The Gift of Discernment in Church – I recently read an article on discernment—the most neglected of all spiritual gifts. In the article the writer J. Lee Grady concludes by giving this advice to the congregation: “Please don’t be gullible. Ask God to fill you with heavenly discernment. Study the Bible daily and soak in its truth so you will immediately recognize false teaching when you hear it. Ask for the gift of discernment so a spiritual fake will never defraud you.”
This made me think: “What would we do if we had one, two or more people in church with this gift, the gift of discernment, and the boldness to speak up when so required?”
I can tell you what I have seen. Such people are often seen as a threat. Ministers fear them, it seems. Therefor they are often pushed aside and rejected. In some cases I have seen such people being asked to leave the church. It is said that they’re out of order, they’re not submitting to the Pastor or the church and they’re dividing the church.
But, since discernment is a gift from the Holy Spirit as can be seen in 1 Corinthians 12:10 shouldn’t we allow this gift (or the person having the gift) to operate or flow in the assembly? The gift of discernment could be of great value to preachers and churches for it could be used by God as a rudder to direct, steer or guide us through a storm of heresies, false teaching or misinterpretation of the scripture. I for one have asked a few brothers and sisters to check my writings and pray that God will reveal to them when I go off track or go astray. And I have seen how God used these people.
God gave all gifts to edify the church. Let us therefore not fear those with the gift of discernment but let us embrace them, allowing God to use them to the benefit of both the church and us.
