Discerning Our Discernment
James T. Lima
Some of the most dangerous vices are those which masquerade as virtues. We’ve all seen insults which are explained away as simply “telling the truth.” Godly truth-telling is not the same as spewing insults. In the moment, however, we are deceived by our own hearts and the deceitfulness of sin (Heb. 3:13) into blurring the distinction between what is good and what is evil. Woe to us when we “call evil good and good evil” and “turn darkness to light and light to darkness” (Isa. 5:20). We must always beware of using pious-sounding excuses to cover up or minimize sin.
As we begin our sermon series through 2 Peter, we will be spending a significant portion of the coming weeks being warned of the dangers of false teachers. Peter guarantees that there will be false teachers in our age who will bring destructive heresies into the church (2 Pet. 2:1). Peter spends the bulk of his letter equipping the churches in Asia Minor to discern and avoid false teaching, so as not to be carried away by their errors (2 Pet. 3:17).
Peter’s warnings are a call to discernment for Christians. Sinclair Ferguson helpfully defines discernment as “the ability to make discriminating judgments, to distinguish between, and recognize the moral implications of, different situation and courses of action. It includes the ability to ‘weigh up’ and assess the moral and spiritual status of individuals, groups, and even movements.”[i] Discernment is a gift to be cultivated for believers and is the fruit of godly wisdom which enables us to distinguish between good and evil (Heb. 5:14) and to know the will of God (Rom. 12:2). As we will see in 2 Peter, to avoid danger, including the danger of false teaching, we must be discerning. At points in our series through 2 Peter, I will point out deadly errors that are prevalent in our world and even in the church today. The goal of this is the protection of the people of God!
And yet, in the spirit of warning and discernment, I thought it appropriate to give a warning as we begin this sermon series: It is possible to call “discernment” that which is actually sin. Gossip, sinful criticism, slander, and self-righteousness can all masquerade under the guise of “discernment.” They are vices we can explain away with the label of a virtue. Changing the label on the bottle doesn’t make poison edible. As we spend our time in 2 Peter learning to discern the errors of false teachers, I want us to also practice and learn the kind of discernment that can recognize false discernment.
Here are a few diagnostic questions to ask. First, how much of your conversations with other Christians are made up discussions of the issues of others and the problems of other churches (or traditions, denominations, and organizations). I find myself too willing to fill my discussions with my critical analysis of others. A related question is, how much of your conversations are filled with fruitful discussions about the law of God (Deu. 6:7), the wonder of God revealed in his creation (Psa. 19:1-6), the excellencies of the God who called us (1 Pet. 2:9), and even confession of our own sin (Jam. 5:16)? Do you give priority in your conversations to things which are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise (Phi. 4:8)? Even as we study the errors of false teachers, let us pursue fist and foremost “the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Pet. 1:3).
Second, do you find enjoyment and satisfaction from talking about the issues of other people and churches? I sometimes notice my little smile and chuckle when I talk about or hear about the problems of other people and churches and the bad decisions they have made. This is essentially gossip, which finds the juicy pieces of information about others to be like “choice morsels” to be enjoyed (Pro. 18:8). Jared Wilson helpfully points out that this love of speaking or receiving ill-reports of others often flows from sinful malice (Rom. 1:29), self-oriented curiosity (1 Tim. 5:13), and/or pride and envy.[ii] It is important to note that gossip is sinful even when the content is true. It is easy to label as “discernment” or “truth-telling” what is really gossip. Are we drawn to the plethora of discernment blogs, podcasts, and social media posts that “call out so-and-so” because of a godly desire to defend ourselves and others from falsehood, or do we secretly enjoy the gossip? During this series in 2 Peter, let us seek to take a serious look at the issues of false teachers without looking for sinful enjoyment in critiquing the errors of others.
Lastly, and possibly most significantly, do you use your critique of others to establish your own righteousness? When we fill our conversations with the issues of other people, churches, and teachers and find pleasure in it, it may very well be that we are finding satisfaction in our own perceived superiority. This is no different than the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 who sought to establish his own righteousness through comparison with those he deemed worse than himself. The wise will hear and bear in mind that only one man went home justified in that parable, and it was not the Pharisee but the humble tax collector who lowered his eyes, beat his chest, and cried out “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” When “discernment” becomes a pious-sounding excuse for self-righteousness, we fail to discern that one of the most dangerous and deadly false-teachings (legalism) is alive and kicking in our own heart.
With all of that said, it is important again to remind you that discernment is good. It is necessary to be able to distinguish between what is good and evil (and even between what is good, better, and best). We need to be aware of the errors and false teachings in the church and the world so that we can stand firm in the true grace of God (1 Pet. 5:12). But let us be discerning about our discernment. Not all that goes under the name “discernment” is truly discernment.
Even in our best moments of true discernment, we must be aware of the lurking sins we can smuggle in along with our discernment. Even our righteous deeds are tainted with sin and are filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). But though even our best moments of righteousness are mixed with sin in this present life, our confidence is that our standing before God is obtained by the righteousness of another—the spotless and complete righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:1). May this gospel of grace free us from the yolk of legalism, protect us from false teaching, and give us a deep and soul-satisfying joy in God! May the contemplation of the gospel, and the God of the gospel, fill our minds and hearts!
[i] Sinclair B. Ferguson, “What Is Discernment?,” Ligonier Ministries, accessed March 11, 2025, https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/discernment-thinking-gods-thoughts.
[ii] Jared Wilson, “The Danger of Gossip,” Tabletalk, November 1, 2017, https://tabletalkmagazine.com/article/2017/11/the-danger-of-gossip/.
