[This article is part of the “spiritual leadership today” study/discussion going on this year. For all articles in the series, click the Spiritual Leadership tab at the top of the page. To have them delivered, subscribe to The Brook Letter]
Discernment is the ability to distinguish true and false versions of reality. Discernment is clear perception, good judgment, and penetrating insight.
How much we all need incisive spiritual leaders today! “Incisive” is a great word, the root of which means “cutting” or “penetrating” (from Latin incidere: to cut into). It is exactly the idea of the New Testament word for discernment (diakrino) which means separation or distinction. The discerning leader approaches challenges and opportunities with a mental and spiritual scalpel. To be discriminating without being discriminatory. To judge without being judgmental. To separate without severing.
Discernment is delicate work.
The discerning leader looks at a situation, not rushing to judgment but being bold enough to eventually make a judgment by separating reality from perception. Good leaders know that perceptions matter, and have to be dealt with, but what really matters is the truth–reality. We can be tempted to think of spiritual leadership as quite subjective, especially given the axiom today that there are many “truths” (even apparent contradictory “truths”) in a given situation. But a surgeon in the operating room has to sever exactly the right tissue, a pilot navigating a valley needs to discern exactly the terrain of that valley, and an engineer needs to decide on exactly the right material with exactly the right rigidity and flexibility to build a stable skyscraper. If incisive discernment is necessary in physical matters, how much more so in spiritual matters.
How much room for error is there in spiritual discernment? We will make errors, but it should never be because we were too quick or too lazy to do the scanning, probing, testing, balancing, consulting, praying work of discernment.
Discernment: A True Spiritual Gift
Discernment is sometimes a quick and instinctive judgment, other times a complex, refined, and difficult process. Discernment is a true spiritual gift. A leader must try to approach situations with no bias or prejudice, even though the leader’s identity and ego are frequently tangled in many leadership challenges. Discernment means looking deeply into important matters, as deep as the human spirit itself. Hebrews 4:12 describes the sharp edge of discernment: “the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing [diakrino] soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” The only sword a Christian leader should wield is the word of God.
Stop and look at it this way. If a leader approaches you offering a judgment of your attitudes, thoughts, or behaviors, how are you going to react? You will probably first recoil–a natural enough reaction. The next thing you will wonder is whether this person has the right to confront you. So you are having to discern the discerner. In some situations the confrontation is proper because of leadership responsibility, sanctified by a motive of love. Other times, you may judge the judger to be more judgmental than judicious.
But let’s say it is all proper. You will be able to constructively handle the voice of that leader if you know that the truth of the word of God is the basis of the advice or direction. This is why discernment is a distinctly spiritual movement. If we are going to be evaluated, corrected, or encouraged–we want God to be the influencer, not just another human being. It is the word of God that is sharper than a sword–not us.
The list of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 includes “distinguishing [diakrino] between spirits,” which means that Christian leaders need to discern the distinctions between good and evil intent. (So also 1 John 4:1 says: “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone into the world.”)
Hebrews 5:11-14 speaks of mature believers “who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.”
And then there is this: “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:14-16).
This passage defines the essence of spiritual leadership. If a leader is “with” the Spirit, that person “makes judgments about all things” via the mind of Christ. In this, he “is not subject to any man’s judgment,” that is, he is operating in the human/divine nexus which transcends the opinion, sentiment, and criticism of others.
The idea is tested by Scripture to make sure it does not violate basic biblical morals and ethics.
The leader with the conviction keeps in close contact with confidants and is open to a refining of the idea.
This pattern happens all the time in spiritual leadership. Horrendous mistakes can be made, as when the leader is asserting an idea coming from his own imagination and couching it in super-spiritual language, or when it is all about his ego or a personal need to make a name for himself. Good funding, great marketing, and excellent PR do not make towers of Babel anything other than surges of egotism.
Discernment Today
We live in a dangerous time. Leaders are able to get away with actions that have little integrity and no discernment because of the increasing distance between them and the people they lead. Leaders exist as two-dimensional figures in an age of virtual platforms where there is little personal accountability. The TV screen flattens, the internet offers a screen behind which the Wizard of Oz pushes the buttons and pulls the levers. The conference spotlight illuminates a body, but not a life. The sheer size of some organizations shields leaders from real evaluation by their constituencies.
And then there are the driving motivations of our competitive culture. Applause comes when leaders get results, whether they are founded on discernment or not. We are satisfied with image, when we should insist on transformation. Microphones add a false resonance to the voices of leaders whose highest skill is grabbing the microphone.
But on a more positive note, we should notice this too: all of the tools and techniques of the world today, though they can be used to obfuscate, obscure, detract, shield, deceive, and manipulate, can also be powerful means of a ministry of discernment to the masses. Today our tools of communication give us access to thousands of perspectives–we just need to use discernment to find them.
What do you think?
mel, this was very helpful, especially today. Thank you! Also, I completely agree with the importance of having discernment, because I see what happens when I dont use it.
Wow. I appreciated your message and thoughts on discernment.
“…we want God to be the influencer, not just another human being. It is the word of God that is sharper than a sword…” Helpful words to remember for challenging moments.
