On Discernment

Discernment & Diagnosis In Human Development by V. Rev. Theodore Stylianopoulos' book "The Way of Christ:Gospel, Spiritual Life & Renewal in Orthodoxy

 


The Way of Christ: Gospel, Spiritual Life & Renewal in Orthodoxy,
V. Rev. Theodore Stylianopoulos, HC Press, 2002

"And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and was teaching them. And the scribes and the Pharisees brought to Him a woman who had been caught in adultery. And after they made her stand in the midst, 4they say to Him, "Teacher, this woman was caught committing adultery, in the very act. "Now Moses, in the law, commanded us to stone such women. Thou therefore, what sayest Thou?" But this they were saying, putting Him to the test, in order that they may have an accusation against Him. But Jesus, having stooped down, was writing with His finger on the ground. And as they continued questioning Him, He lifted up Himself and said to them, "The one who is without sin among you, let him first cast the stone at her." And again He stooped down and was writing on the ground. 9But after they heard and were convicted by their own conscience, they were going out one by one, beginning from the eldest. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman being in the midst. And after Jesus lifted up Himself, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of thine? Did no one condemn thee?" And she said, "No one, Sir." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee; go, and henceforth no longer go on sinning." [Jn. 8:2-11]

"Humility is represented by Jesus' bending, and subtlety of discernment is represented by the finger, which is flexible because of the physical arrangement of the joints. By the ground, we are shown the human heart, which customarily produces the fruits of good or bad acts. Typologically, His writing teaches us that when we look at any of our neighbors' errors, we should not judge by censuring them before we turn humbly back to our own conscience and meticulously clear it of guilt with the finger of discretion,...in accordance with the apostle, ‘Brethren, even if a man should be overtaken in some transgression, ye, the spiritual ones, be restoring such a one in the spirit of meekness, looking out for thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

Discernment = is the power and skill to see, analyze, and arrive at a deep insight about any given matter.

Diagnosis = is the ability to compare, assess, and come to a conclusion as a result of the exercise of discernment.

Stages of Spiritual Growth: They represent the three levels of theological discernment and diagnosis.

1. Purification/ Practical (Katharsis)
• Worship, study, ethical obedience, fasting, service to others, unceasing struggle with evil.
• Learning to pray
• Finding time to pray
• Distinguishing and choosing priorities according to Christian teaching
• Finding ways of seeking forgiveness with others
• Anticipating and avoiding occasions for sin
• Perceiving and cultivating patterns of Christian behavior

* These are strongly guided by the community of faith and by its spiritual leadership

The Goal: Purification of Heart from evil Passions - the liberation of personhood from the bonds of fallen humanity (selfishness, manipulation, greed, exploitation, corruption, anger, hatred, cynicism, and despair)
• Sin and evil are foreign to human nature, a distortion of the image and likeness of God, a sickness of the soul.
• Practice the evangelical virtues by the grace of God - faithfulness, humility, self-control, service, holiness, love, and renouncement of self-will, egomania, and indulgence to evil passions.
• Ascetic disciplines (Fasting, Prayer, Meditative Reading) are vital to change ingrained habits of sin

2. Illumination/Spiritual (Photisis)
A.) The Holy Spirit is active in all stages of spiritual growth but its gracious action becomes more conscious in the second stage of Illumination.
• It is signified by the occasional warm and joyful stirrings of the Holy Spirit in the depths of one's being.
• As these stirring become more frequent the Christian experiences Illumination.
• The Spirit becomes a more abiding presence, a growing flame, a lantern of the soul, and a source of living waters.
• This is a gift of the Spirit.

Theoria: = see God

"...theoria is a dynamic state of being in which the Christian can testify to an inner conscious awareness of grace working in the heart, a profound sense of being surrounded and penetrated by the divine presence, and a radiant sense of awe, wonder, and gratitude about everything. (Fr. Stylianopoulos)."

The Differences between "practical discernment & spiritual discernment"
• Practical discernment distinguishes the importance of love; spiritual discernment is guided by the power of love
• Practical discernment knows that prayer brings one before God's presence; spiritual discernment delights in prayerful communion with God.
• Knowledge of God at this stage becomes knowing God through faith, goodness, purity and a life of deep prayer.

3. Perfection/Mystical (Teleiosis)
"a true mystical union with God in His uncreated light and glory"

Examples include: St. Isaac the Syrian, St. Symeon the New Theologian, Moses, the great prophets, the apostles & St. Paul.