2 AdventC; BULC. Dec2015. The Rev. Scott K. Davis, STM, DMin, BCC-ret

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1 2 AdventC; BULC. Dec2015. The Rev. Scott K. Davis, STM, DMin, BCC-ret Hear again Paul s message to the Church at Phillipi: This I pray: That your love may keep growing Until you have such understanding and discernment That you can sort out the truly important matters. I pray too, That you may overflow with the goodness That comes from following Christ, To God s credit and honor. 1 Last week out of the clear blue Wife Barbara asked this question of me: What does discernment mean? Discernment continues to be one of those current buzz-words Among spiritual directors and moral theologians, Although the term goes back centuries Associated with many philosophers and theologians: Stoicism uses discernment as early as 3 rd Cen, BC Paul uses it here in Philippians in 1 st Cen, AD Aquinas in 13 th and Ignatius in 16 th utilize it As part of the maturing Christian life. Discernment is the way that Christians through the centuries Have sought out the will of God for our lives, Specifically in assisting one in making life-decisions Or finding directions for one s life-journey As Princeton Seminary President Craig Barnes reminds us, There is a difficulty with the process of discerning: What we don t know, and cannot know [is] the Will of God. 2 So how are we to engage this process of discernment Which St Paul is exhorting us, along with the Church at Philippi, If we don t know and cannot know the Will of God? 1 Clarence Jordan, The Letter to the Alabaster African Church [Philippians] in The Cotton Patch Version of Paul s Epistles (Association Press, 1968). I ve changed Jordan s original translation of keen perception with discernment to better conform to my point. 2 Craig Barnes, Cloud and Fire, The Christian Century 127:15 (27 July 2010).

2 2 The great Danish theologian, Søren Kierkegaard, Wrote this in a journal entry dated 1 August 1883: What I really lack is to be clear in my mind what I am to do, not what I am to know, except in so far as a certain understanding must preced every action. The thing is to understand myself, to see what God really wishes me to do; the thing is to find a truth which is true for me, to find the idea for which I can live and die. First, one seeks to understand oneself As one who has been called/washed/redeemed by God-in-Christ As one who has a particular racial/sexual/social position As one who has multiple relationships As one who has a particular personality and idiosyncratic behavior Knowing who I am and whose I am Precedes moving toward the actions of what to do. Second, one seeks to discover what God would have us do. I have read two shelves full of medical ethics texts in my room I have read a dozen Roman Catholic moral theologies I have read a full shelf of books on Christian ethics in my room Including the classic from Mennonite John Howard Yoder, What Would You Do? A serious answer of pacifist response To the question of violent actions against us. But such book knowledge continues to seem lacking and secondary Steeped as it may be with faithful insights for moral living In a society that is violent and destructive; In country that is divided over race and nationality; In communities at odds over class and sexuality; In congregations split by finger-pointing and gossip. As Lutheran Christians Steeped in the tradition of the sola scriptura That truth which is true for us begins With Scripture/ with God s Word Addressed to Israel Manifest in the words and deeds of Jesus Inspired in the Church through the Spirit

3 3 The pathway into the discernment process Need not be difficult for anyone! More than once I have heard echoes of the wisdom of my Granther In a stock phrase that was turned according to the situation. Moral discernment is discipleship made difficult. [PAUSE] The woven bracelet was a simple, inexpensive gift With a powerful ethical principle within it From a teenager sitting in the confirmation class At Good Shepherd Lutheran in Manchester, MO: W W J D: What Would Jesus Do? When faced with a difficult choice we pray for wisdom born of knowledge and experience, we meditate over Biblical texts, we discuss the options in community of fellow believers, we pray more and listen for the voice of God through it all: 3 What would Jesus have us do? Discernment is where prayer meets action. Discernment results in the love-of-god-in-christ coming to life: To life within us and goodness through us; To life among us and goodness for others; To life as light to the darkened world That Jesus is Lord now and forevermore So Paul exhorts the church at Philippi and us fervently this Advent To behave in word and deed In eager anticipation of Jesus coming anew To get our moral lives in order and our priorities of love focused. Listen again to Paul s words: This I pray: That your love may keep growing Until you have such understanding and discernment That you can sort out the truly important matters. That you may overflow with the goodness That comes from following Christ to God s credit and honor 3 Craig Barnes, Cloud and Fire, The Christian Century 127:15 (27 July 2010).

