Author: elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

On February 2 I was interviewed by two wonderful ladies of the faith, Amy Spreeman and Michelle Lesley. Their podcast is called A Word Fitly Spoken, a great title for a podcast!

The result of the podcast is here, it was broadcast already and I’m humbled by the opportunity to speak of Jesus, doctrine, and discernment as our wide ranging conversation went.

Their website for A Word Fitly Spoken podcast is here, where you can catch ALL their podcasts! I recommend the podcast and also their individual efforts in the faith, Michelle’s website Michelle Lesley- Discipleship for Christian Women and Amy’s at Berean Research and Naomi’s Table Bible Studies for Women. You can also check out her archives from earlier work at aspreeman.com.

When I was preparing for the interview, I made notes. I wanted to post those (I’ve gained Amy’s permission) and flesh the concepts out a bit. This is part 2 of that post. Part 1 is here-

Discernment lesson, What is it, why do we need it? Part 1

Now on to part 2:

Is discerning whether a teacher is false really attempting to “know the heart”?

When I do a discernment essay, I am often chastised with an old chestnut of a comment that’s becoming practically standard for people without discernment to say. It is,

“You’re being a Pharisee, Only God knows the heart!”

I get that a lot. Is the practice of discernment really attempting to put ourselves in God’s place in knowing the heart of a person? No. As we looked at yesterday, discernment is advised, even commanded, in most New Testament books. The wisdom book of Proverbs continually lauds wisdom in spiritual matters. Evaluating a teaching and coming to a solid conclusion that it is profitable is an activity that brings glory to Jesus. Doing so and concluding that a teaching is unprofitable in no way attempts to “know the heart” of that false teacher.

But you know, the Bible DOES show us the heart. We can know the heart of a false teacher because the Bible tells us. If the teacher is speaking falsely, their heart is full of deceit, and from the heart flows life. (Matthew 12:34). Here are some of the verses which speak to a false teacher’s heart:

(Their hearts are) full of deceit. Colossians 2:8

(Their hearts are) filled with their own appetites. Romans 16:17-18

(Their hearts are) disguised with light. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

(Their hearts are) full of greed. 2 Peter 2:3

(Their hearts are) ravenous. Matthew 7:15.

(Their hearts are) inwardly full of sensuality. Jude 1:4

(Their hearts are) full of secrets, such as destructive heresies. 2 Peter 2:1

(Their hearts are) full of intent to exploit. 2 Peter 2:3

(Their hearts are) full of fleshly passions. 2 Timothy 4:3

(Their hearts are) puffed up with conceit. 1 Timothy 6:4

(Their hearts are) understand(ing) nothing. 1 Timothy 6:4

(Their hearts are) cunning and crafty. Ephesians 4:14

(Their hearts) serve the creature. Romans 1:25

(Their hearts are) slaves of corruption. 2 Peter 2:19.

(Their hearts) deny the Master who bought them. 2 Peter 2:1

(Their hearts) prophesy lies. Jeremiah 23:26

So although we are not God and we can’t read the heart directly, we can know the heart to the extent the Bible speaks of it. Ultimately though, we evaluate the teaching that comes out of their mouth. If it is bad, avoid it.

Discernment doesn’t stop at evaluating

We are called to do certain things after discerning. Once we discover a teaching may be riddled with falsity, we have to ACT on it. Keeping your conclusion as head knowledge is no good. We are supposed to perform certain actions-

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. Romans 16:17-18. Mark & avoid. You can’t mark a teacher as false unless you discern that they are. Discerning means evaluating their teaching by comparing it to the Bible.

Matthew 7:15 says to  Beware of false prophets. We have to know who to beware of, and we won’t unless we have discerned their teaching as unprofitable.

2 Thessalonians 3:14 take note of those who do not obey and keep away

Ephesians 5:11 Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Philippians 1:9–10 And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may discover (Greek- test, approve) the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ;

Discernment isn’t just about doctrine, lifestyle matters, too!

Often times people who are undiscerning dislike when I write of a false teacher’s lifestyle. They say I should mind my own business, that how they live is of no concern of mine.

O, but it is.

It is important to discern their lifestyle as well as their doctrine. Those two cannot be separated. Why? First, in speaking in general of a Christian life, there are many commands for us who are saved to live a certain way. Some of those commands are extremely specific.

Secondly, there are lifestyle commands for Christians who are in eldership or desiring to be teachers or deacons. In fact, most of the qualifications for teachers or deacons are lifestyle oriented, not skill oriented. (1 Timothy 3) (Titus 1). HOW we live matters to Jesus, because we are supposed to be a light to the Gentiles with not only what we say but how we live. We cannot have a good witness if we are living like pagans. The same goes for teachers of the Word, even more so, since they will be judged more strictly.

In discernment, lifestyle matters as well. We know that false teachers are greedy (2 Peter 2:3). Displaying profligate wealth for its own sake indicates a heart of greed and likely false teaching to match.

The words disobedient, undisciplined, and ungodly are words that are often mentioned in verses with discernment.

For example, 2 Thessalonians 3:6 advises us to keep away from those who are living an undisciplined life. The word in this verse means unruly and insubordinate to God’s word. You do not want to follow a teacher whose teaching you like but lives as a mouthy, argumentative, divorced adulteress, now, do you? If a female teacher (or male) initiates a divorce without cause, can you believe the rest of what they teach, since they are already rejecting the verses about God’s standard for marriage? No. If they reject one part of the Bible, they are likely to reject other parts, and teach it so.

Finally, 1 Timothy 4:16 warns all of us to watch our life and doctrine closely. Not just doctrine, but how we live too.

