Scripture & Discernment: Decision Making in the Church

Also on exegetical and theological grounds, though with less success, he argues for formal and material criteria for the process of discernment. His exegetical work also not only provides us with conclusions, but with a window into the process, demonstrating how reading biblical narratives can bring us to theological insights. Even where his argument is not thoroughly evidenced, it is cogent and this is what makes the book so useful.

Annoyingly but strategically he delays for more than a hundred pages the insistent question of the reader. Also to his credit, Johnson offers practical if not easy helps and devices for actualizing his suggestions. His is a well-rounded, biblically conscientious proposal for the church.

His view of the nature of Scripture is fundamentally deficient.

Decision Making in the Church

This significant shortcoming, however, does not make the challenge of this book for theological discernment any less clear, any less potent, or any less urgent. And I share the hopeful conviction that Johnson articulates in his final line: May 27, Gipson Baucum rated it it was ok Shelves: This book had points of great interest to me, and also some pretty heavy disappointments. The most helpful part of the book without question was the exegetical sections in which the author examined the process of decision making in the book of Acts, most notably in chapters The application of decision making as a theological process as advocated by the author is a bit messy by the author's own admission.

I found his encouragement against automatically harmonizing sections of scripture tha This book had points of great interest to me, and also some pretty heavy disappointments.

Scripture & Discernment: Decision Making in the Church - Luke Timothy Johnson - Google Книги

I found his encouragement against automatically harmonizing sections of scripture that have surface disagreements pretty refreshing. The author also advocates that there are times in which we must choose between following one of two conflicting theological principles in scripture.

The messiness of the authors proposals are convenient in a world where there are few absolutes. His methods would in fact challenge us to constantly examine our beliefs because of our experiences, which is not altogether a bad thing. But they also do a lot to subordinate the role of scripture to our experiences even if it's still given a strong voice. Dec 20, Matt rated it liked it. Johnson always writes with clarity and with the intent to challenge old ways. This work is no different. Readers will doubtlessly pick up helpful insights that will stretch some of the familiar patterns of church life.

I will not give away Johnson's prescription for reaching decision in the church, but I will offer that his ideas and suggestions work far better on paper than in church sanctuaries. He senses this at times throughout the book, particularly in the final chapter, and thus tries to o Johnson always writes with clarity and with the intent to challenge old ways.

He senses this at times throughout the book, particularly in the final chapter, and thus tries to offer practical advice on how and where to start implementation of church decision-making at the local level. I question the value of these suggestions and wonder still at the practicality of what he suggests. His conclusions for church life and church decision-making seem to require church members and church leaders to be far more theologically astute than what most local churches boast.

This seems to tip Johnson's hand for the time that he has spent in the academy and away from the daily duties of local church work. Nevertheless, the book will pay dividends in many areas, not least in one's understanding of Acts , which is the central text of the entire work.

Scripture & Discernment: Decision Making in the Church

Dec 10, Tommi Karjalainen rated it liked it. The book was slightly uneven in weight. Theology does not then discuss so much with the past as it does with the present not all narratives are good. Practicing discernment in decision making is The book was slightly uneven in weight. Practicing discernment in decision making is making theology. The church not only decides what has to be done in a given situation but it also decides what to keep from the Scriptures not final word, and not always right: Paul struggled and made mistakes, and so will we. I find that this logic goes well within the writing process of the canonical NT but apply anymore.

Thus, personally I did not find his argument convincing. May 22, Robert D. Cornwall rated it it was amazing Shelves: Luke Timothy Johnson has written a most helfpul primer on discernment for the church -- helping us bring scripture into conversation with experience in such a way that we can seek God's lead in life and church. This isn't a new book, but definitely one I should have read a long time ago.

It is especially pertinent today, however, as the church seeks clarification on what it means to be welcoming and perhaps affirming of our LGBT brothers and sisters. Mark Hadley rated it it was amazing Feb 02, Richard Fitzgerald rated it it was amazing Nov 07, Ephrem Arcement rated it it was amazing Jun 28, Nick Locke rated it did not like it Aug 11, Andrew rated it really liked it Jan 31, Whitney Mitchell rated it really liked it Jan 04, Kkopsa rated it really liked it Jul 03, Rebecca DePoe rated it liked it Dec 03, Gregory Linton rated it liked it Oct 04, David Bjorlin rated it really liked it Aug 17, Aaron rated it it was amazing Jan 21, Amy rated it really liked it Sep 05, Craig Scandrett-Leatherman rated it it was amazing May 18, Stan rated it really liked it Nov 03, Tisha Brown rated it liked it Mar 05, Anthony Gonzales rated it liked it Oct 28, Much attention is paid to this process of discernment, especially within the context of spiritual direction or mystagogy.

