What is the difference between judgment and discernment

Trying to practice my truth here, as lovingly as I can! Tough work in the real world. This subject of judgement and discernment is much like walking a tightrope and requires balance. People in my church, say that I am spiritual, while people outside of my church, say that I am religious. Trust me when I say that religion does have the answers but it requires that a person dig deeply into the mystery of religion. Christianity has within its history an oral teaching and the Bible.

The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, and later translated into Greek. The New Testament was written in Greek. If you truly read the Bible you will discover that Jesus did not condemn people. And having said that you will also notice that the Bible teaches Good and Evil.

Your email address will not be published. Submit Comment. He cheated on his wife with a much younger employee.

She abandoned her newborn baby. He drinks until he beats his children. She manipulates her feminine wiles to get what she wants from men.

Notice this: discernment is not about deciding whether one person thinks another person is right or wrong. Discernment is about understanding what moral position God holds in relation to the question under discussion. The standard for determining moral acceptability is God, not the speaker of the moment.

The difference is primarily a motive of the heart. Press your conversation through the sieve of grace, removing even the smallest fragments of condemnation. Pray humbly and sincerely for those you see doing wrong rather than condemning them in front of your kids. When disciplining children, focus more on the heart than on simply altering behavior. Are they obeying on the outside but rebelling on the inside? Whose attention are they really seeking—and who do they want to make look good?

When appropriate, pray with your child about his or her heart. In praising our kids, we can praise the true attitudes of their hearts—thanks to the Holy Spirit—far more than behavior. Help kids to see how our legitimate desires become demands, which we then meet in illegitimate, sinful ways.

As parents, God has given us the opportunity to create and model a culture of humility in our homes. Rather than expanding the gulf between ourselves and others through subtle condemnation and superiority, we can close that gap by comprehending and appreciating our universal poverty without the cross.

We need to help our kids carefully discern good from evil without developing hearts that condemn others. Or, do they come from anger, insecurity or stubbornness? For example, assume a parked car suddenly started rolling down a hill towards you, or that a deadly snake was after you. Not very likely. You would see it for what it is and take action. You would probably feel very differently if someone shouted abuse at you, however.

But, perhaps our reactions in difficult human situations need not be much different to the car and the snake. Perhaps, we could still recognise behaviour for what it is and take action, but without being consumed by anger or hate? Perhaps, we can be more discerning rather than judging.

Judgement, however, implies something more definitive in the way it tends to be used. And, that can be dangerous. Because, whatever answer we may have reached, we can never completely know or claim that it is the only truth. And, this is a subtle, but important point. A point whose appreciation might change how you relate to a situation. For example, by making you more open to different possibilities, or the fact that circumstances often make people behave in strange and unexpected ways.

Of course, not everyone will understand you even if you really do come from a place of discernment. Ironically, you may be judged, for judging, when you were only being discerning. All you can do is be aware of your inner state and be sensitive to how your words might be received. And, i f you truly come from a place of discernment, chances are that you are much less likely to make someone feel judged.