In analogy to Abba Moses’ instruction, one might propose that the origins of any one of these divisions arises from the work or activities of the Spirit, Satan, or Man. One would expect that the latter two are the ones which, if one supports ecumenical movement, should be the ones we actively oppose. How should we discern the difference between these, if indeed that is even a thing we should attempt? Is the motive behind the division a thing which we should discern as we try to heal that same division? Is such a discernment (or claims to the same) today even useful?
Mark chose an excellent topic for this current Christian Reconciliation Carnival: discernment. I think I'd want to start here:
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven, but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.So wisdom brings humility, and humility brings mercy, and among us sinners mercy is shown most naturally by those who understand that we ourselves sometimes need correction.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (James, end of ch. 3)
Discerning the spirit
Discernment: sifting the wheat from the chaff. The mote in our brothers' eye is a tempting target for our discernment; the log in our own eye, less so. So what, then, is the spirit behind that kind of discernment? As for the wheat and the tares, we're warned that our discernment is simply not up to the job: when we lack discernment, we are guaranteed to pull up the good with the bad together, destroying them both.
No doubt I will surprise somebody speaking this way. There is a time and a place for discernment turned outward. But not, I think, before discernment turned inward. If we want to "discern" the reason why we're right and the other person is wrong, that is not the best of discernment. If discernment is self-serving, there is no love; if it is self-justifying, there is no mercy. James gives us some good guidelines for checking ourselves: if we have the appearance of wisdom but not the fruits of wisdom, it is time to re-examine our "wisdom".
Restoring gently
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you slil fulfil the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. (Paul, start of Galatians 6)If we are comparing ourselves to someone else, that is not discernment. And I have to say that every church body I have ever seen, or ever visited, or ever belonged to, and every internet apologist I have ever read for their own favorite group, discerned themselves in comparison to another church body that was lesser in their eyes. Each group rushes to put down the other, and the mote in the next group's eye figures prominently in the sermon and catechesis of their neighbor. In this way we think highly of ourselves. I have to wonder: What in the world would we think of ourselves if we had to compare ourselves to God's standards rather than to our fallen neighbors? And would we still treat our fallen neighbors quite the same way?
Knowledge puffs up
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. (Paul, start of I Cor 8)
How many church programs are built around opportunities to increase our knowledge? How many around opportunities to increase our love? I've seen both, to be sure. But I think that knowledge is often emphasized over love. The programs that promote knowledge, in my own church, are explicit and designed. The things that promote love are more happenstance, the pains of everyday life that we share with each other. Is there a more excellent way? Can we harness that hard-won knowledge to find it? If not, all that knowledge is worth nothing.
And so I would want to end where I began:
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven, but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (James, end of ch. 3)
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