What is the difference between discrimination and discernment? - Discrimination - TouchPoints

1 Samuel 16:7But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Proverbs 11:22A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

John 7:24“Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”

Discrimination is shallow. It makes quick assumptions based on external appearances. Discernment looks more deeply, trying to understand what is in people’s hearts.

Matthew 12:33“A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad.”

1 Timothy 4:12Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

James 3:13If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.

People who discriminate against others judge people based on their assumptions. For instance, “That person is too young and inexperienced to teach me anything.” People with discernment judge people based on their merit—the actual results of their words and actions. For instance, “That person is young, but they are knowledgeable and thoughtful. I could learn a lot from them.”

Luke 5:29-31Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Discrimination is unjust. It writes people off, judging them in broad strokes without getting to know them or giving them a chance. One example of discrimination is the Pharisees rejecting Matthew and his disreputable friends at first glance. In contrast, Jesus showed God’s love to them and offered them an opportunity to repent—and some, such as Matthew, responded to that opportunity.

Matthew 1:5-6Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David.

James 2:25Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road.

Rahab was a Canaanite and a prostitute. Nothing about her ungodly upbringing or her past decisions indicated she was someone worthy of respect. Yet when the opportunity presented itself, she chose to believe and honor God—and was honored by becoming the great-great grandmother of King David! Discrimination assumes people can never change. Discernment is cautious, but gives credit or trust when it is due.

1 Corinthians 5:1-2I can hardly believe the report about the sexual immorality going on among you—something that even pagans don’t do. I am told that a man in your church is living in sin with his stepmother. You are so proud of yourselves, but you should be mourning in sorrow and shame. And you should remove this man from your fellowship.

1 Corinthians 5:9-12When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people. It isn’t my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning.

Discernment is just. It judges people rightly, applying boundaries and consequences wisely. While discrimination is legalistic, often making mountains out of molehills, discernment draws the line at the meaningful point—the actual mountain. One example of discernment is Paul warning church members to distance themselves from members who claim to be Christians but live blatantly hypocritical lives. Paul recognized that blatant hypocrisy within the church hurts the church’s witness and encourages other Christians to sin, so he set clear boundaries within the church to hold believers accountable.

Proverbs 26:4-5Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.

At first glance, Proverbs 26:4-5 gives a clear contradiction. Should we answer fools or ignore them? But the author of Proverbs was far too wise to accidentally place two contradictory Proverbs next to each other. That contradiction is part of the author’s point! These verses highlight a key difference between discernment and discrimination. Discrimination is based on generalizations: “old people are always out of touch” or “young people are always reckless.” Discernment may consider generalizations but withholds judgment until it knows specifics. For instance, it is true that correcting foolish people often leads to pointless arguments (since fools are usually unwilling to learn). But it’s also true that without correction, a fool will never learn humility. Discerning people are inclined to wisely weigh both these principles to apply them to specific situations and particular people. People inclined to discriminate, on the other hand, are likely to universally apply the principle that foolish people can never be corrected and write them off completely.

Luke 18:9-14Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Discrimination often comes from a place of pride. We view ourselves as superior (or others as inferior) and are quick to pass judgment. Discernment comes from a place of humility and recognizes that our own failures and limitations could create biases.

Galatians 2:11-14When Peter came to Antioch, I had to oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision. As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. When I saw that they were not following the truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you, a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?”

Often, discrimination is driven by fear—either the fear of people who are different from us or the fear of being discriminated against ourselves. The circumcision group feared that Gentiles would undermine their Jewish laws and traditions. Peter feared the circumcision group and began distancing himself from Gentile Christians to stay in the circumcision group’s favor. In contrast, biblical discernment is based on confidence in the truth of God’s Word. Using this discernment, Paul confronted Peter in front of everyone, defending the Gentile Christians and preaching the true grace of God’s Good News.

Leviticus 19:18“Do not nurse hatred in your heart for any of your relatives. Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin.”

Matthew 5:43-44“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!”

Matthew 18:15-17“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses. If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.”

Discrimination stems from dislike, judgment, and resentment. It is content with letting bitterness fester. Biblical discernment identifies relational conflicts, but unlike discrimination, it is motivated by love and seeks to resolve those conflicts. Matthew 18 is an excellent example of this. The offender is given clear expectations and boundaries, first through a private conversation, then through bringing someone else to arbitrate, then through a higher authority (the church), all with the desire to bring that person to repentance and restore the relationship.