What does a descerning spirit means as a Jehovah witness?

Answer 1

Just out of curiosity, why are u asking a religious question about a specific sect in the philo section? There is a religion section under "Society and Culture"

Answer 2

Though I couldn't find any thing on discerning spirit, I did find this.

"There is clearly a distinction between the inspired writings of the Bible and other writings that, while manifesting a measure of the spirit’s direction and guidance, are not properly classed with the Sacred Scriptures. As has been shown, in addition to the canonical books of the Hebrew Scriptures, there were other writings, such as official records concerning the kings of Judah and Israel, and these, in many cases, may have been drawn up by men devoted to God. They were even used in research done by those writers who were inspired to write part of the Sacred Scriptures. So, too, in apostolic times. In addition to the letters included in the Bible canon, there were doubtless many other letters written by the apostles and older men to the numerous congregations during the course of the years. While the writers were spirit-guided men, still God did not place his seal of guarantee distinguishing any such additional writings as part of the inerrant Word of God. The Hebrew noncanonical writings may have contained some error, and even the noncanonical writings of the apostles may have reflected to some degree the incomplete understanding that existed in the early years of the Christian congregation. (Compare Ac 15:1-32; Ga 2:11-14; Eph 4:11-16.)

However, even as God by his spirit, or active force, granted to certain Christians the “discernment of inspired utterances,” he could also guide the governing body of the Christian congregation in discerning which inspired writings were to be included in the canon of the Sacred Scriptures.—1Co 12:10;"

2 Tim 3:16 All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.

Inspired here literally means "God-Breathed"

I would use the phrase this way:

"Do we show a discerning spirit in searching for the truth, or do we lean on our own thinking?"

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Answer 3

The specific term "discerning spirit" is not one that is used as some catchphrase by Jehovah's Witnesses, although the concepts are familiar.

The bible term "discernment" is the quality that helps one determine how best to proceed based on the information available to him; it is closely related to and expands upon "understanding". The bible term "spirit" (in both Hebrew and Greek) simply means "that which is invisible but whose effects can be seen"; the term is sometimes even used to describe the wind.

Perhaps the questioner intends to evoke one of these two passages...

(Proverbs 17:27) A man of discernment is cool [or calm] of spirit.

(Mark 2:8) Jesus, having discerned immediately by his spirit that they were reasoning that way in themselves, said to them: “Why are you reasoning these things in your hearts?

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20020401/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/we/index.htm?article=article_04.htm

Answer 4

To discern means to see clearly, therefore having a discerning spirit would be one who shows by word and deed that they take the time to think and see clearly before making a decision.