Discernment is, however, also undertaken when groups and societies have to reflect on the divine will in times of transition and change. This discernment, as discussed in this article, is already evident in the time of the early church when, according to Biblical texts such as Acts 15, the church needed special wisdom on matters of importance. Relatively little attention is paid to this communal discernment 2 and even less to its place and role in Biblical Scholarship and Spirituality.

Such communal discernment took on many forms, as a few concrete examples from biblical texts reveal. This discernment was important, because prophecy was "a central element" in the regular gatherings of the community Anderson In other instances, discernment was the result of interaction between members of a group or different individuals. This is evident in, for example, discerning whether visions had divine or demonic origins. In Acts 10, Peter failed to understand the "heavenly" vision of the impure animals, as Acts He "realizes" that God accepts gentiles only after he heard Cornelius's report of his own vision Act Acts 15 7 provides one of the best examples of discernment by the faith community.

It takes place within the framework of the church's missionary actions. The witness of Jewish Christianity among non-Jewish groups evoked strong opposition from other Jewish groups who regarded it as blasphemous and against the will of God Act 3: These other groups sanctioned their interpretation of the divine will to such an extent that they did not hesitate to eliminate those who differed from them, as is clear from the killing of Stephen Act 7; cf. In the period of the second temple, the position within the larger Jewish community on this matter was clearly ambiguous.

There is, however, an even greater ambiguity within the early Christian community itself. The incorporation of non-Jews within the community began to impact on the unity of the movement when its members split into groups who were involved in, or opposed to the conversion of the Roman centurion Act The matter becomes more complicated in the following narrative. The issue of Jewish law resurged in Acts 15 as a bone of contention, but, in this instance, the legal responsibility of gentile Christians regarding circumcision, one of the most important and widely accepted characteristics of Jewish identity, is being questioned.

The meeting in Jerusalem, which was called to discern a way out of the tension, takes place after Paul and Barnabas returned to Antioch from their first visit to mostly gentile areas where, in their words, God had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. The dispute becomes more intense with the actions of the Judean party 10 in Antioch 11 Act Finally, in Acts It is a crucial moment: They question the way in which the will of God regarding these matters is being discerned in their midst.

Luke's narrative speaks of the crucial nature of the Jerusalem meeting in several other ways. He reports that the stakes were so high that some travelled miles 13 to Antioch to take action on this matter. He also allocates to Acts 15 a pivotal place in his book, 14 as is clear from its contents and from references to it in the rest of the book. Finally, for the first and last time in Acts, all its major characters meet in one place to reflect on the issue.

With this ambiguous situation and with competing groups discerning the divine will in diametrically opposite ways, one arrives at an issue that is central to Spirituality. This requires discernment - also and especially within groups that differ about their shared values.

Scripture & Discernment

It is, therefore, necessary to read this event and its description in Acts 15 in terms of the spiritual issue that was at stake. From the fact that the opposing parties of believers belonged to the one movement of early Christianity and that, ultimately, some decision was reached, it may seem as if the parties were not so far apart. This may, in turn, lead one to underestimate the intensity of the conflict or disregard the significance of the spiritual issue. On the outside two things may look similar, but under the surface they differ Waaijman Luke's narrative yields important clues that the differences between the groups were essential.

A vital spiritual issue is at stake in this meeting. This spiritual issue had to do with the notion of salvation that was central to Luke's writings and that is mentioned explicitly in Acts The circumcision party linked salvation to obedience to the law. For the group of Paul and Barnabas who had the same Jewish affiliation and identity, salvation is, however, by the grace 17 of God Act Luke elaborates on the spiritual significance of the dispute by his understanding of salvation as wholeness. At stake in the dispute are the "times of refreshment" and the "restoration of everything" which are the gifts of divine blessing Act 3: This means that salvation is about the church discerning the way towards a life-giving, life-enhancing end that will bring about a completely new dispensation, towards salvation or, alternatively, towards a dead-end, that is, towards a burdensome existence under the law Act There was no easy solution to the conflict, especially since the opposing parties all based their opinions on their foundational sources and traditions.

In addition, there were no other precepts, regulations or rules which could have solved the issue once and for all. All that was left, was to reflect on the controversy in terms of practical wisdom and through a careful scrutiny of the experiential reality behind it. It is illuminating to consider how they did so. Discernment, as Acts 15 reveals, was first and foremost a matter for the entire community.

Acts 15 describes how opposing groups in the early Christian community repeatedly met over a period of time in one place to reflect on God's will. It is part of a pattern of such reflections in Acts. Jewish Christians "from the circumcision", the Pharisees Act In this sense, the communal discernment in Acts 15 reflects the spiritual lifestyle of the faith community. Churches from different places in and outside Palestine are also involved.