“Applause comes … founded on discernment or not…satisfied with image, …leaders whose highest skill is grabbing the microphone.” Refreshing and *healing.
I’m especially grateful that these thoughts are shared within Christian circles, rather than having to come from secular sources.
Thank You.
* This comment in NO way refers to any of my experiences at Elmbrook.
This one phrase really resonates: “Christian leaders need to discern the distinctions between good and evil intent.” That’s a challenge. Too many times we find people doing “good things” with evil intent and “evil things” with good intentions.
Unfortunately many of today’s Christians are so anxious to help others, to serve, that they plunge headlong into projects and ministries without any solid foundation in the Word of God from which to make decisions. As leaders, we have a responsibility to practice discernment and lovingly, graciously confront.
I suspect that in the next few weeks we’ll find this column reflecting about the work of confrontation in leadership because discernment without confrontation is one-sided.
Mel, Thank you so much.
Impact: “Horrendous mistakes can be made, as when the leader is asserting an idea coming from his own imagination and couching it in super-spiritual language, or when it is all about his ego or a personal need to make a name for himself. Good funding, great marketing, and excellent PR do not make towers of Babel anything other than surges of egotism”
“And then there are the driving motivations of our competitive culture. Applause comes when leaders get results, whether they are founded on discernment or not. We are satisfied with image, when we should insist on transformation”
Thanks you Mel. It is helpful to hear discernment clarified so well. I have found the need to practice discernment quite often. Sometimes there is time for gathering information and others it must be done almost instantly. Living a life of prayerful contact with God and maintaining a personal scriptural reading life is helpful, no, essential for me.
Another thing I found as a blessing is to have trusted, close friends with whom to discuss situations. David had his ‘friend’. The proverbs speaks, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Others living godly lives guard me from my ego and help me to ‘see’ the situation more clearly and quickly.
Thanks again. Leadership is an area of which I can always use help. I have found this discussion great so far.
I really liked the article. I also thought Jim Eschenbrenner’s comment was very interesting – Jim states, “As leaders, we have a responsibility to practice discernment”. Taking that thought to a larger scope, I am not sure if I thought of my Spiritual Leadership in terms of a “responsibility”, definitely as a “commitment” to God but the word “responsibility” adds a whole new dimension for me. A different level of maturity. Too complicated to explain in few words. Both Mel and Jim, thanks for the insight! Hmmm..sounds like discernment will be needed on my part to think this through 🙂
“If a leader approaches you offering a judgment of your attitudes, thoughts, or behaviors, how are you going to react? You will probably first recoil–a natural enough reaction. The next thing you will wonder is whether this person has the right to confront you.”
These words had significant meaning for a situation I faced at my workplace the other day. As I reacted to harsh words from a co-worker who seemingly was prodding me to respond inappropriately to him I went to my supervisor for guidance. His advice to me was to seperate myself from the situation and allow my feelings to subside before confronting the offender with words I was sure to regret. Good advice taken reluctantly by me but the hurt of the event left a wound in a close working environment with another. However, this also allowed me to take stock in my supervisor and his very appropriate guidance in the matter. Discernment is a gift when used correctly and can build relationships in all segements of life if we use God’s Truth as our guidance. Thank you Mel for your wise words!
Great work on this Mel, another reminder to leaders to maintain a very real balance. We all too often swing from one side of the pendulum to the other, without any real grounding in the truth of scripture, nor in the life-giving guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks for the challenge and the reminder!
“Discernment is sometimes a quick and instinctive judgment, other times a complex, refined, and difficult process” Mel follows that with the statement that discernment is a spiritual gift. I’s agree, but I think it is somethign the Spirit can and does give each of us. My experience is that it is usually not quick and instinctive. ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Cor. 2:14-16). It’s so essential to make sure I am on the same page with Jesus Christ when I am trying to discern the truth about an issue. My first reaction is probably wrong, especially if it’s an emotional issue. Mike Andrew’s testimony about his supervisor’s advice in the work place was right on. The best way to get God’s discernment on an issue is to wait, seek Him, pray, and wait some more until I sense His peace and direction.
Great article! Our mission church is electing elders and deacons next month and one of the first things I want to share with them is this article on discernment. This quote is so true!
“The discerning leader looks at a situation, not rushing to judgment but being bold enough to eventually make a judgment by separating reality from perception.” Reality from perception, wow, what a challenge sometimes.
Thank you for the encouraging article.
Excellent! This is a topic long neglected and a gift too often unused.
Thank you for this article.
When seeking to discern Gods truth in a matter, whether it is correction directed toward me, discerning Gods will for my life at this time, or any other myriad of issues, I find it helpful to go back to the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus points out the reality of the kingdom of God is very different than that of the kingdom of man. Humility leads to authority, submission leads to power, love leads to victory. As I prayerfully remind myself that I serve the kingdom of God and ask for leading from the Holy Spirit, I am put on the right path to discern Gods will. The seeking of confirmation from godly people is very helpful and can help provide more creative solutions as you allow God to work through more than one experience set.
Finally, I have found God can use anyone to provide correction to me. I try to be open to constructive criticism and use the same steps outlined above to discern if the correction is from God or elsewhere.