Embracing Discernment: Courage to Seek Truth

Discernment is not some kind of magical mysterious intuition; it's the ability to think critically. Really, it's a deep devotion to the truth and a humble submission to want to know and always follow the truth. It's connected to all of the other character strengths we're looking at, 24 of them. [00:58:22]

Paul writes to the Church of Philippi, chapter 1, verse 10, he says, I pray that you may have bound more knowledge and depth of insight so that you can discern what is best. It shouldn't be hard to discern what's really bad from what's wonderful, but what's best among other good options, that can be difficult for us. [02:07:44]

We live in a world that sends us so many false messages, and that's why, for example, when Paul writes to the Church of Philippi, chapter 1, verse 10, he says, I pray that you may have bound more knowledge and depth of insight so that you can discern what is best. [02:25:04]

I allowed that to prevent me from simply trying to think clearly and pursue the truth. I was suppressing the truth by my wickedness. Now, that language sounds a little bit loaded to us, so we don't tend to use it, but that's exactly what was going on. [04:00:29]

We are bombarded with false messages, for example, on social media. Somebody was saying when you look at folks at Facebook or on Instagram, you are comparing their highlight to your blooper reel. And Brene Brown said that in our world, trying to ignore social media messages is like trying to avoid air pollution by holding your breath. [04:34:44]

Discernment, critical judgment, is that which allows me to step back and say, do I really just want to be like everybody else is? There is a remarkable picture, and I think we may be able to pull this one up as well. It was taken in 1936 in a German dockyard where there was shipbuilding going on. [05:47:38]

Ask God, God, would you give me a deep devotion to want to know the truth, to humble myself enough to let go of my own ego, which will otherwise always darken my foolish heart and keep me from thinking accurately. In particular, you might think about this: appointing a devil's advocate. [07:48:00]

They would appoint an Advocates Diaboli, a devil's advocate, who would generate reasons why this person ought not to be canonized because they realized only if we give very serious consideration to the other side will we be able to be most likely to discover the truth and to decide wisely. [08:28:62]

The need for that is so great in our day. Researchers talk a lot about what they call the my side bias. I want my side to be right, to be superior. I identify with it. The my side bias is as old as Cain and Abel, and that was Cain's thought. I want my sacrifice, my religious behavior, my life to be the good one. [08:53:82]

Instead, I appointed Devil's Advocate today. Think of a position you disagree with. Think of a person that you not only disagree with, you don't like them. It might be politically, might be religiously, and sincerely take 60 seconds, two minutes to generate honest reasons why they might believe, think, live the way that they do. [09:50:12]

Jesus was like a magnet. This tax collector, that prostitute, this Canaanite woman, that despised Roman Centurion, this multiple married and divorced Samaritan woman at the well. Jesus was like, I get you, I'd get you. So today, it's Devil's Advocate day. It's Judgment Day. [11:00:00]

Today, instead of listening to those sources that you usually listen to, the way that cable channels, online sources often work is it's about money. Money is about ratings or views that gets garnered by giving my particular audience what they want. What they want is the my side bias for us to feel spirit. [11:20:42]