Why does this teaching matter?
Spurgeon's definition of discernment is the foundational principle of this entire website. False teachers rarely teach obvious lies — they teach things that are 'almost right.' The prosperity gospel contains truths about God's provision — twisted just enough to become heresy. The Word of Faith movement quotes Scripture — just enough to sound biblical while denying its actual meaning. Discernment is the ability to detect the subtle poison mixed into the food. It is the skill of recognizing that 99% truth mixed with 1% error is more dangerous than obvious falsehood, because the truth makes the error believable.
What did Charles Spurgeon teach?
"Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right."
Speaker: Charles Spurgeon
Source: Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit
What does Scripture confirm?
Hebrews 5:14
"But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
— NKJV
Discernment is a skill that must be 'exercised' — practiced, trained, developed. Spiritual maturity is not just knowing the Bible; it is having 'senses exercised to discern both good and evil.' This is exactly Spurgeon's point: discernment is not about the obvious (right vs. wrong) but about the subtle (right vs. almost right). It requires exercise.
1 John 4:1
"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world."
— NKJV
John commands: 'TEST the spirits.' Not 'accept the spirits.' Not 'give the spirits the benefit of the doubt.' TEST them. False prophets have gone out into the world — and they don't announce themselves as false. They come as teachers of 'almost right' doctrine. Testing is how we distinguish the genuine from the counterfeit.
Acts 17:11
"These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so."
— NKJV
The Bereans tested even the apostle Paul's teaching against Scripture. They are called 'more noble' for it. If Paul's teaching needed testing, how much more does the teaching of modern preachers? Discernment begins with an open Bible and a willingness to test everything — even what sounds right — against the Word of God.