Knowing the Truth: Why Discernment Matters Today

On February 6th, we had the privilege of hosting Sean McDowell for our latest Faith Ascent Speaker Series. His talk, “9 Lies Masquerading as Gospel Truth,” walked through Galatians 1:8–9 and challenged attendees to recognize how subtle cultural ideas can distort the true message of the gospel.

The event drew 276 attendees and created a space for thoughtful conversation, encouraging participants to examine what they believe and grow in their discernment.

This kind of conversation is more important than ever! Because in today’s culture, there’s a growing assumption that the Christian faith is just a “blind belief”.

People will say that faith is believing something without any evidence, much like a child believing in Santa Claus.

But the reality of Scripture couldn’t be more different. In 1 Peter 3:15, the Bible tells us to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.”

The Christian faith was never meant to be about passively believing something. It was meant to become a new identity—one that compels us to engage our minds and actively serve other people. Christianity has always encouraged thoughtful engagement with truth. Yet with so many ideas and voices competing for our attention today, we must be careful about how we engage with the world.

Examining What We Hear

Some Christians are afraid to ask hard questions. Perhaps we fear that we might find an answer that leads us down the wrong path.

But in Acts 17:11, we see a different example. The Berean Jews were commended for wrestling with questions: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

The Bereans set a powerful example for us. They eagerly received the message they heard, but they didn’t stop there. They tested it carefully against the rest of God’s Word.

In the same way, when we hear new ideas (whether from a speaker, a podcast, or our culture) we should examine them through the lens of Scripture. For example, when a self-help speaker tells us that the most important thing in life is pursuing whatever brings us fulfillment, we should ask whether that message aligns with God’s Word.

The more we practice examining what we hear, the more our discernment grows, and the stronger we become in our walk with Christ.

Why Apologetics Matter

This is one reason Faith Ascent exists: to help people think more deeply about their Christian faith and to provide thoughtful answers to difficult questions. We encourage students and believers alike to grow in their understanding of apologetics (the ability to defend your faith).

Our goal is simple—to help people understand what the gospel truly teaches and to be ready to respond thoughtfully to the challenges and questions they encounter.

Next Up: Greg Koukl

This fall, we’ll be hosting popular Christian apologist Greg Koukl, founder of Stand to Reason. More details will be coming soon, so stay tuned.

As Christians, we are called not only to believe the truth, but to understand it, defend it, and share it with others. Events like these help us grow in that calling.

We hope to see you next time!