086: Growing in Discernment with Hannah Anderson

Hannah Anderson is a pastor's wife, mom of 3, writer, speaker, and author of the book "All That's Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment". On today's episode, she shares with us what discernment is, what it is not, and how we as believers can grow in it.

What We Chat about in Today's Episode:

~Hannah's latest book, what it's about, what led her to write it, and what readers can expect

~What discernment is and what it is not; breaking through some of the myths and stereotypes surrounding discernment and being discerning

~Discernment and the mommy wars

~Discernment and legalism

~The crisis-level impact of the digital age on discernment and our ability to actually discern

~Discernment as a search and development of a taste for what is good and beautiful, as opposed to just a looking out for what is bad or wrong

~The language of discernment in Scripture, and why discernment isn't to come from a critical, negative posture

~Philippians 1:9-10's definition of discernment

~The correlation between negative-spirited "discernment", legalism, and having a judgmental heart

~Why adopting certain rules and positions or retreating into certain circles is not enough to prevent a worldly heart or to ensure that you become a wise person

~Hannah's own experience with legalism

~The pride that can come with doing the "right" things

~The two problematic extremes of our tendency to either dehumanize and demonize people who we don't agree with, or else embrace everything across the board - even those things which we truly should not be embracing

~The problem with a list-driven path to sanctification

~Tribalism as a result of our legalistic boxes and checklists; what we miss out on when we hold to an unbiblical tribalism

~How list-driven "goodness" is taught in both the camps of progressive Christianity as well as conservative Christianity

~God's character as our standard for goodness

~How communicating with others digitally leads to a harsh, critical heart towards them, particularly when we disagree

~Actually treating those with whom as disagree as fellow image bearers of God

~The sin of disregarding and disrespecting someone else's humanity just because we disagree with them

~The beauty of giving others the benefit of the doubt

~Coming to potential disagreements with a kind of humble curiosity, a teachable spirit, and an ear that is quick to listen

~Swapping out a list of man-made rules for a list of the characteristics of God

~Philippians 4:8 and discernment

~The faith-builder that walking by the Spirit really is

~The difference between "live and let live" and "love and let love"

~A bonus little sneak-peak into the brand new book Hannah is working on right now!

For full show notes, head to www.hargraveshomeandhearth.com/podcast