TL;DR:
Discernment—the ability to see things as they truly are—is a Christlike quality essential for cross-cultural missionaries. Missionaries, like Jesus, must see beyond appearances to understand motives, needs, and potential within people and situations. Jesus’ life modeled perfect discernment: He was neither gullible nor cynical, recognizing both human sin and divine possibility. Scripture passages reinforce the biblical call for us to be discerning. The page includes an acrostic built on the word “discernment.”
Discernment—seeing things as they really are—is a vital gift for cross-cultural missionary work.
“All that glitters is not gold” is an aphorism about discernment. That proverb, popularized by Shakespeare, reminds us that not everything that looks valuable or true actually is.
Jesus exercised discernment regarding people’s motives, attitudes, and depth of commitment without appearing suspicious by nature.
Discernment modeled after Jesus is fundamental to building relationships, encouraging new leaders, developing sustainability, and facilitating church-planting movements.
When I was about eight or nine years old, someone gave me an autograph book. I went around badgering people to sign it. Some just signed their name on those small, multicolored pages. Others wrote personal notes. A few wrote a Scripture verse before signing their names.
During one of our family's annual visits to Missouri, where many of our relatives lived, I asked an elderly great-aunt for her autograph. Before signing her name, she wrote, "All that glitters is not gold."
That saying did not mean much to me then. I had no idea that it came from
Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, nor did I fully understand its meaning.
With the passage of time, however, I have come to understand that “all that glitters is not gold”
expresses the need for discernment (Deuteronomy 32:28–291; 2
Chronicles 2:122).
Discernment was, of course, something very evident in Jesus' earthly life. That gift of
discernment, that ability to see things as they really are, is something not only helpful but also
necessary in cross-cultural ministry.
Jesus, of course, knew very well that all that glitters is not gold. Even though He acted
kindly and lovingly, no one could deceive Him.
Jesus’ discernment did not mean that He was suspicious by nature. However, He could see
through the fog that often obscures motives, attitudes, capabilities, and even depth of
commitment. Jesus understood that personal sin blocks people from being what they were
created to be. So, people who encountered Jesus were sometimes startled when He brought up
issues in their lives.
Jesus did not see only the ugliness of things. He also discerned what could be.
So, while Jesus knew that all that glitters is not gold, He saw possibilities in people.
Global missionaries need an abundance of discernment. In cross-cultural ministry, discerning
what is really happening and reading between the lines are not easy. For obvious reasons, no
missionary will ever reach the level of discernment that Jesus possessed. Still, people in
cross-cultural evangelism must pray for and use discernment as they seek to:
Build relationships with responsive groups of people;
Call on new believers to step forward as leaders;
Develop sustainability rather than dependency; and
Create church-planting movements as opposed to starting isolated congregations.
While we can see discernment modeled in Jesus' life, it is noteworthy that the concept also shows up in the discussion of spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and in Hebrews 5:14 in a
paragraph about distinguishing between good and evil.
Today, as you pray for missionaries, ask God to give them an abundance of the kind of discernment that Jesus possessed!
“I am your servant; give me discernment” — Psalm 119:125.
Reflection Questions about Discernment
How does discernment fit into the broader context of spiritual gifts and the Christian faith as a whole?
How does the proverb “all that glitters is not gold” relate to the need for discernment in cross-cultural missionary ministry?
How was discernment evident in Jesus' earthly life? How can missionaries exercise similar discernment?
What challenges in cross-cultural living require missionaries to exercise discernment?
What are some ways that discernment would help missionaries in their efforts to build relationships with responsive groups of people and foster sustainability in church-planting movements?
This reflection on Christlike attitudes and actions that should be present in cross-cultural missionary service was one of a dozen articles in the “missionary ministry that reflects Christ” series published in Engage, a monthly online magazine produced by the Church of the Nazarene.
1 “They are a nation without sense,
there is no discernment in them.
If only they were wise and would understand this
and discern what their end will be!”
2 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth! He has
given King David a wise son, endowed with intelligence and discernment.”
Afterword: In what ways can our being discerning reflect Jesus?