4 4 Former Duke University Chaplain / Methodist Bishop Will Willimon Tells of his discouragement at the end of six months Serving a tiny South Carolina country church Fresh out of prestigious Yale Divinity School. Distressed about low attendance and general disinterest in the church, Young preacher Will went to see the matriarch of the church Miss Sallie who was 85 years young, and going strong. Miss Sallie listened to the young preacher for a while And then reached out and patted his hand and said, Well honey, if you think about it, It s a wonder anybody comes at all. Miss Sallie saw that shocked and shamed look on Will s face And laughed out loud before speaking this consolation: Oh honey, it s not you. You re doing fine. You preach a nice sermon and all. It s just that church, if it s done right, Has a way of reminding people Of things they d rather not think about. Being church Following Jesus Christ in this world and among this people Praying for understanding of the Will of God here and now Being baptized into Christ and called to be the Church by the Holy Spirit Has a way of reminding us of things We d rather not think about or do As we prepare for the coming of Jesus anew. Maybe that s why the church in every age continues to discern To pray for wisdom born of knowledge and experience, To meditate over Biblical texts, To engage in actions within a community of fellow believers, To pray yet more fervently in reflection of the doing, Listening attentively for the voice of God s direction anew Through all the distractions of a world going mad.

5 5 The full page headline of the New York Daily News Offered a humble shaming of our timid complacency As a community and as the Church In the light of yet another mass shooting By which 16 were killed and 18 wounded: God can t fix it God can t fix it. What the Daily News critiqued was the appeal to prayer Made by those in politically powerful positions Rather than engaging some plausible solution To a complex, multi-faceted problem Of gun-related violence in this country How different the testimony of discerning Christians When violence happened in their own building during Bible Study! Remember that June evening when death swooped down Upon Emanuel AME Church in Charleston? The pastor educated in a Lutheran Seminary put aside his doubts When a white man entered the all-black congregation Bible Study: God s people welcome, invite, provide hospitality, Even when intimidated and threatened. Unfortunately, Hatred secured the battle that evening as nine died by the gun. But love always wins and the witness of the Gospel is victorious! Grieving family members proclaimed forgiveness as Jesus did. Mourning congregation members gathered on Sunday for worship God s holy people remained open to the possibility of mercy/love As Miss Sallie once told her young preacher, It s just that church, if it s done right, Has a way of reminding people Of things they d rather not think about. How different is the political tone of candidates and elected officials: Who point fingers of blame Who want to close the borders Who are long on words and lacking in any definitive action Lest the flow of money into campaign coffers evaporate Who advise the nation to pray empty words Because God can t fix this it s the sin we ve created! God calls us to discern what is good and what is God s intention for us.

6 6 Within the last year, Council has had a serious and spirited discussion About a policy restricting conceal/carry guns here Taking no action to constrain social freedoms. Twice in the past 15 months I have known of credible reports of threats of armed violence Which might have disrupted our worship And resulted in bodily injury to some. Some have counseled that we lock the doors at Is that what Jesus would have us do Cower behind closed, locked doors As once did the disciples after the crucifixion? No, the risen Lord who experienced hatred-unto-death Broke through the barricades of fear And proclaimed, Peace! And gave the disciples the keys of forgiveness. So this Advent, Maybe a disciplined discernment is sufficient for us As we struggle with our individual life situations As we share in the struggles of others around us As we shudder in fear not knowing when violence comes As we seek the restored relationships with one another. As we prepare to receive God again into our hearts. Maybe that is the sufficient discernment this Advent To more fully know and understand God s Word; To sort out what is truly important Living before God and with one another With ever-growing love; To live out in action the goodness of God-in-Christ As a witness to all the world to friends and foes That Christ has come That Christ is coming That Christ will come again And for that our doors and hearts and hands Are open with joyous anticipation.