Dorothy Mae
Member
A thread on the downfall of a prominent christian teacher (Ravi Z.) was posted recently and that isn’t an isolated case. It got me thinking about discernment and the titled question.
Now I’m going to admit I think I’m fairly discerning at points in time and, of course, sometimes not. “Not” is generally my own heart and I know I’m very fallible. In any case, if you will, let the wisdom of age instruct and she is also very interested in being instructed.
So the question in acquiring discernment has to start with jettisoning the popular idea that only God knows our hearts. Every time you delete a spam mail, you’ve discerned another’s heart (intention.) Successful negotiations in life require you to be able to discern other’s intentions. So how do we do this and more importantly, how do we do this and remain pleasing to God?
Great discernment is something the Holy Spirit gives. But it’s obvious it isn’t equally and democratically distributed. What are the requirements?
I think seeing your own fallibility is the first. First “take the plank out of your own eye and then you’ll see clearly to remove the splinter from your brothers eye.” This is partly because when we humble ourselves to recognize a “plank” for what it is, we recognize it in others. “Ah ha, I see you have a bit of a plank there. I know what that’s like because I had a whole one myself.” So we can see the truth of other’s hearts with the same mercy we received. “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.”
This, of course, is addressing a failing. It’s not the whole tree, as it were. The fruit of the Holy Spirit working is our measure.
Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faithfulness, temperance (restraint)
How do we discern these? Mainly by observation over a longer period of time mainly when the subject isn’t aware there’s a test going on. They aren’t on stage. People cannot but reveal themselves in unguarded moments.
The question I ask myself is, how much and with what can I trust this person (if that’s a choice I need to make) and is there something I need to do whether I trust them it not?
Most of the time we don’t have to be discerning. For that we are glad. We’re not the judge. But if you have to entrust another, it becomes critical. Words and deeds tell a lot, especially under pressure.
And when I encounter a dear brother or sister who is fairly far away from follow Christ’s teaching, isn’t not mine to correct or teach necessarily. In the end they “stand or fall before their own Master.” I can “treat them as I’d like to be treated.”
Now I’m going to admit I think I’m fairly discerning at points in time and, of course, sometimes not. “Not” is generally my own heart and I know I’m very fallible. In any case, if you will, let the wisdom of age instruct and she is also very interested in being instructed.
So the question in acquiring discernment has to start with jettisoning the popular idea that only God knows our hearts. Every time you delete a spam mail, you’ve discerned another’s heart (intention.) Successful negotiations in life require you to be able to discern other’s intentions. So how do we do this and more importantly, how do we do this and remain pleasing to God?
Great discernment is something the Holy Spirit gives. But it’s obvious it isn’t equally and democratically distributed. What are the requirements?
I think seeing your own fallibility is the first. First “take the plank out of your own eye and then you’ll see clearly to remove the splinter from your brothers eye.” This is partly because when we humble ourselves to recognize a “plank” for what it is, we recognize it in others. “Ah ha, I see you have a bit of a plank there. I know what that’s like because I had a whole one myself.” So we can see the truth of other’s hearts with the same mercy we received. “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.”
This, of course, is addressing a failing. It’s not the whole tree, as it were. The fruit of the Holy Spirit working is our measure.
Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faithfulness, temperance (restraint)
How do we discern these? Mainly by observation over a longer period of time mainly when the subject isn’t aware there’s a test going on. They aren’t on stage. People cannot but reveal themselves in unguarded moments.
The question I ask myself is, how much and with what can I trust this person (if that’s a choice I need to make) and is there something I need to do whether I trust them it not?
Most of the time we don’t have to be discerning. For that we are glad. We’re not the judge. But if you have to entrust another, it becomes critical. Words and deeds tell a lot, especially under pressure.
And when I encounter a dear brother or sister who is fairly far away from follow Christ’s teaching, isn’t not mine to correct or teach necessarily. In the end they “stand or fall before their own Master.” I can “treat them as I’d like to be treated.”
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