Formula for Making Decisions

This is from Jeff Matsler on the Yahoo Group SheddingReligion in response to the post "Question about Spiritual Authority...?" I add it here to remember this formula and test it.

I was raised to follow and use a formula originally attested, I believe, to St. Augustine but refined by Wesley often referred to as the Wesleyan Quadrilateral. It states that something must pass four tests to be considered a valid option / perspective. The rule continues to work for me and I'm happy to share it with those who are interested.

When something is challenging and decisions of great importance must be made - whether it's following the Spirit, doing "God's will", obeying a certain authority, etc., my tradition teaches that it must be subjected to four tests: Scripture, Tradition,Experience and Reason. If the decision / relationship / action / etc., being considered can stand up to scriptural scrutiny, is not something that my offends my traditional values and is not contrary to all I have experienced to be true and of Christ, then if it is rational to do so, it is probably acceptable. Scripture, being scripture, has primacy but must be supported by the other 3 in order to insure that your interpretation of it is valid.

For example let's take a question many in this group have been asking or have already asked:

Is it against God's will to leave the institutional church?

In the scriptures, Christ and others often went out into the desert, away from others to be with God, even if only for a time. - SCRIPTURE

In the church, there have always - since the earliest times - been those who were repulsed by the institution and went to live either a monastic or communal life apart from the church. Other groups separated completely from the organized church and continued to experience the vibrant life of the Holy Spirit in their own lives and communities. TRADITION

In my experience, the current institution of the church has not and is not meeting the needs God is placing upon my heart. My experience has been that I personally encounter God and His perfect love more outside the committees and power plays that seem to be the center most groups I have encountered that call themselves church. - EXPERIENCE

It makes no sense to stay associated with a group that is not promoting Christ and call themselves the church. No amount of guilt or manipulation should keep a person in a community that is not serving its stated purpose and is creating pain and grief in their lives. REASON.

Therefore, it stands the test that it is indeed NOT against God's will to step outside of the institutional church tradition and in some cases, it may be going against divine will to remain inside it.