Discernment in a Loud World

A way of love for believers.

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”

— 1 Corinthians 13:6 (NIV)

“See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”

— Colossians 2:8 (NIV)

We are living in a time where opinions are loud, accusations are constant, and truth is often blurred by emotion, outrage, and cultural pressure. Everyone has something to say about what is wrong with the world, who is responsible, and what needs to change. For Christians, this is where discernment becomes non-negotiable.

As Christians, we must explore whether we are perceiving the world through the lens of God’s love. The definition of love in our culture has undergone a profound shift, blurring the lines between our theology and our understanding of love. I kindly request that we graciously accept God’s invitation to encounter His love through the reading of His Word. Let the power of God’s love be revealed through the revelation of the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

⁵ or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

⁶ it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth

. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never ends

Right now, many voices are calling out Christians and the Church. Some of what is being said carries truth. Some of it is distorted. The danger comes when we accept cultural commentary without first filtering it through the Word of God. Colossians 2:8 warns us clearly: do not be taken captive by hollow and deceptive philosophies that come from human tradition rather than from Christ. We do not take our direction from the world.

We take our direction from Jesus.

This is why I genuinely express that our definition, and understanding of love, origin be renewed from the root of God's Word and the revelation of the Holy Spirit. Words meaning cannot derive from man's knowledge because all moral matters derive from His revelation. Therefore, we do not stand in neutral to the wrongdoings we see, but rather we actively act upon what is harmful and false. Paul’s exhorts that genuine love involves both moral discernment and active participation in what is good.

To the Watchman

There is a narrative being pushed that Christians are the root problem of what is wrong in society. That framing is incomplete. The true issue is not one group, one institution, or one belief system. The root issue is sin in the human heart. It shows up in politics. It shows up in government. It shows up in businesses. It shows up in families. And yes, it shows up in the Church too.

Christians are not exempt from accountability. We hurt people. We misuse Scripture. We sometimes weaponize the Word instead of living it. That is why the Church exists. Not to defend itself, but to humble itself. To repent. To confess. To mourn the damage done. To realign with Christ.

But repentance does not mean surrendering our discernment to culture.

Humility does not mean abandoning truth.

We don’t let the world dictate the problem or solution for us regarding good and evil, and in the context of what it truly means to love. As believers, we radiate light towards Jesus.

If you’re listening to culture, let it be so you can incorporate its messages into your prayers. Allow Christ to interpret them. He’ll reveal what’s true, what’s partial, and what’s false. He’ll guide your speech, when to remain silent, and how to speak life into broken places.

This is not about choosing sides.

This is about choosing truth.

The Church is not led by outrage.

The Church is led by repentance and love rooted in Christ.

The Church is not shaped by hollow philosophy.

The Church is shaped by the Word of God.

Discernment in a loud world means we pause before we react.

We pray before we post.

We seek Christ before we speak.

For believers, this is a call to stay anchored.

For anyone reading, this is an invitation to consider where truth truly derives from.

-Emma Martin

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2025), 1 Co 13:4–8.