O.K. So we’ve laid a foundation on discernment that, hopefully, takes the idea from the obscure and the mystical to one that is a wholistic part of our lives together. One that moves the concept from out-guessing or manipulating God to one that is an integral part of our loving, every day commitment to his priorities and purposes. One that is grounded on his ability to speak more than our ability to listen. One that relaxes all the religious impulses to engage in false, temporary bursts of piety-for-our-own-purposes, to a more restful, trusting, faith-focused confidence in our Lord.
How do we DO it?
The first thing to remember is that we are, in Christ, an organic, wholistic “body” that is interdependent. We need each other, especially those parts that seem less “honorable” (1 Co 12). Everyone matters in the community, and everyone needs to be paid attention to in what they are sensing from the Lord and experiencing in their lives. In this sense discernment requires healthy, active community life. As a participant in community life it means not just blowing people off, but paying attention, really listening, and really praying. If we see patterns in people’s lives or feel a “prompting” (an intuition, a can’t-get-rid-of sense of importance, or even an not-sure-maybe-maybe not- perhaps- I- should- share- it- idea about something) then we take it to people who we trust, who have proven by experience that they know how to listen and perceive, or who have positions of servant-leadership in our lives. At the point of sharing you have done your duty. If “it” persists then you persist. If it seems like it is getting to point of obsession or you have OCD tendencies (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) then we talk and pray about it.
What happens after you share?
If it is an elder we talk about them in our meeting as part of our calling to guide, guard, and nurture. We pray. We look for patterns. If not sure we wait. It may be the first bit of information that is one piece of a puzzle the rest of which will come in the right time through other people. If it is a ministry team leader or someone else they will pass it along if they feel like it is important (or ask you to).
Here’s the hard part: people who “hear” too often get possessive and directive about the information. Usually this is a character flaw (the need to control and be in charge masked as the prophetic). But sometimes it is real urgency. Regardless it needs to be shared, albeit with a sense of humilty and honor to those the placed over us. We are all called to “speak the truth in love.” People need to share. Servant leaders need to listen. If people push too much, servant leaders gently push back. If it doesn’t work servant leaders try to lovingly disciple. It is quite common in situations like this that the character of the one who can’t “let go” is the whole point of the exercise.
I would summarize it like this:
We live our lives together in praise and service to the Lord. We have small groups we share life with, especially what is going on inside of us.Sometimes the Lord gives us things to share, and we need to share them. Sometimes things “get hold of us” and we need to pass the burden along. Sometimes the Lord blesses us to see patterns that we need to share. Sometimes particular circumstances arise in which leaders ask us to intercede and pay particulare attention if the Lord gives us a scripture, an insight, whatever. We share them, especially with the elders. The elders pray, add it to their larger perspective as care-givers for the congregation. The Lord has sovereignly placed these in their position and will speak to, in, and through them. This means we can let go, and follow the Lord.
This doesnt’ mean that elders are faultless or immune to wrong decisions. It means that we live together, work together, and serve together each in mutual submission within different roles as the Lord gives them.
Examples:
In 2004 the church fasted and prayed as a means of listening purposefully and intently about the frustrations we were experiencing as a body. People prayed, journaled, and shared. A pattern emerged that we shared after the 40 days. Eventually we sold the building and moved into a new phase of ministry. But the process entailed dozens of people from throughout the body not a select few, not just the leaders or the opinionated.
As a leader I often undergo areas of temptation or pain in my life. Rather than just being more of “my stuff” I was taught that as part of a body it might not be mine, especially if it is “out of the blue.” In times like these I have learned to stop and pray. To ask the Lord if I am sharing another’s burden. I ask if I need to contact anyone in particular or just pray. Sometimes a name or a face “pops up”. I call them to see if everything is O.K. Sometimes it is a very timely interaction. Sometimes it isn’t. But the point isn’t to be “right” it is to be involved, aware, and active with one anothers’ lives.
Let me know if you have any questions
