Comments for Season to discern at http://pres-outlook.com , comment 1 to 3 out of 3 comments http://pres-outlook.com Sat, 11 Oct 2008 10:35:54 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://pres-outlook.com/opinion/editorials/7368-season-to-discern.html#comment-3941 Once again Dr. Jack Haberer has done us a favor. Too many Presbyterians get all fired up when they hear that a General Assembly has made 'such and such' a pronouncement which they can't agree with. I've always reminded my new member's classes that our General Assembles speak TO the church, not FOR the church. It is up to all of us together to discern where God may be leading us next. Our great strength is to have regional bodies (Presbyteries) weigh in through nation wide votes on the major changes which may take place. We also allow local sessions to discern with their congregation's offerings were we believe God is calling us. Both have worked well to block the 'gamesmanship' of some GAs and to allow discernment to emerge from the WHOLE church. Atta boy, Jack! I sincerely hope that the readers are listening to the Spirit and Truth. - Samuel Schreiner Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 +0100 http://pres-outlook.com/opinion/editorials/7368-season-to-discern.html#comment-3942 Perhaps there would be the option for the ideal discernment you share if the sheer volume of material we expect delegates to GA to read, absorb, process, and pray about were reduced to a more reasonable load. Perhaps your lovely vision would come to pass if those who hold fast to a position on an issue (any position on any issue) were to come to GA with an open mind, an open heart, open ears, a more often closed mouth, and a deep desire to know and do God's will. Perhaps if elections for denominational leaders resembled a true effort to discern whose gifts most closely match the needs of the church for this period of time rather than who has the right answers to the litmus test questions for enough voting delegates to get themselves elected we would all find a way to support those chosen to lead. Too often, I fear, people come with their own agendas informed more by experience and logic than by what Scripture says or the still, small voice of God. Too often they come with their minds made up on the issues about which they are most passionate and little concern for others issues and the unintended consequences of their votes. Too often votes are taken with many people still confused or missing or misled by convoluted wording for us to know what God's will really might be. Too often people are so worn out by the conflict and anxiety that they will vote whatever way they think will simply stop the fighting. Perhaps one day your vision will come to fruition and we can be about Kingdom work instead of church work. Till that day, we must all pray that the decisions those we elect will make in June will truly reflect the will of God, in spite of our fallen humanity. - Twyla Boyer Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 +0100 http://pres-outlook.com/opinion/editorials/7368-season-to-discern.html#comment-3939 I hope that Jack Haberer did not intend to compare the decisions of the General Assembly to the content of the New Testament canon, which he seems to do when he states: 'When the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation, the churches there already had in hand the Hebrew Scriptures, the writings of countless rabbis, and most, if not all, of the epistles and gospels. What more did they need? Well one thing they needed was to hear what the Spirit was saying to the churches then and there. So, before unveiling his apocalyptic visions, John first spoke seven specific words to seven specific churches. Each time he concludes with the words, "Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.' To compare the 'discernment' of any or all General Assembies to the New Testament would be a most 'un-Presbyterian' thing to do. - Walter Taylor Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:00:00 +0100