Humble discernment of the key issues

Theology of Governance

Good governance is responsive: it is responsive to both present and future needs, serving the needs of the entire community, while balancing competing interests; and meets needs within a reasonable timeframe.

Nor is there any doubt that we, as God’s people, are compelled by the love of God to respond, minister and act within this context. (Isaiah 1:17; James 2:14-17).

Responsiveness in and of itself, however, is not enough – discernment is required. Otherwise, when ‘confronted by a sea of human need and the insatiable demands of people, we can in Stanley Hauerwas’s phrase, become a quivering mass of availability’ – leaving us paralysed and unable to move forward to meet needs and minister in an effective way. People’s needs and demands can therefore drive us, rather than God’s purposes and will.

There is a profound difference between doing good things for God and discerning what are the key issues that God wants us to engage with. Indeed, we are to discern what God is doing in this world, and join in that work.

The example of Jesus, who discerned that it was time to leave his effective healing ministry in Capernaum and move on to other towns to preach God’s Good News, is illuminating. (Mark 1:35-39)

Jesus shows us that radical dependence on the Holy Spirit and prayer; an unwavering focus on God’s purpose and will; and a determination to be obedient, permits choice and the possibility of ‘no’. 

Also, in the Old Testament, we are told that the leaders of Issachar had an understanding of their times – that is, they understood the culture, needs, thinking and events that were shaping their world at that time. Therefore, they all knew what Israel needed to do – they knew the best course to take. (1 Chronicles 12:32) This also speaks of discernment and choice.

Discernment of the key issues is not static, but a dynamic, creative and flexible process. We are to be continually renewed in our thinking, so that we may be able to discern what is the good, acceptable and pleasing will of God. (Romans 12:2).

What occupied the focus of the leaders of the last century may not be the key issues now. God may require us to focus on a different issue tomorrow, to what we are grappling with today. In light of that, our prayer could be based on Philippians 1:9, 10 – that out of our constantly overflowing love, we will grow in knowledge, wisdom and understanding, so that together, with a focussed eye on God, an awareness of the future and obedience in our hearts, we will be able to discern what is best and know what really matters.