The Value of Discernment

It’s funny how this word can be used and abused so many times, and yet people have no idea what it actually means. On a second thought, mayhap the fact that it is currently being used practically all the time is the reason why the meaning has been smothered by its common use. No, I’m not talking about the word “Salvage,” but of “discernment/discerning” (as the title says).

“Discernment” as a word has entered our common vocabulary nowadays that you can hear it being mentioned anytime and anywhere you go. The most common ab-use of it is to turn it into a smarter-sounding replacement for “think.”
Ex. “Are you going to the party this weekend?”
“I have to discern about it first.”
Urm, right. To avoid this, let’s first go to the basics: the definition of the word.

Discern /dI’sэ:n/ verb Perceive clearly with mind and senses; make out [Oxford Dictionary]
Discerning adjective having good judgment or insight [Oxford Dictionary]

In addition to that, US Criminal Law defines discernment as “the capability to distinguish right from wrong.”

Although these definitions shed some light into what I want to talk about, these are insufficient to explain what I want to get into, so I turned to the most reliable source I could think of: the Internet. Here are the definitions dear, old reliable Google came up with:

Discernment
§ Discernment is a process of prayerful reflection which leads a person or community to understanding of God's call at a given time or in particular circumstances of life. It involves listening to God in all the ways God communicates with us: in prayer, in the scriptures, through the Church and the world, in personal experience, and in other people
§ Prayerful reflection and discussion before taking a major decision
§ The formal prayerful process by which a group discovers God's will in a particularly significant situation or decision
§ Discernment is “where prayer and action meet”. It is a sifting of spiritual movements within oneself in order to be able to choose the good from the better choice. Some methods of discernment are outlined in the Spiritual Exercises. Discernment usually involves a consideration of spiritual consolation or desolation. Discernment may be individual (for personal decisions) or communal (where a community wishes to make an important corporate decision prayerfully)

From what I got based on these definitions, discernment is not just plain “thinking” as it is commonly used. Rather, it is reflecting upon one’s situation and more importantly, praying about it, before making a decision, especially one that is particularly significant for us. It means, as a saying goes, “Letting go and letting God,” letting Him lead us to the right way. However, this does not mean sitting in a corner, proclaiming, “Alright God, take control!” and then staying there, grinning to self, waiting for divine light to come along with a deep, rumbling voice that will go, “Ok, here’s what you have to do. Step one…” No. First of, we were given brains for a reason: to use it. It’s not there just to fill up an otherwise empty space in our skulls. I don’t want to sound like a ditz, but, hello? We have been given the capacity to think. It’s what differentiates us from other creatures, as Thomas Aquinas has said in his ladder of matter theory. Secondly, the last definition given is that discernment is “where prayer and action meet” (in case anyone wants to know, this is a Jesuit definition), operative word being action. We have to actively choose to live and serve God. Discernment is letting God teach us His Way that we might walk in His truth (Ps 86:11). He will teach us, but it is up to us to decide whether or not to follow Him. As our discipler told us, “Faith is a daily decision.” We actively choose God’s plan for us. How do we do that? As one of our Bible study teachers said, a person who encounters a can opener for the first time will not know how to use it unless he refers to its manufacturer or to the user manual. The same goes with us. We will not be able to know what our purpose would be unless we go back to the Maker and to His Word, the Bible. One thing that I would like to point out is the importance of our choices. As I’ve said, it’s a daily decision. We actively choose to live our lives according to His Will. A problem with not actively choosing to do that is that we might end up serving God not because we want to, but because we have to – it becomes more of a responsibility than a desire to accomplish. That should not be the case, and that’s why everything we do should consciously be offered for Him. What’s important is that we always choose for Him. Our faith should be active, and this should be exemplified in the decisions that we make in our lives. I’m not saying that we should second-guess God, because that would mean that we are choosing for what we think is best for us, and not what He actually wants. That’s why prayer is also important. We turn to Him to show us where He wants us to go to. Mt 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Make no mistake about it: He will teach and lead us to where we’re supposed to be going, if we only take the time to listen to Him.
We might ask ourselves, “Do I have to do all of these alone?” Good news: up to a point, no, you don’t have to be alone. We can turn to the Church, not the structure, building, or institution, but the Body of Christ, because the members will help us in our spiritual walk. However, we make the choice of following God alone. No one else can do it for us except ourselves. Besides, each one of us has a unique personal relationship with God, as all of us are different from each other. I’m not saying individuality is bad. On the contrary, I’m all for it, because God created us all differently for a reason: because He loves each and every one of us in a very unique way. 1 Corinthians 12:18 says, “God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as He intended.” We are not an assembly line of the exact same creature (I’m thinking Star Wars’ “Attack of the Clones” here). If God wanted worshippers, He could have created us like robots, incapable of doing anything save for adoring Him. But He didn’t do that, precisely because He wants us to choose to have a personal relationship with Him. He didn’t impose it; it has to be of our own volition. We are created differently for a reason. Each one of us is special, and it follows that our relationship with Him is unique as well. Chapter 14 of Romans actually has a lot to say on the matter. “The one who eats must not despise the one who abstains, and the one who abstains must not pass judgment on the one who eats; for God has welcomed him [v.3] Whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since he gives thanks to the Lord; while whoever abstains, abstains for the Lord and gives thanks to God [v.6] For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s [v.8] For the kingdom of God is not a matter of food and drink, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit [v. 17]” We shouldn’t go and condemn other Christians if their beliefs do not necessarily follow ours to the letter. Why should we go and point out that someone is different from us even if we know that the other person is growing in faith? We can’t go around brainwashing people just because we think our way is the only correct path. But Jesus says, “I am THE Way, THE Truth, and THE Life” [Jn 14:6]. It’s Him and not our own mindsets. As long as we choose to live for Him, as long as we know we are following Him, we can continue walking that path.