Discernment (Christianity) facts for kids

In Christianity, discernment is like having a super-sharp sense that helps you understand things deeply or make really good judgments. It's about seeing beyond the obvious and noticing important details that others might miss. For Christians, discernment is considered a virtue, meaning it's a good quality to have. Someone who is discerning is often seen as wise and good at making decisions.

What is Discernment?

Discernment means being able to tell the difference between things, especially when it comes to what is true, good, or important. It's not just about seeing something, but also about understanding its qualities and properties in a detailed way. For example, it could be judging if something is good or bad, or even if it's something more complex than just good or bad.

Discernment in Christianity

In the Christian faith, discernment has a few special meanings:

• Understanding God's Will: It can mean figuring out what God wants you to do in a certain situation or for your life.
• Identifying True Nature: It's also about understanding the real nature of something – like knowing if it's truly good or evil.
• Finding Your Calling: A big part of Christian discernment is about finding your vocation. This means figuring out what God is calling you to do with your life, such as whether to get married, stay single, join a religious order, or become a minister.

There's also a special term called Discernment of Spirits. This is used in some Christian traditions, like Roman Catholic and Charismatic churches. It means judging different spiritual influences to see if they are good or bad.

How to Practice Discernment

Discernment is a skill you can develop. Here are some steps to help you make thoughtful decisions:

Taking Your Time

• Don't rush big decisions. Taking enough time helps you think things through carefully.
• If you have time, come back to your decision a few days later.
• You can also ask trusted friends or mentors for their advice. This helps make sure you're happy with your choice.

Using Your Head and Heart

• Using your "head" means thinking logically about the situation. Look at the facts and reasons.
• Using your "heart" means paying attention to your feelings and what feels right. Good decisions often come from a mix of both logic and intuition.

Knowing Your Values

• Your values are the things that are most important to you.
• When you're discerning, weigh your options against your values. What matters most to you in this situation?
• Everyone's values are different, which is why each person's discernment process is unique.

Group Discernment

Sometimes, groups need to make decisions together.

• Each person in the group should first do their own discernment.
• Then, everyone needs to think about what's best for the whole group, not just themselves.
• Group discernment often needs lots of discussion and persuasion to reach a decision that everyone agrees on.

Christian Spiritual Discernment

Christian spiritual discernment is special because every decision is made with God's will in mind. It's a process where you discover something that leads to future actions, with God guiding you.

Seeking God's Guidance

• To make the best decision in Christian discernment, you look for signs of God's action, both inside yourself and in the world around you.
• Then, you apply these signs to the decision you need to make.
• Christian discernment also focuses on Jesus, trying to make choices that match what Jesus taught and did in the New Testament.

Ignatian Discernment

Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) developed a special way of Catholic discernment called Ignatian discernment.

• It uses a series of Spiritual Exercises to help people make big life choices.
• These exercises focus on noticing God in all parts of life.
• The steps include:

* Identifying the issue. * Taking time to pray about the choice. * Making a wholehearted decision. * Discussing the choice with a mentor. * Finally, trusting the decision you've made.

See also

In Spanish: Discernimiento para niños