Discernment in the life and ministry of a cross-cultural missionary can be said to reflect Jesus Christ. Five attitudes and actions that contribute to a missionary being discerning are:
Spiritual sensitivity: Jesus demonstrated spiritual sensitivity throughout His ministry. Cross-cultural missionaries must follow Jesus’ lead in discerning how the gospel speaks to the needs, beliefs, and cultural characteristics of the people to whom they minister.
Wisdom: Jesus exemplified wisdom and a commitment to truth in His interactions with people and groups. Similarly, cross-cultural missionaries must be wise as they seek to understand local customs and decide how to share the transforming power of the gospel. They must avoid the extremes of accepting everything or rejecting everything. Missionaries must not be gullible. A few decades ago, futurists heralded our time as “the age of information.” Instead, it has become an age of misinformation and disinformation.
Adaptability: Jesus demonstrated adaptability in His ministry. Cross-cultural missionaries must do likewise. It must never be “my way or the highway.” Their plans must always be flexible.
Empathy and compassion: Jesus showed empathy and compassion toward people He encountered. Cross-cultural missionaries must do the same. They must discern how to reach out in love and compassion in culturally appropriate ways.
Servant leadership: Jesus modeled servant leadership throughout His life. He often prioritized the needs of others above His own. Cross-cultural missionaries must also humbly serve the communities in which they serve.
In short, cross-cultural missionaries who reflect the discernment that Jesus had will be spiritually sensitive, wise, adaptable, empathetic, compassionate, and eager to serve others.
Some Bible Verses About Discernment
Deuteronomy 1:13, New Revised Standard Version — “Choose for each of your tribes individuals who are wise, discerning, and reputable, and I will make them your leaders.” (Moses speaking to the Israelites)
1 Kings 3:9, 2011 NIV — “Give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish
between right and wrong.” (Prayer of King Solomon)
Ezra 8:16, New Living Translation — “I also sent for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of discernment.” (Words of Ezra on arriving back in Jerusalem)
Job 6:30, The Message — “Don’t you trust me to discern good from evil?” (Job’s reply to Eliphaz the Temanite)
Psalm 119:66, Holman Christian Standard Bible — “Teach me good judgment and discernment, for I rely on Your commands.”
Psalm 119:125, 2011 NIV — “I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes.”
Proverbs 1:5, 2011 NIV — “Let the discerning get guidance.”
Proverbs 15:14, 2011 NIV — “The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.”
Proverbs 16:21, 2011 NIV — “The wise in heart are called discerning.”
Proverbs 17:10, 2011 NIV — “A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool.”
Proverbs 17:24, 2011 NIV — “A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.”
Proverbs 28:11, New Living Translation — “Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.”
Daniel 2:21, 2011 NIV — “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.” (Daniel’s praise of God)
Hosea 4:14, Holman Christian Standard Bible — “People without discernment are doomed.” (Hosea’s charge against Israel)
Hosea 14:9, New Revised Standard Version — “Those who are wise understand these things; those who are discerning know them.” (Hosea’s words to Israel)
Malachi 3:18, New King James Version — “Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.” (Malachi’s words to the “faithful remnant”)
1 Corinthians 2:14, New Revised Standard Version — “Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
1 Corinthians 12:10, New Living Translation — “He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit.”
Philippians 1:9–10, 2011 NIV — “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best.”
Note: Different English translations were not used merely to find an exact word we were looking for (in this case, “discern”). Rather, consulting multiple English translations of the Bible can help us understand the richness, complexity, and enduring relevance of God’s Word.
Other words used in English Bible translations to convey ideas related to discern or discernment include carefully observant, good judgment, good sense, insightful, intelligent, perceptive, prudent, recognize, sensible, understanding, and wisdom.
Acrostic: Discernment
D — Deep perception shaped by prayer and Scripture, I — Insight that sees beyond appearances, S — Searching hearts and motives, not just words or deeds, C — Clearly sensing the Spirit’s whisper amid noise, E — Evaluating truth with humility and love, R — Recognizing God’s hand where others see none, N — Navigating choices with wisdom and grace, M — Measuring everything against God’s Word, E — Eyes open to deception and self-interest, N — Nurtured through patience and spiritual maturity, T — Trusting that the Lord will guide the discerning heart.
