Discerning Discernment

I am reading a lot recently about “discernment.” Presbyteries are sending discernment teams into congregations who are in conflict with the actions of the General Assembly. Congregations are entering into a period of discernment regarding whether or not to remain part of their denomination or join another one more closely aligned to their understandings of faithfulness to God. To discern means to understand; but, to understand what? Is it the most practical course of action? Yes. Is it the action that might most favorably enhances and advances the goals of the congregation? Yes. Is it an action that is the most moral? Yes. Is it a course of action that would most please God? Yes, of course. The problem is to know what means to employ to discover what the will of God is.

Where does submission to God fit into discernment? If we call Jesus “Lord, Lord” then we must be prepared to follow his leading. My question turns on seeing the direction our Lord is leading me to take. I think primary to discern, a necessary first consideration, is to confess a sincere desire to find and follow God’s leading.

The counsel of some is to merely ask ourselves what Jesus would do, then do the same. This method begs the question, “What if our image of Jesus is marred by our own sinful desires, would not our knowledge of His will be in error?” I require something less subjective; something that is more along the lines of clear instructions. “Do this.” “Don’t do this.” Where do I find such guidance?

The Westminster Standards makes a clear statement about the will of God. “The law of God is the will of God.” That’s pretty good! When faced with a decision between a sinful act and non-sinful act, I ought to give weight the course that does not violate a clear commandment or precept of God’s law. For example: if one course of action requires a misrepresentation of the truth and the other does not, the second one wins. The course of action that honors the truth must be the right one. If one course is clearly sinful, such as committing adultery or condoning sin, then that action cannot be the will of God. This is useful until faced with two choices that do not violate the law of God or with two mutually exclusive paths that both violate the law of God.

Finding God’s direction, for me, includes first discovering what I most desire. One definition of motive is the impulse to follow our strongest desire.  I try to take into account all the practical implication of that course of action. I compare it to other options. Is what I desire the wisest course of action. Where will it lead? That is, what will be the intended, and more so, the unintended consequence of a given course of action or inaction? I explore my desire in the light of God’s direct teaching on that particular subject. If what I want comes at the cost of something God commands elsewhere, then I take that into account.

Finally, if all else fails, I ask God for wisdom. James says, “You have not, because you ask not.” I do not utterly discount the prompting of the Holy Spirit and the presence or absence of Christ’s peace in my heart. Caution: if a given decision doesn’t feel right, it may not be right. Still, the heart is desperately wicked. If what feels rights violates what is objectively right, then feeling be damned.

If a course of action violates the terms of a personal covenant with another is that course beyond our consideration? Is it ever right to reconsider a promise to a friend, to a stranger, to an institution? If I unconditionally promised my pastoral ministry to the cause of Christ in the Presbyterian Church (USA), is wrong to un-promise it? The call into pastoral ministry is everything about the will of God. Is it God’s will that I preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ with clarity and conviction? Yes. Is it then God’s will that I do that as a pastor and not as an evangelist? Yes, I believe it is. If I am called to be a pastor, I must be one within the context of a congregation, I suppose. Are there other contexts for pastoral ministry? Seemingly yes, but maybe no. Folks who serve a pastoral role in an institution like a hospital or the military may not have a congregation, per se, but they still are pastors. I digest.

To sum it up so far; it is God’s will that I preach, as a pastor, in a congregational setting. Is it God’s will that this congregational setting be one within the Presbyterian Church (USA) under the accountability of a presbytery? Is my vow to serve the Presbyterian Church (USA) in conflict to my obedience to the doctrines and practices found in the Word of God? The question is the same with regards to a congregation’s membership in the PC(USA). With an individual layman or laywoman it is the same question. Promises are made at the time of joining a presbytery or a congregation. Are those promises to be honor above all other considerations? Are those promises absolute and all other factors relative to my vow to the Presbyterian Church (USA)?

In all these considerations, there is a process of discernment. For me, this is not only a spiritual matter in the sense that I feel the leading of the Holy Spirit, because source of such feelings can be mistakenly attributed to God. Discernment has also theological, moral, and practical implications as well.

It is not always easy to be faithful to Christ?