Conclusion

So those are some ideas about discernment. I hope they are helpful in prompting you (and me too) to always treat discernment with respect, and to practice it. Seeing Jesus clearly is the goal of life, we cannot see him clearly and bring Him his due glory if we are looking at Him with mud on our binoculars. Pure doctrine helps us see him more clearly than false doctrine can.

By Elizabeth Prata

On February 2 I was interviewed by two wonderful ladies of the faith, Amy Spreeman and Michelle Lesley. Their podcast is called A Word Fitly Spoken, a great title for a podcast!

The result of the podcast is here, it was broadcast already and I’m humbled by the opportunity to speak of Jesus, doctrine, and discernment as our wide ranging conversation went.

Their website for the podcast is here, where you can catch ALL their podcasts! I recommend the podcast and also their individual efforts in the faith, Michelle’s website Michelle Lesley- Discipleship for Christian Women and Amy’s at Berean Research and Naomi’s Table Bible Studies for Women. You can also check out her archives from earlier work at aspreeman.com.

When I was preparing for the interview, I made notes. I wanted to post those (I’ve gained Amy’s permission) and flesh the concepts out a bit. This is that post.

The Holy Spirit dispenses gifts as He wills (1 Corinthians 12:11) and it is my settled conviction He has given me a gift of discernment. I strive to employ this gift for the edification of the saints in my life and also online. Why? We are to use the gifts He dispenses for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:7).

Let’s start with a quote from A.W. Tozer, who said,

“Among the gifts of the Spirit scarcely one is of greater practical usefulness than the gift of discernment. This gift should be highly valued and frankly sought as being almost indispensable in these critical times. This gift will enable us to distinguish the chaff from the wheat and to divide the manifestations of the flesh from the operations of the Spirit.”

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What is Discernment?

Discern is from the Greek word diakrino. It means to separate thoroughly. Defined, it means,

The sound judgment which makes possible the distinguishing of good from evil, and the recognition of God’s right ways for his people. It is necessary for the understanding of spiritual realities and, on a practical level, for right government and the avoidance of life’s pitfalls.

Tool for Topical Studies. Martin Manser.

Types of Discernment

There’s the type of discernment every Christian should train up in, as this verse reminds us: But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to distinguish between good and evil. (Hebrews 5:14)

Then there’s discernment as a special gift of the spirit, above and beyond the training one receives as a Christian without that gift, as this verse states, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:10)

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General Discernment verses:

The Bible is strong on discernment. It is important. Every book of the New Testament except Philemon warns about the dangers of false teachers and the potential destruction of the faith of a Christian who allows false doctrine into their life. It’s important. Discernment is not an extra. It is not negotiable. It is one of the most important skills any Christian can train up in.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:6-10)

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)

Focus on this verse for a moment, don’t let it slide by:

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Only the sure word transforms the mind. False doctrine does not transform the mind. When you deliberately ingest false doctrine, for every gain you make in your forward walk, you go backward two steps. Strive with all energy to stay in the pure word and don’t allow it to be polluted with lies from false teachers. You can read a short treatment on this thought here.

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Why else did God give us discernment?

God gave His word to us for two reasons: In addition to revealing Himself, it’s to show us the way to salvation and to tell us how to live post-salvation. God has standards for holiness, worshipful living, morals, etc., and if we are to worship Him properly, we need to know who He is and what He expects. I always go to the verse in Acts 1:11,

Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. [bold added]

We must worship this same Jesus as the one who had been revealed to us in the Bible. Not the liberal Jesus, not the boyfriend Jesus, not the woke Jesus, but this same Jesus. False teachers work hard to skew our vision of who Jesus is. How do we know if we are being fed a different Jesus? Discernment. What a tragedy it would be to get to heaven only to discover that you’d been worshiping, praying to, and learning about a different Jesus all along!

If you desired a job with, say, Coca Cola, a good job seeker learns as much as she can about the company so when you go into an interview you can demonstrate your interest and loyalty by sharing what you know about Coke. But if you’d instead listened to someone else tell about Coke and never checked their facts, and never read a Coca Cola annual report yourself, and in the interview you discover all the facts you proudly shared was from the company Pepsi- its competitor! Would you get the job? No!

How much more is learning about Jesus important?

Proper Discernment is not Judging nor is it Criticalness

Let’s separate discernment from “being critical.” We can use the word discern for the judgment that God encourages, and criticize for inappropriate judgments. And God DOES enocourage good judgment:

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. John 7:24

Discerning is not judging unto condemnation. Discerning is judging (evaluating, deciding, determining) whether a teaching aligns with the Bible.

You discern all day long, in other words, evaluate. You discern that the tuna sandwich in the break room cafeteria looks little ragged and choose to eat the ham sandwich instead. You interview two candidates for a job and discern which to choose. You discern which rental application to accept. You sift through information all day and make choices as to which is good and which is not so good and you pick one.

How much more important is discerning which teaching to accept and which is not so good? These are the words of the King of the Universe, the Ancient of Days, the Sustainer of Worlds we’re talking about. Holy God!

Pure teaching is holy, false teaching is profane. False teaching will always have good teaching laced within it. It’s like a fake M&M. There’s candy coating on the outside to make it look attractive, but a worm on the inside to poison you. But you can discern a real M&M from a fake one. The candy coating isn’t as bright. The ‘M’ is not a capital. The Ampersand is crooked. You discern.

Paul even likened false teachings to gangrene, a disease that rots flesh by cutting off blood supply. (2 Timothy 2:17). It is incumbent on all of us to be able to spot the symptoms of a disease of false teaching before it spreads- for others’ health and our own. Most importantly for the name of Jesus Christ

Discernment is ultimately about Jesus.

Part 2 tomorrow!