Are We Letting Other People Do Our Discernment?
- newfireministriesi
- Jul 2
- 4 min read
"He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him." — Proverbs 18:13 (NKJV)
Have you ever noticed how quickly we can form an opinion about someone we've never actually met?
It might be a pastor.
A ministry.
A Christian author.
Or even another believer in our own community.
Someone says they're a false teacher.
Another person shares a short video clip.
Someone else posts a warning online.
Before long, we've already decided who that person is—without ever taking the time to hear them for ourselves.
As Christians, we should stop and ask an important question:
Have we practiced biblical discernment... or have we simply believed someone else's opinion?
There Is a Difference Between Discernment and Gossip
Scripture calls believers to be discerning.
Jesus warned about false prophets (Matthew 7:15).
The apostles repeatedly encouraged the church to test teachings against the truth of God's Word (1 John 4:1).
Discernment is not optional.
But neither is guarding our tongues.
The problem comes when discernment quietly turns into gossip.
Gossip isn't always spreading a false story.
Sometimes it's repeating negative conclusions about a person without firsthand knowledge, without context, or without following the biblical pattern for addressing concerns.
When we begin treating someone according to what we've heard instead of what we actually know, we've stepped into dangerous territory.
God Never Asked Us to Borrow Someone Else's Discernment
One of the greatest examples of discernment in Scripture comes from the Bereans.
Luke tells us that they eagerly received Paul's teaching, but then searched the Scriptures daily to determine whether what he said was true (Acts 17:11).
Think about that.
They didn't reject Paul because someone warned them about him.
Neither did they blindly accept him because of his reputation.
They examined God's Word for themselves.
What if more of us followed that example?
Instead of letting YouTube personalities, podcasts, social media, or even our favorite preachers determine what we believe, what if we opened the Scriptures ourselves?
God desires mature believers—not believers who simply repeat what they've heard.
We Must Test Teaching—Not Assume Motives
There is an important distinction we often overlook.
We are called to test doctrine.
We are not called to assume someone's heart.
Only God sees the heart completely.
Many disagreements among Christians aren't about denying Christ or rejecting the gospel.
Sometimes people are expressing the same biblical truth using different words, illustrations, or perspectives.
Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12 that there are different gifts, different ministries, and different workings—but the same Spirit.
Different doesn't automatically mean dangerous.
That doesn't mean every teaching is correct.
It means we should be careful before attaching labels to people.
Jesus Gave Us a Better Way
When conflict arises between believers, Jesus gave us a clear process.
In Matthew 18:15–17, He tells us to first go to our brother privately.
If that doesn't resolve the issue, bring one or two witnesses.
If there is still no repentance, then bring the matter before the church.
Notice the heart behind each step.
Every opportunity is an invitation toward reconciliation.
Jesus wasn't looking for public humiliation.
He was pursuing restoration.
That should still be the heart of His Church today.
Social Media Has Made This More Difficult
Never before has it been so easy to hear accusations against people we've never met.
Within minutes we can watch edited clips, reaction videos, and commentary that encourages us to make judgments before we've done any careful examination ourselves.
The danger is not simply misinformation.
The danger is that we slowly become people who accept accusations more quickly than we seek truth.
Scripture warns us against this attitude.
Proverbs 18:13 reminds us that answering a matter before hearing it is both foolish and shameful.
That verse applies just as much today as it did thousands of years ago.
Let's Be Known for Truth and Love
The Church should absolutely stand for sound doctrine.
Truth matters.
False teaching should never be ignored.
But truth should never cause us to abandon love, humility, or wisdom.
Before forming an opinion about someone, ask yourself:
Have I actually listened to what they teach?
Have I examined Scripture for myself?
Am I responding to facts—or simply to what someone else has said?
Am I pursuing truth, or am I repeating gossip?
These questions protect both our hearts and the unity of Christ's body.
A Final Challenge
What would happen if Christians became known as people who sought truth before forming opinions?
What if we were slower to accuse and quicker to listen?
What if we refused to let social media become our source of discernment and instead allowed the Holy Spirit, through the Word of God, to guide us?
The Church doesn't need less discernment.
It needs more biblical discernment.
Discernment that is rooted in Scripture.
Discernment that is led by the Holy Spirit.
Discernment that refuses to become gossip.
May we be believers who love truth enough to search it out for ourselves, and who love people enough to speak the truth with grace, humility, and the hope of restoration.
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Pastor Scott
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