May Musings
Hello Family,
We live in a time where voices are everywhere.
Scroll for a few minutes and you’ll hear sermons, opinions, “hot takes,” and bold claims about God, faith, and truth. Some of it sounds right. Some of it feels convincing. And some of it—honestly—is just loud.
That’s why discernment is so important now more than ever.
Discernment is not about becoming cynical or critical of everything. It’s about learning to recognize what is true, what is false, and what is simply noise. It’s about being rooted enough in Christ that we are not easily pulled in every direction by whatever shows up on our feed.
One of the biggest challenges today is how easily we can confuse confidence with truth. Someone can speak passionately, quote a verse, and gather a following—but that doesn’t automatically mean they are speaking in alignment with the heart of God.
Not everything labeled “Christian” reflects Christ.
And that’s where we have to slow down and ask better questions:
- Does this align with the character of Jesus?
- Does this reflect the love, truth, and grace we see in Scripture?
- Or does it stir division, pride, fear, or hostility?
Because here’s the reality: algorithms are not designed to form your faith. They are designed to keep your attention. And often, what keeps attention is not peace or truth—it’s outrage, division, and emotional reaction.
If we’re not careful, we can be discipled more by our feed than by our faith.
We can start to adopt opinions, attitudes, and even theological positions without ever testing them against Scripture. We can begin to treat people in ways that look nothing like how Jesus treated people—quick to judge, slow to listen, and eager to divide.
But when we look at Jesus, we see something different.
We see someone who spoke truth without tearing people down.
Someone who challenged hypocrisy but moved toward the broken.
Someone who was firm in conviction but full of compassion.
Discernment means learning to recognize that voice—and choosing it over all the others.
And Scripture reminds us that discernment is not some-thing we manufacture on our own—it’s something we seek from God.
When King Solomon was given the opportunity to ask God for anything, he didn’t ask for wealth, power, or long life. Instead, he asked for an understanding heart—to discern between right and wrong so he could lead God’s people well (1 Kings 3:9).
That request meant something to God.
It shows us that discernment is not just helpful—it’s essential. And more than that, it’s something God de-sires to give to those who ask.
This perspective calls us back to a life of consistent prayer.
If we want to navigate a noisy world faithfully, we can’t rely on quick impressions or emotional reactions. We have to be people who pause and pray:
“Lord, help me see clearly.”
“Help me recognize what is from You—and what is not.”
“Shape my heart so I respond the way You would.”
It also means being honest enough to admit that just because something sounds right doesn’t mean it is right. Even Scripture can be taken out of context to push an agenda. That’s why it’s important not just to hear the Word, but to know it—to read it, wrestle with it, and understand it within the bigger story of God’s love and redemption.
So how do we grow in discernment?
We stay close to God.
We spend time in His Word, not just looking for quick answers, but seeking to understand His heart. We pray for wisdom. We surround ourselves with mature believers who can help us process what we’re hearing and seeing.
And we slow down.
We don’t have to react to everything. We don’t have to form an opinion on every post. Sometimes discernment looks like choosing silence, choosing patience, and choosing not to engage in something that pulls us away from Christ.
In a world that is constantly trying to shape our perspective, discernment is what keeps us grounded.
Not in opinion. Not in emotion. But in truth.
And ultimately, discernment is not just about avoiding what is wrong—it’s about staying anchored to what is right.
To Jesus.
Peace and Blessings to you family.
In Christ,
Pastor Marcus