Did you know that Sunday is the most important day for biblical discernment? And, in my experience, it’s the day we use it least.
It’s turn-back-the-clock Sunday this morning (and I woke up early—ugh!). So I laid in bed thinking about this post. It’s Sunday, I thought, what should I talk about?
Then it struck me. It’s Sunday. And I think we massively underestimate the importance of Sunday discernment and the harm we can experience because we do.
Everyday Discernment
Now, I’m not saying we should be less discerning on the other days of the week. Tuesdays and Saturdays are not throw-away days. It’s important to be comparing the messages we get every day to the Bible, obviously.
We have access to God’s Word all week long. With the abundance of Bible-focused blogs (like mine) or podcasts or YouTube videos of Bible teaching available for consumption these days, we need to be on our toes all the time. We do.
But Sunday is a slightly different, slightly bigger ballgame. And we need to keep our discernment hat on especially tight on this day.
Sunday Funday
So what’s so big about Sunday?
Well, on Sunday (or, more specifically, at church since many churches offer a variety of service options) we are actually getting messages about the Bible. This is the day we are usually intentional about going somewhere, being with God’s people, and hearing someone open the Word and talk about it.
This is the day, then, when we have the greatest opportunity to leave being better informed, more anchored to truth, and more empowered to apply God’s Word to our daily lives.
So this is the day, ladies, when we are most susceptible to being misled.
Does that seem overly dramatic? I am highly dramatic in general (just ask my family). But this, surprisingly, is not me overstating the case for effect. It’s not.
What happens on Sunday is not only that we come specifically to hear the Word preached. It’s also that we come assuming the person teaching us is telling us the truth.
And assumptions are always the enemy of discernment.
Assumptions are the enemy of discernment. Click To TweetSunday Discernment and Church
We have to go into church, more than almost any other place, with the intent to discern. We do. It’s important. Because when we don’t, we open ourselves up to a variety of seriously negative consequences.
When we just accept what someone tells us about the Bible, without thinking critically and checking their use of the Word ourselves, they can lead us into dangerous waters where we think we believe the truth when we don’t.
A pastor who’s sloppy in how they use Scripture will actually set us up to be deceived instead of protecting us against it.
If we come to hear a polished speaker say words he’s practiced all week (we hope) and neglect to engage with the Holy Spirit about the Word he inspired thousands of years ago, we increase the chances of missing the point and misapplying the point we got.
Approaching Sunday services without discernment sets us up for trouble every time. But it is avoidable. Choosing to come on Sundays intending to discern will keep us out of the danger zone.
This is the Day
This is Sunday.
This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day when, more than any other day, we need to be discerning of what we hear and Who we’re really listening to.
