Discernment and the Courage to Walk Away: A Call to Spiritual Clarity
If you find yourself in a church where leadership uses manipulation, control, and fear — all masked as religious authority — hear this: that is not the true Church of Jesus Christ. No matter what name, denomination, or branding it carries, when control replaces Christ, what you’re seeing is not a church — it’s a cult.
God has not left us defenseless. He has given us the gift of discernment — the ability to distinguish between what is truly from Him, what is merely human, and what is dangerously demonic. (1 Corinthians 12:10). Discernment isn’t just a suggestion; it’s a safeguard. It protects the body of Christ from deception, distortion, and destruction.
But discernment is not automatic. It must be practiced, cultivated, and exercised, both personally and within the church body.
Understanding the Gift of Discernment
The gift of distinguishing between spirits appears only once in the New Testament, but it is critically important. While interpretations vary, the early church recognized several key purposes for this gift:
Testing Prophecy — In a time before the New Testament was complete, discerning the truthfulness of spoken prophecy was essential. (1 Thessalonians 5:19–21)
Recognizing the Spirit Behind the Message — Was a word from the Holy Spirit? Human emotion? Or from demonic deception? Discernment was vital to separate light from darkness. (1 John 4:1)
Navigating Spiritual Warfare — Discerning the activity of evil spirits — including spirits of infirmity, divination, or deception — protected believers from spiritual harm. (Ephesians 6:12)
Assessing People’s True Character — Like Barnabas discerning the potential in John Mark, and Paul recognizing false teachers like Elymas, spiritual discernment was part of wise leadership and healthy community life. (Acts 13:8-10)
Discernment was — and still is — vital for identifying wolves among sheep, counterfeit teachings, and movements that subtly pull hearts away from the true Gospel.
Is the Gift Still Necessary Today?
Some argue that discernment gifts faded after the New Testament was completed. But the Scriptures repeatedly warn that deception will only increase as the end draws nearer (1 Timothy 4:1, Matthew 24:24). False teachings, false prophets, and false manifestations will not disappear — they will grow bolder.
We have the full Word of God and the indwelling Holy Spirit, but discernment is still needed — urgently.
Because not everything that glitters is gold.
Not every “anointing” is from God.
And not every movement with Jesus' name on it honors Jesus’ heart.
We must remain vigilant. We must test everything against the Word of God. We must refuse to be mesmerized by charisma at the expense of character, or by miracles at the expense of message.
The Danger of Remaining Silent
If we fail to exercise discernment, we risk being swept away by appearances, false promises, and manipulation.
If we see corruption and stay silent, we become complicit in the harm it causes.
If we witness control masked as “submission” and say nothing, we allow abuse to grow unchecked.
Jesus commanded discernment. Paul modeled it. The early Church needed it. And today, perhaps more than ever, the Church must reclaim it.
The Call to Action: Be Courageous. Be Discerning. Be Unshakable.
👉 Test the spirits. Don’t take every word at face value — line it up against the unchanging Word of God.
👉 Trust the Holy Spirit’s leading. When something feels off — when freedom is replaced by fear, when leadership demands allegiance over accountability — pay attention.
👉 Listen to Scripture over crowds. Popularity is not proof of God’s approval.
👉 If necessary, walk away. Loyalty to Christ matters more than loyalty to a building, a personality, or a ministry.
👉 Search the Scriptures yourself. Let God’s Word shape your convictions, not just a sermon or a social media clip.
Discernment is not about being cynical; it's about being faithful.
It’s not about judging harshly; it's about protecting wisely.
It’s not about running from church; it’s about running after Christ.
God calls His people to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). In a world of confusion, compromise, and counterfeit spirituality, may we be people who stand firm, see clearly, and never settle for anything less than the truth of Jesus Christ.
It’s time to discern — and it’s time to act.
