Discernment
Good God, What is it Good For?
I was recently in a Zoom session with a few subscribers to Aaron Simmons' Substack Philosophy in the Wild. This is one perk of being a paid subscriber to the Substack - although Music Mondays makes it worth the cost without other perks, in my humble opinion. The amazing group was engaging a few ideas and the word discernment came up. This word is popular in Christian contexts. But as Aaron mentioned, people often use it in terms of discerning the plan God has for individuals. Discernment, like many things in faith contexts, may require more nuance than with which it normally gets treated. So, I would like to consider discernment, how we might use it more broadly, and ways we can apply discernment. Hopefully, this can redeem the word for some and open possibilities for those who have experienced discernment in the narrow confines of direction.
What is discernment? At its simplest definition, it is the ability to perceive differences between things. Discernment is simply being able to notice differences. But we use it in more complex ways to describe the evaluation of perceived differences. An example of a discernment question might be “how do these differ and what does that mean?” But the use of discernment in Christian contexts is usually framed as a way to determine with path to follow for God’s plan. This can be problematic for a few reasons.
Our experience of the world is not one of particular paths, but of walking within the risk of faith along possible paths. That God has a particular plan for each person and it cannot hold deviation is born in the misapplication of a passage in Jeremiah chapter 29. We often read things written to others as if they are to us rather than for us. In this passage, Jeremiah is speaking of Israel’s exile in Babylon and that is the context. We also know that the prophets understood in pieces what was coming or they were speaking to their contemporary events. Israel’s return from Exile was circuitous and not quite as Jeremiah hoped. But that does not change the truth of what is being spoken about. God knows God’s people. In fact, God knows all people and is drawing them toward a reconciling relationship. Jeremiah is preaching God’s incredibly wide mercy and grace.
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Our lives can take many paths. Each path we take or branch in our personal timeline is one in which we step in faith. If we assume we are on rails without any possible deviations, we suck the very faith out of faith. When we reduce faith to a known path that God has for us, we remove all the risk from faith and it becomes certitude which is a falsity. No matter the path we choose, God is there with us. For proof of this, read Psalm 23 and pay close attention. The shepherd may go with the Psalmist into the shadow of death, but the metaphorical sheep went there with no leading. The beauty of that psalm is that the shepherd is with the sheep regardless of where they go.
While some paths are definitely better than others, the point of discernment is not to find the exact path God has for us, but to find the path that is our move into faithfulness. In that more open context, what is a more faithful view of discernment? Let’s take a look at that in a relational context.
When we discern, we do it in relationship with God, our fellow human beings, and creation itself. Discernment is perceiving different possibilities and searching out what is the most faithful path to take. We will not always get it right, but when our intentions are to make the most faithful decision for ourselves, our fellow humans, and creation, then we have relationships to help guide us out of any shadow valleys in which we find ourselves.
I think we can get practical here and speak about some ways in which discernment can help us. In my work as a pastor of discipleship, I must discern the materials and lessons being taught in our local church. This means recognizing the wideness of orthodoxy and our denomination. Sometimes we may have differing views on something, so I need to discern when certain images, metaphors, and language are appropriate toward a particular audience. It is not always easy, but it is always work done in relationship with the people who are seeking to understand God and work out discipleship.
Or take the burden of speaking into the public sphere prophetically around politics. Discernment is needed to know how to engage in often contentious polarizing ideologies. I may need to soften a statement or harden a statement depending on the subject and the audience. But I must do that, remaining faithful to those things I believe are important and affect our faith. This is becoming an almost impossible task because you have so many polarized attitudes that walking a path not ruled by absolutes is thorny on the best days. It is much easier to say people are wrong or evil than it is to guide the person in front of you into truth and beauty. This requires relational discernment within the depth of relationship.
Discernment is best when lived out as a faithful response to our journey in life. It is not a divination tool designed to help us determine the route to comfort, prosperity, or the path we must walk to see God. The last is because God is always with us, even when we do not discern God’s presence. Even when we pick a path that leads to pain, there is a shepherd walking with us in relational beauty. Discernment is a relational response to God, ourselves, our fellow human beings, and all of creation.
