A prophet visited the Cathedral recently. To be fair, he didn’t use that term, but his first words to me were, “I am here to give you a message from God.”  He went on to explain how, after 80 days alone in the mountains, he emerged with divine knowledge. I politely listened to his message, but when I asked some clarifying questions, his pleasant nature changed. He told me gruffly that he was not sent to listen or discuss, but to be a voice. He would speak, I would listen and obey, that was the deal. He left when the conversation did not go the way he imagined.

This interaction has caused me to think about the matter of discernment. I firmly believe that our God is a speaking God, and God’s voice can be heard today. Scripturally, the hearability of God’s voice is what separates Yahweh from “dumb idols.”  I want to be open to possibility that someone may have a message from God. Thus, I don’t want to dismiss someone out of hand, or assume that they are mistaken, if they say they have a divine word. But how do we know if someone proclaims a divine message rightly or authentically?  How do we know that the message we receive in silent prayer is reflective of God’s voice? 1 John 4:1 says that we aren’t to believe every Spirit or message but test them to see whether they are from God. 

The only problem is that John doesn’t tell us how we are to do that.

Maybe that’s a good thing.  See, discerning voice of God is never up to me alone. Perhaps the reason John doesn’t give a step-by-step discernment plan is because our spiritual lives are never lived in isolation from the community of faith. Discernment can never be left to just my own wishes or intellect. This is why the scriptures always speak of the testimony of two or three witnesses. God always calls us into community.

We see this throughout the Bible. Jesus calls disciples together; he sends people out two by two; and the gifts of the spirit are designed to work within the community of faith. Have you ever noticed that the gift of speaking in tongues is separated from the interpretation of tongues, or that while one person is given the gift of knowledge, another is given the gift of wisdom? No one person can ever claim sole access to God’s voice or will. And this means that the matter of discernment is never something that Itackle in isolation, trying to figure out the mystery like a lone detective. Discerning God’s direction, even God’s direction for my life, is best done in fellowship.

Individualism in the spiritual life supplants the supremacy of God; it exalts the self above all else. When I am the person who receives the divine message, and I am the one who testifies to the authenticity of that message, then I have put God into a box of my own making. This is a subtle reworking of the age-old lie, “You will be like God….”. How can such an attitude not be that of false prophets and blind guides?

We need each other when discerning our life with God. We need people who have walked long in faith to offer the fruit of their experience and prayers. We need people to help us navigate the unknowns of our spiritual journey. We need people to sit with our questions and help us wrestle in our discernments. We also need people to extend a hand of caution when we are in danger of being mistaken in our understanding, or our zeal. 

Of course, this doesn’t mean that God can’t, or won’t, interact with us in our private prayer closets.  We speak of a personal relationship with the Lord for a reason. God does speak, and we can hear God’s voice. But the community of faith is always the primary location in which we live our spiritual lives. The community of faith, therefore, is necessary for our discernment.

Is there something you are trying to discern in your spiritual life? Is there a question you ask, or a direction you are trying to ascertain?  If so, consider how you might involve our faith- community.  Ask another person to join you in your wrestling. Seek the prayers of trusted friend. God’s promises to be present whenever two or three gather, and with someone by your side, God’s voice is often easier to discern.