Mike Duran debunks what is falsely called discernment in a post yesterday on his blog:

“Sign up here. We have a gang of [heretics] to kill.” (From AxeCop.com.)

[…] In a recent review of Jim Rubart’s Soul’s Gate¹, one TCM reviewer slipped into Theology Police mode[. …] Rubart’s book received a Below Average rating, not because it was poorly written or boring, but because it contained the word “magic.”

[… Later,] Commenter Amanda wrote:

“It’s scary sometimes how authors can slip dangerous doctrine into fiction books!”

Despite condemning “theology police,” Duran makes plainly theological arguments against such wrongful “policing”:

This book reviewer and the ensuing comments seem more indicative of a lack of discernment than anything. […] In their attempt to be “discerning,” many Christian fiction reviewers are straining at gnats and swallowing camels.

In other words, Duran sees said reviewers’ wilting-edged cardboard “T-OLGEE PLICE” badges cut out from an evangelical coloring book, and raises them a shinier, more-Biblical badge.^{2 3}

That’s a bit different, and far more Biblical, than merely condemning “theology police.” Such condemnations could lead readers to conclude that “theology policing” at all doesn’t matter — even while the same critics debunk and use theological (Biblical or otherwise) arguments against the imposter police.

… Which again proves: Christian fiction needs an infusion of more, not less, Biblical theology.