Excellent reviews of Tim Challies’ new book, The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, have already been written, and I have little to add to them. But I do have a few words to say about it:

The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment is unique among the books dealing with discernment that I have read. This is not a book addressing current issues. It does not take on some current attack on orthodox Christianity and guide the reader to the Biblical response. In other words, it does not do the discerning for you. It does something far more valuable: it teaches, directly from Scripture, what discernment is, and how to become discerning, and does it well. For that reason, it is far more valuable, and of much more lasting value, than any other book on the subject that I have read. Because the principles it contains are timeless, I cannot imagine that this book will ever become outdated.

Buy this book. Buy several, and give them away.

I also had a fair-sized rant running through my head concerning the disgraceful behavior of some (here and here) in comments they have made about Tim’s qualification and motives for writing the book, along with the integrity of its endorsers. But I’ll just condense it to a few words: [which I have decided to delete from this post].

I’ll give Tim’s pastor the last word on his qualifications:

I fully endorse Tim’s book. More than that, I fully endorse Tim’s life. He is a faithful, encouraging, serving, accountable, “normal,” giving member of our church.

Paul Martin
Pastor
Grace Fellowship Church, Toronto
www.gfcto.com

Read reviews:
The Discerning Reader
Tim Irvin
Frank Turk

Buy it here.