This is an exciting time to be a part of "The Redstone." Instead of hearing, "We never did it that way before", we are seeing positive changes. Signs of spiritual health are springing up like May flowers. Previously apathetic congregations are coming alive and asking, "What is God's dream for us?" Mission outreach is supplanting a survivalist mentality. Sessions and congregational members are assuming responsibility for their congregation's life, sometimes with out the benefit of pastoral leadership. A bracing "breeze" seems to be blowing away the dust of indifference. These are exciting, puissant times, but they are not easy times. They aren't for sissies.
Recently, one of our pastor's observed that it takes great maturity to be a Presbyterian. We embrace plurality and inclusivity, testing our ability to agree on issues. We struggle to agree just where the theological boundaries fall. We wrestle with our understanding of Biblical authority. Most of us agree that Christians are called to be counter-cultural but we can't agree on what that means. The list of torturous challenges to be over come in order to work together is long. It takes maturity to be a Presbyterian.
Some wonder how we can get along in the midst of such dissonance. How can we move ahead in ministry, mission and evangelism when we are striving with one another? The answer to this question, for reformed Christians, has always been, "We trust in the mercy and providence of God to preserve our Christian community from fatal mistakes." We expect the Holy Spirit of God to lead us through the clamor. The process of listening above the din for Holy Spirit leadership is called discernment. Reformed Christians have traditionally believed that is best done in a body of believers as opposed to individual revelations given to a prelate or bishop.
How does a body, such as an assembly of Presbyters (Presbytery meeting) go about discerning God's purposes for a particular situation or time? Obviously, the first thing to do is pray." The work of praying is prerequisite to all other work in the kingdom of God. Someone said, " By prayer we couple the powers of heaven to our helplessness, the powers which can capture strongholds and make the impossible possible." Repeatedly the apostle Paul teaches us about the importance of prayer: ""Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.", (6:18 Ephesians), "Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." (Philippians 4:6) But having done that, what do we do next?
For the reformed Christian, scripture has always been the primary source of inspiration and guidance. "Sola Scriptura", scripture alone, was the watch word of the Reformation. The bible, as the word of God, becomes a present, living source of inspiration as God's Spirit acts on the human heart through reading, study and meditation. All human beings are captive of their time, culture, customs and personal experience. This puts limitations on one's ability to interpret God's word through scripture. Therefore we look back to tradition to direct us in understanding what the scriptures teach. Calvin, along with other early reformers looked back to Augustine and the church mothers and fathers to see how they understood the teachings of scriptures. We too look back to the traditions of those who have gone before us through the Book of Confessions and the writings of past church leaders.
The fourth criterion for discernment of The Spirit's leadership is to ascertain whether or not the decision gives glory to God. In asking the question, "Does this glorify God?", we are making it clear that we intend to honor God above all human agendas.
The post modern culture eclipses the power and presence of God in human life. Christians of the reformed tradition have always understood our primary purpose is to be to glorify God, to honor God above all things, even the individual's own salvation. We have understood that when human activity is carried out to the glory of God everyone, not just a few, but the many, profit. In seeking to glorify God we fulfill the great commandment, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. And a second is like
It, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-40) All human activity should be done to the glory of God.
There are two more criterion for discernment of God's will or direction, the empirical weight and inner witness. Ask, "Do the circumstances support the decision?" A, man who graduated from seminary with me, had a passion to go to Mexico and work among the poor. His wife and children suffered greatly in the environment down there. There often wasn't enough food for their growing children's needs or fuel to warm them when it was cold. The wife eventually decided to move to the Texas boarder so that the children could attend school and be better cared for. My colleague realized that the "circumstances" weren't affirming the ministry he thought he was called to. The weight of empirical evidence wasn't with him. He joined his family on the boarder and continued his ministry and mission work there. Similarly, the inner witness of the individual and the confirmation of the body have been criterion reformed Christians have used to affirm God's direction in decisions being made.
Discernment of God's will isn't for sissies. This process isn't always easy to work through. Often it is necessary to stop, think pray and listen in silence before proceeding. But when we are willing to put the time, energy and prayer into the process of discernment we can count upon the mercy, grace and providence of God to prevail.
