Practicing Discernment

Can you tell the difference between a counterfeit one-hundred-dollar bill and a real hundred-dollar bill? In order to be able to do this you have to know what to look for in the counterfeit. Because the fake bill looks exactly like the real deal until you look at it closely and practice discernment. So, it is the same way in life, many, many people, or situations are not what they appear to be at first glance.

Until we really get to know somebody, we do not know if they are who they say they are. They may not be what they appear to be until we take a much closer look and over time, we get good at spotting a phony. We start to notice inconsistencies or simple misrepresentation, whether it be a potential friend, coworker, Christian, or political candidate. It doesn’t matter what you say you are, it matters that you really are genuine and not a counterfeit! Now getting back to that hundred-dollar bill.

Some of the ways to distinguish the fake from the real currency are as follows: 4 Ways to Detect Counterfeit US Money - wikiHow

“Hold the bill up to the light. For all bills except $1- and $2-dollar bills, there should be a security thread (plastic strip) running from top to bottom.

• The thread is embedded in (not printed on) the paper and runs vertically through the clear field to the left of the Federal Reserve Seal. On authentic bills, this should be easily visible against a light source.

Use an ultraviolet (black) light to look at security threads. Plastic strips in high-denomination bills should glow a specific color.

The $5 dollar bill should glow blue; the $10 bill should glow orange; the $20 bill should glow green; the $50 bill should glow yellow; the $100 bill should glow pink. If your bill remains white under a black light, it is likely a counterfeit.

Check for watermarks. Use natural light to see if your bill bears an image of the person whose portrait is on the bill.

• Hold the bill up to a light to check for a watermark. A watermark bearing the image of the person whose portrait is on the bill can be found on all $10, $20, $50, and $100 bills series 1996 and later, and on $5 bills series 1999 to 2006. For $5 bills series 2006 and latter, the watermark is of a 5 instead of Lincoln's portrait.
• The watermark is embedded in the paper to the right of the portrait and should be visible from both sides of the bill.

Tilt the bill to examine the color-shifting ink. Color shifting ink is ink that appears to change color when the bill is tilted.

Color-shifting ink can be found on $100, $50- and $20-dollar bills series 1996 and later, and on $10 dollar bills series 1999 and later.

$5 and lower bills do not yet have this feature. The color originally appeared to change from green to black, but it goes from copper to green in recent redesigns of the bills.” 

Other Types of Counterfeits

So, there are other things besides bogus money in our world that are fake, and it is imperative that we understand how to train ourselves to identify the true from the false. In the last days the Bible says: “For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.” (Mark 12:22)

“But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.”(2 Peter 2: 1-3)

“Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1)

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-10)

Discerning by Practice

The word "discerning" is from the Greek word "diakrisis" meaning a thorough judging. “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” (Hebrews 5:14) So as a parallel to how to distinguish a hundred-dollar bill, we can also apply the same principles to identify counterfeit people, namely false teachers and false prophets. But we can also apply these steps to detect people who are not genuine.

1.      Hold the person and what they say or teach to the light of Jesus Christ. Do their words line up with those of the true Jesus of the Bible. Because remember there are those who worship and believe in a false Christ. Does their ministry reflect the genuine light of Jesus or are they operating in a false light. The Bible clearly says that for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

This light test can also be used on political candidates who say one thing then do another or who suddenly have a change of heart and follow those who do not represent the light. Are they pro-choice or pro-life? Do they stand by their values, or do they waver under pressure? Do they vote for the issues that reflect light, truth, and morality or do they follow after the many who do not believe there is a right and wrong. Do they call evil good, and good evil?

2.      Does the image of the person speaking reflect the image of God? Or does the image of the person speaking reflect their own image? Do they constantly talk about themselves, their views, their opinions, and their goals? Or do they point you to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit? Do they point you to the source? Or do they substitute themselves in your life as the “supposed,” source. How much do they discuss their “anointing,” and how much do they actually teach about Jesus and the Bible?

Do candidates have godly values, or do they waver on important issues? Are they able to distinguish or discern evil from good or are they missing the main point? Are they able to read between the lines and see through those who prop themselves up with a facade?

These are all important questions to ask yourself as you practice discernment. If there is one thing that we need right now more than many other things, it is discernment. To be able to rightly divide the Word of God and rightly divide the various politics and politicians. Study to show yourself approved. Discernment comes with practice and is a practical way the Bible tells us to understand people and the situations we may find ourselves in. Practicing discernment is one of the most important skills we can develop in the days we are living in.

About the Author



Rochelle Arnold graduated from RHEMA Bible School and is the Founder of Change the World Ministries. Her desire is to impact the culture for Christ through sound teaching and the fine arts. Author of Rags or Robes: Finding Your Identity in Christ & SOJOURNERS: In a Strange Land available on Amazon