Jack Hibbs Podcast: Are You Lacking Discernment?

Host: Jack Hibbs (jackhibbs.com)
Episode Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking episode, Jack Hibbs addresses the urgent need for spiritual discernment among Christians in a world overflowing with information, opinions, and false doctrines. Drawing from the teachings of Jesus—especially His command to “take heed what you hear”—Hibbs explores the dangers of undiscerning consumption of spiritual claims and popular trends. The episode serves as a call for believers to ground themselves in the Bible, reject personality cults, and be cautious of self-proclaimed authorities who lack scriptural foundation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Decline of Discernment in the Church

• Jack opens with a relatable anecdote about pills that claim to boost clarity, comparing this to the even greater need for spiritual clarity and discernment (04:00).
• Societal Shift: In contrast to past eras when beliefs seemed less consequential, Jack observes:

  “Your eternity matters based on what you believe.” (05:10)

• False Doctrines on the Rise:
  • Hibbs notes a surge in reinterpretations of core doctrines (heaven, hell, salvation) and emphasizes that this confusion even finds a “home in the so-called Christian community.”
• Warning Against Private Interpretation:
  • Citing Peter, Jack warns about those introducing “private or personal interpretation” of scripture (09:50).
  • Quote:

    “Peter says the scriptures have not been given to give anyone the ability for a private interpretation. Did you know that?” (10:00)

The Dangers of Personality Cults & Influencers

• Many believers mistakenly follow prominent personalities instead of testing all teaching against Scripture. Jack references Paul’s warnings to the church in Corinth about personality cults (12:10).

• Quote:

  “There’s not to be these personality cults that you should listen to this person or that person because they are this name or that name. No, we are to judge everything against the Bible.” (13:00)

What is Discernment and Why Is It Needed?

• Discernment Defined: Both a spiritual gift (1 Corinthians 12) and a practice all believers must cultivate.
• Developing Discernment:
  • Romans 10:17—faith comes by hearing the word of God.
  • Jack’s advice:

    “Stop allowing so much stuff to be poured into your life through your eyes and ears and start taking in Bible...and watch what happens.” (16:50)

• Assess your understanding:
  • “Do you actually know truth? Are you sure?” (18:30)
  • Possession of information—even biblical—doesn't automatically equal discernment.

The Importance of Filtering What You Hear

• Core Scripture - Mark 4:24:

  “Then Jesus said to them, take heed what you hear.” (20:00)

• Modern Application:
  • Without discernment, Christians risk “declining into a path of confusion...more and more confused and have uncertainties about things like heaven, hell, salvation, the cross, sin, gender, you name it.” (22:34)
• Practical Illustration:
  • Like saving pennies, regularly “saving” or receiving Biblical truth “compounds” growing your spiritual bank (23:40).

Cautions Against Teachers Without Discernment

• Jack recounts encounters with prominent but misguided leaders (“personality cults” and “God told me” experiences) who sow confusion while experimenting with theology in real-time on public platforms.
• Quote:

  “They are confusing thousands of people because they don’t got it right yet in their head.” (27:50)

• Pop Culture Example:
  • Makes a hypothetical of a celebrity (Taylor Swift) launching their own “gospel,” illustrating the absurdity of shifting authority from Scripture to personalities (31:47).

Heaven, Hell, and the Error of Annihilationism

• Jack confronts the popular drift toward rejecting eternal hell:
  • Asserts that dismissing eternal punishment undermines the necessity and gravity of Christ’s atonement.
  • Quote:

    “If you say there’s annihilation at the end of life if you don’t accept Christ, it’s too bad that somebody didn’t tell Jesus that before he left heaven to come here. That’s a shame. It’s too bad Jesus didn’t know that.” (29:45)

  • By denying eternal punishment, Jack argues:

    “It completely attacks scripture, the fundamentals of scripture, and the work that Christ did at the cross for you and I.” (30:33)

The Physical and Spiritual Realms

• Hibbs distinguishes between physical (temporary) and spiritual (eternal) realities—asserting that discernment helps prioritize what truly lasts (14:53, 34:25).

The Core Solution: Immerse Yourself in Scripture

• Repeatedly, Jack encourages listeners to build discernment by filtering all teachings by the Bible.
• Emphasizes:

  “Build your discernment up in the Bible. You’ll do great. Stick to the Bible. Always the Bible.” (34:59)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On spiritual clarity:

  “Imagine if that was the need as well for spiritual things. Guess what? It is the need. I’m going to argue with you today that it is more important for you to have spiritual discernment...than taking the beautiful, wonderful, healthy pill that is going to make your brain fantastic.” (05:45)

• On interpreting the Bible:

  “When people say something like, ‘Well that’s your interpretation’... It’s not an interpretation, it’s a regurgitation. I am regurgitating what Jesus said.” (10:42)

• Discernment and influencers:

  “If you’re not influencing them toward truth, then you are influencing toward error.” (32:43)

• On eternity and the afterlife:

  “There’s no time in the spirit realm...People are in hell. That’s where they’re at. People are in heaven. That’s where they’re at.” (34:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------| | 04:00 | Spiritual clarity vs. “mental clarity” pills | | 05:10 | Importance of belief for eternity | | 09:50 | Dangers of private interpretation of scripture | | 12:10 | Personality cults in the church | | 16:50 | How to develop discernment (Romans 10:17) | | 20:00 | Mark 4:24: “Take heed what you hear” explained | | 22:34 | Effects of undiscerning listening in Christian life| | 23:40 | Analogy: Saving pennies and accumulating truth | | 27:50 | Caution about influential but confused teachers | | 29:45 | Rebuke of annihilationist views on hell | | 30:33 | The gospel undermined by denial of eternal hell | | 31:47 | Personality-based “gospel” & influence example | | 34:00 | Eternity, time, and the spirit realm | | 34:59 | Final call: Anchor your discernment in the Bible |

Summary Takeaways

• Be discerning and cautious about the spiritual content you expose yourself to.
• Test every teaching against Scripture, not the credentials or popularity of the speaker.
• Discernment is vital, can be developed, and is necessary not just to avoid error but also to enjoy and build upon spiritual truth.
• Reject personality cults—whether in church leadership or secular fame.
• Don’t compromise or reinterpret foundational Christian doctrines for comfort or cultural approval.
• True spiritual safety and confidence come from a steady diet of the Word of God.

Listen with discernment. Build your confidence in the Bible, and always test what you hear against God’s Word.