The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment by Tim Challies (Book Review)
A guest post by Matt Maestas
Tim Challies’ freshman effort, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, is a helpful addition to the rather ambiguous void that exists in this area in Christian writing. With all of the self help, devotional and otherwise Christian literature available, it comes as a bit of a shock that more hasn’t been written on this vital topic.
Challies, of Challies.com fame is a much heralded blogger, Christian commentator and correspondent. It comes as a bit of a surprise that this is Challies’ first book, for it reads like a sage work. Filled with well rounded illustration and gripping analogy, Spiritual Discernment goes quickly, but prompts many instances of pause and reflection. Nestled at the back of the book is a study guide to help facilitate this venture.
In the introduction, Challies states he writes to the general reader who wishes to understand what the Bible teaches about discernment, showing that discernment is a discipline that Christians should seek to practice deliberately. In this stated goal, Challies succeeds by doing a fine job of highlighting examples of discernment in process and action in Scripture as well as providing a framework for this same discernment to take place in the life of the reader. Of especially good value in this regard are chapters 4 and 6 which focus on practical application concerning principles of discernment.
Another helpful chapter is 8, “Concerning the Dangers of Discernment.” This chapter serves as a helpful corrective against those who would label themselves the discernment or spiritual gifts police. In addition, Challies rightly warns of the dangers of both guilt and honor by association as well as going on unfounded witch hunts in the name of discernment.
With all that is notable about Spiritual Discernment, the book is not without its difficulties. First, an overly negative view of culture is taken, as God is seen to be at war with culture and not working within it in order to redeem. Secondly, at times it felt as if the communal aspects of discernment were overlooked in favor of the individual. Third, Challies seems to set up discernment as the ultimate spiritual gift, somehow exercising authority or preeminence over the others. Fourth, for an enterprise as complex as discernment, many of the solutions seemed overly simplistic, as when Challies writes, “Obeying God’s will is a relatively simple process of uncovering the truths of God so we might do the will of God.” Sounds real good on the exterior, yet in the Christian life, there are many difficult situations over which we must labor to make decisions. Finally, most troubling in Challies work is an overt infatuation with all things John MacArthur. While I have nothing against MacArthur and his ministry and teaching, overdependence on any one author is bound to color any perspective and this is evidently true in Challies work.
All in all, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment is a good read in an otherwise lacking area of Christian writing. While I cannot award it a full 3 stars, it is however worthy of a solid 2 on the Vanderhorst scale, “well worth your time.” This work would be especially valuable for a college or new believer’s class, yet is worth the time of a seasoned Christian as well.
[Matt is married to Jessica, and currently lives in De Soto, Kansas, where he is planting De Soto Community Church. A Will Ferrell devotee, he has been known to insert entire monologues from Talladega Nights or Elf into sermons. Just kidding.]
August 21st, 2008 at 7:27 pm
I’ve been very interested in reading this book since it came out. I’ve even recommended it to my professor at Seminary, in the course “Christianity and Culture”. Now I need to actually read it.
I agree with the premise that spiritual discernment is in depserate need of treatment as so many Christians I know have a complete and utter lack of discernment. It’s not that they are bad at it, they have no idea even where to begin. This would be helpful.