In Jerusalem, the delegation is welcomed by "the church", the apostles and the elders who participate in the ensuing events Act The inclusive approach is striking since it further illustrates the spiritual nature of the decision-making.

It shows that the meeting was not merely about discussions between groups and individuals, but was driven by an awareness of unity and togetherness - even after the bitter debate. Acts 15 portrays the groups as reflecting together and agreeing wholeheartedly on the way forward and informing the churches in Antioch, Syria and Cylicia in a letter about the outcomes cf. There is, in Luke's mind, a special, even loving bond between all groups in the community who are one in their understanding of the Way and united in their discerning of the divine will.

This unanimity also functions to authenticate the discernment as being of divine origins. There is, however, another form of structure in the collection of groups with special spiritual significance. Acts 15 reveals the strong leadership and influence of the Jerusalem church. This is not new. Previously in Acts, even Peter had to explain his actions before this community Act The Jerusalem community's influence is also detected in the travels of its prophets to other centres Act Later, Luke again would recount Act This explains the remark in Acts Implicitly, then, the churches in other regions, together with Paul and Barnabas, accept the importance of consulting the church in Jerusalem.

This structure is not only the result of the history of the church and its birth in Jerusalem. It has a deeper spiritual nature. Luke stresses that the consultation in Jerusalem to discern the divine will is first and foremost about meeting with "the apostles and elders" Act The authority of the church in Jerusalem is, therefore, especially linked with the presence of the apostles and the elders. This is confirmed by Luke's reference, in the concluding letter, to the church's own awareness of its authority. In the letter, the church remarks that the Judean party acted without authorisation Act They also speak about "requirements" they laid down for gentile Christians Act Luke further speaks of the church's awareness of leadership and authority when he mentions that they chose Judas and Silas, because they were leaders Act In Luke-Acts, the apostles and elders are the main, authoritative characters especially because of their knowledge, insight and experience of the ministry of Jesus and their empowerment by the Holy Spirit Act 2.

Luke often links their authority with the metaphor of the Way. They have authority as those who have been on the Way with Jesus Act 1: They thus have authority as mystagogues guiding the church in discernment because of their original experience. This is made clear in Acts 1: Discernment in Acts 15 thus takes place in the company of those who have travelled the road for a longer, crucial period of time in the presence of the earthly and resurrected Christ.

They were part of the events that represented the spiritual origins of the church. All this points to seminal aspects of discernment and to a further spiritual dimension of the meeting in Jerusalem. In his discussion of Aristotle's analysis of practical wisdom, Waaijman Without experience one does not see it. It did not suffice to simply meet and reflect on the experiential reality with which the church was confronted. What was needed at this crucial stage of the Jesus movement was to seek that practical wisdom of the "older", more experienced apostles and elders who could illuminate this reality in terms of their own mature experiences and learning.

Practical wisdom is also the result of the experiences of these senior, more experienced people. They could discern creatively the possibilities in a concrete situation of conflict and orient everything to that end because of their experience Waaijman There is an attractive dimension to this special place of Jerusalem and the church's experience. The wisdom of these "older" members of the faith community is illustrated in a special way by their attitude towards their own authority.

Even though they enjoy priority in their relationship, it remains a relationship characterised by mutuality. They allow input by Paul and Barnabas and do not dictate to them.

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One of the most telling moments in the meeting is when the entire assembly became silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul recounting the divine actions among the gentiles Act This silence is so important that Luke underlines it in the next verse by stating that James addressed them "after they were silent" Act This is a striking remark by Luke which reminds one of what Waaijman He remarks that the relationship is of a conversational nature and marked in mutuality.

It "consists in 'holy listening' on the part of the accompanist, listening to the person and to what God wants with this person". In Jerusalem, in the context of heated debate, such a time of holy silence is also present on a corporate level. Das Schweigen der Menge ist weder harmlos, nog historisch eine unvergeBliche Minute oder durch die Gegenwart der Hierarchie bedingt. The silence speaks of the effect of the remarks by Paul and Barnabas: The atmosphere in the large gathering is, therefore, permeated by mutuality, openness and even inquisitiveness.

Briefly, discernment in Acts 15 takes place in the midst of a gathering of all who are involved in, and challenged by a situation of ambiguity and uncertainty. It is a gathering that aims at deeper understanding by drawing on the insight of those who are more experienced.

They include those with seniority, not only in terms of knowledge, but also in terms of maturity. This maturity is characterised by integrity, by a willingness to share and an openness to listen carefully, but is, most of all, driven by a sense of unity and belonging. It also involves openness on the part of those who speak and those who are heard, to submit themselves to the scrutiny of those who accompany them on their spiritual journey. Closely linked with the previous remarks, one notes that discernment is characterised by extensive discussion and debate about the praxis under discussion.

