The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment (2007, Crossway Books) - Tim Challies, trade paperback, 206 pages including study questions, index, Scripture index).
Challies, a self-employed web designer, is the editor of a website and blog called Discerning Reader. His site is always filled with valuable, well-written topics of value to Christians, but his book on spiritual discernment is a gold mine.
It may appear odd that Challies begins with a story about counterfeit currency during World War II, but the illustration is a perfect introduction to a book on spiritual discernment. Many Christians often think they know the difference between right and wrong, truth and falsehood, good and evil, but without spiritual discernment you might as well be trying to provide for your family with fake money. Says Challies, “Scripture makes it plain: if you are not a person who exhibits and exercises discernment you are not a mature Christian.”
Make no mistake, Challies isn’t here to spiritually beat us up, but rather to challenge Christians to practice biblical discernment in every aspect of life. The author believes that discernment is both a gift (1 Cor. 12:4-7) and a responsibility (1 John 4:1). Some may have stronger gifts of discernment than others, but everyone can learn to be more discerning.
Practicing discernment has become a difficult task in our current culture, chiefly due to a dominant secular worldview as well as low views of Scripture, theology and God. I value this book not only as a call to personal spiritual growth, but also as a way to examine our culture.
The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment takes the reader on a full-scale, yet highly readable journey through all aspects of biblical spiritual discernment: its definition, uses, practices, and yes, even its dangers. Each well-constructed chapter builds on a solid foundation of Scripture. I’ve encountered very few books this concise and yet this thorough. Challies is an excellent writer who has given Christians a book we really can’t afford not to read.
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