge rightly and test all things. May we continually practice good Biblical discernment.

With a shepherd’s heart,

Pastor David