The attention in this debate is focused on a thorough discussion of external events. In debate, the "area of praxis is opened up by reasoning syllogism " as the church seeks practical wisdom which "is judicious in relation to concrete particulars" of a person, group or society Waaijman This does not mean that it is an "objective", distanced and scholarly debate. In Acts 15, the debate is, in fact, heated and emotional.

Luke's use of language speaks of an intense exchange of words with the Judean group Act Luke thus indicates the intensity of the discussions, but also expresses a serious lack of agreement. The division of opinion ran deep Bock Despite such intensity and serious disagreements, the groups remain dedicated to debating their differences. This round consists of speeches by the Pharisees, Peter Act In summary, then, discernment in Acts 15 does not involve authoritarian pronouncements or instructions by people in positions of power. There is, once again, a spiritual dimension to this insight.

The final discernment does not read "as a power play by one faction dictating its will to the rest".

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The end result of the discernment process in Acts 15 is a compromise. The debate and the decision by all decentred the power interests of the Judean party. Their concerns are re-entered in God who, as was argued in the debate, gave the Spirit to all and made no distinction between groups Act It is the compassionate, non-discriminating divine relationship with humanity that transforms power relations so that the community can exist on an egalitarian level Act 2 and can meet in mutual understanding and debate.

The debates in Antioch and Jerusalem thus reflect an extensive process which is essentially dialogical in nature. It is an interaction which reminds one of what Waaijman To that end discernment tests insights, behaviors, memories, expectations, phasings, and so forth.

This has to do with. By intensive interaction discussion, chapter, conferences, and the like , a discipline takes shape - by the discipline of interaction Waaijman Acts 15 is a perfect example of this process of interaction. In the previous analysis of discernment as debate, reference was made to the study of sagacious sayings in wisdom circles in order to discover wisdom. The characters in Acts 15 also appeal to sacred traditions and their wisdom, which, together with the wisdom of the apostle and elders, provide the necessary insight into, and authority for the discernment.

The debates show how the various characters draw on past discernment to authorise their own understanding. Both sides make this appeal to past wisdom. Once again, wisdom of earlier times is used to discern their practical wisdom regarding the issue under discussion. The past wisdom is important insofar as it illuminates the experience of the church in its missionary praxis and illuminates the presence of God among them and the gentiles. The grounds of the church's decision then was the work that God was doing among Gentiles, bringing them to salvation through faith.

On the basis of this experience of God's work, the Church made bold to reinterpret Torah, finding there unexpected legitimation for its fidelity to God's surprising ways Acts As such, the church is not merely deciding or making choices. With this reflection on the wisdom of the past, the process of discernment moves beyond the cognitive level of decision-making to reflection on the divine presence in their midst and the consequences for the life of the church and the issue under reflection.

Discernment is not only about people debating the divine will in a rational manner and in terms of earlier wisdom. Other human factors also play a role in discerning what way is the right and best to follow. One such factor has to do with feelings, emotions and intuitions. In the process of discernment we must carefully and attentively investigate what is moving and stirring in our souls. The affective dimension - how we are affected by things, situations, others and ourselves - should be present in the weighing process of discernment. This concerns the fundamental insight that discernment transcends mere rational reflection or is about more than a consideration of theological contents.

It also concerns inner experiences and feelings - not only within the person who discerns, but also when one discerns by taking into consideration how others are affected. This insight is relevant for an understanding of Acts Luke discusses the role of affective dimensions in discernment in the letter to Antioch, Syria and Cilicia Act It shows how the church was aware of affections and emotions that were evoked by the negative effects of the Pharisees' claims. The Pharisees disturbed the believers and were troubling their minds Act The troubling and disturbing effects are still lingering in their midst as part of the collective memory of the church.

This past trauma, which reveals the destructive results of wrong decisions, indicates that they may not reflect the will of God Liebert This corresponds with other motifs in the chapter that spell out the negative emotions generated by the Pharisaic position. The church in Jerusalem does not want to "burden" the gentiles with anything Act Similarly, James remarks that it should not be made difficult for the gentiles who are turning to God Act This is even more the case where these destructive actions can be traced to an arrogant and insubordinate attitude.

Paul, for example, notes about the Pharisaic party that they are trying "to challenge God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear" Act For the Jerusalem church, the Pharisees challenge God, act insubordinately, ignore the authority of the church Act This means that a dehumanising, humiliating and burdensome outcome questions the authenticity of discernment.

The important role of affections is also illustrated in the positive response to the Jerusalem meeting. When Judas and Silas leave Antioch, Luke notes that they are sent away with the "blessing of peace to return to those who had sent them" Act The news contributed significantly to the knowledge that the discernment was good. Judas and Silas were able to "encourage and strengthen" the churches Act They were no longer disturbed and troubled Waaijman The situation is completely transformed: