Discernment by Consolation and Quadrilateral

The Wesleyan Quadrilateral seems very logical. It is even very helpful. One thing that I am wrestling with is what happens when one or two voices doesn't agree. For instance the scripture says that I can trust God for my daily bread. The tradition of the church has affirmed this in various ways. But my own experience tells me that my checkbook is empty and that the store doesn't give away bread. My reason tells me that I shouldn't trust God.

In order for my reason and experience to be trusted it must be subordinated to the truth of scripture and the higher reality of God in the face of the reality of this age. My experience must be deep and practiced. In comes Ignatius' rules for discernment. As I practice following the consolation I learn to hear the voice of God. I begin to have an experience I can trust. As I come to recognize the voice of God and the accompanying consolation, come to know God. Then God's ultimate reality will become a factor in my mental equations as I reason.

Tonight I was off on another shopping trip when I was struck suddenly by desolation. This time I recognized that this happens often when I am spending money, and the sense of desolation is surely not proportionate with the cause. I struggled to know why this caused me desolation.

Was it that I shouldn't be spending money?
- no, Elaine was convinced that helping Foster buy a Lightening McQueen bike with his birthday money was in God's hands. A lady even gave us a $5 off coupon in the parking lot on our way into the store.

Was it that I didn't trust God?
- I think that is part of it. I think God may have allowed the desolation to teach me that financial security still has quite a hold on me, but at the same time I don't think that God wants me to go on an unbridled spending spree. That seems so contrary to the witness of the gospels (the prosperity so-called-gospel excepted).

Was it that I was spending so much money on toys for me? Again this year a new computer, feeding new toner to our fancy printer, the iPod touch that I got free with the computer, perhaps all my toys made Foster's toy distasteful to me.
- Elaine reminded me that we do give a lot of money all year long, not to mention the substance of our lives. Even so this one stuck with me.

The Wesleyan Quadrilateral helped me track down when my honeyed consolation turned to desolation. What was God telling me? To trust him, and get my eyes off of myself - whether it be my lack of money or my toys - and put them back on him and others.

Now to test the theory and build my experience. Elaine was driving and pulled up to the drive through at Taco Bell to order me dinner. Unexpectedly the guy on the other side of the speaker asked, "Do wanted to give a dollar to help end world hung--" YES! "--er." And just like that immediately consolation flooded me. Such a small thing, and again the feeling was disproportionate to the cause. We followed the consolation giving a bit more.

Remembering this will give me some thing to stick into my reasoning next time we're out shopping. The quadrilateral is, I think, most powerful when positioned within the Rules for Discernment.

Band of Brothers or On The Lost Arts of Holiness

John Wesley had this idea. He would put the members of the Methodist society into bands. A band had half a dozen people of the same gender, so you’d have like a band of brothers or a band of sisters. These bands were a component of the grand schema to foster a spiritual formation that would create holy Christian, well advanced toward perfect love. The bands created a mutual spiritual direction and accountability. Here we have a practice that we have largely forgotten. Wesley Tracy notes that the Wesleyan tradition has also forgotten (Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls 122).

I am struck by the concept. It seems in our efforts to create viable small groups the revitalization of these Wesleyan methods would be a good idea and not just for Methodists! The questions that Wesley prescribes for bands to consider are relevant and pointed for today (Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls 121).

1. What temptations have you met with?
2. How were you delivered?
3. What have you thought, said, or done, of which you doubt whether it be sin or not?
4. Have you nothing you desire to keep secret?

As are the questions Foster offers for group examen.


I think these questions could fit well into the structure of inductive bible study that we engage in on Sunday nights. The fellowship and connection having been established, it would be a powerful time to explore the deeper life through this group direction.

I love the full on integration intended in the Wesleyan societies, especially including families. I am thinking it would be cool to incorporate some of Wesley’s order for family devotions, which expand on the one from the Book of Common Prayer, with the notable addition of the blessing the parent gives to each child and is never withheld no matter how bad they have been (Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls 123).