How do you efficiently use the ability of discernment ( to tell between bad, good, people's agendas)?

Question

I've heard many religious folk talk about their power to discern and sense out bad seeds, and good folk.

How does one efficiently use this ability, and spot even the most hard to spot baddies in the cesspool of humanity out there?

Answer 1

It is a spiritual gift, and it has a supernatural quality to it. I have had the ability to "sense" things I would not or should not have known, but it wasn't anything I did, it just happened.

Also, discernment is the ability to compare ideas and philosophies with the Bible to determine if they are right or wrong, or consistent with what is good.

Answer 2

The individuals I have met who claim these "gifts" seem to be suffering from delusions - they are no more able to "discern" persons of a homicidal or criminal nature than anyone else. They do seem to present these "gifts" which are little more than suspicious and paranoid attitudes often enough to get people to believe in them, consequently there are evil people who are nominally Christians whom escape detection while secretly committing crimes like child abuse or spousal abuse, homicide and many others. This occurs even in communities who make much of the supposed gifts of discernment of such individuals. If they -are- so gifted how do they miss all this stuff going on?

Cesspool or not I think these people are either fooling themselves or fooling others so that they can get praise, social standing, or attention and respect, and tearing down others (guilty or not) seems to be a way they have found to get what they want.

Answer 3

Umm I wish I could tell, it's just automatic. It's like a gut feeling of queasiness, or skin crawling, or this underlying sense that something is just not right here nagging at your brain.

When I get those feelings, I take a few extra seconds - seconds, not minutes - to see if I can figure out who or what is triggering it, and then I get away from the person or situation as quickly, quietly and politely as I can without running.

Answer 4

This isn't something you wield like a sword, dude.

I can discern, but I only say something when its appropriate.

And to be able to do that, I need to know the person.

My main point to you is, if you have this gift, use it with the greatest humbleness possible.

peace

edit: there's nothing mystic about this.... its all about "gut feelings." They're not delusions.

Answer 5

It depends on the spiritual gift(s) that God has gifted someone with. Finding out whether or not someone's actions line up with scripture is a good way.

Answer 6

One must pray and ask God to guide them before doing/saying anything w/ any gift from God. We must strive to do all in His will. All gifts come from God.You are blessed and I'm happy for you. Then just proceed from there. God will guide you if you will ask, I promise. Hallelujah!!!!!