Category: Will of God

The Simplicity of Believing

When we arrived in the middle of the afternoon on a trip to South Dakota’s Badlands, it was hot, dry and dusty.  There was a bareness and an overriding appearance of nothing but wasteland.  The next morning it was bitterly cold with strong winds and some rain.  However, there was color and contrast to the land where before there appeared to be nothing.  Two inches of snow the following morning highlighted peaks, ridges, rock formations and other details.  Seeing the same landscape through different lenses (pun intended) was quite interesting.  Nevertheless, on whichever day, the more one looked at the same area of landscape, the more detail there was to see.  Still, the breadth and beauty of the land is missed if one only myopically looks at the incredible detail.

A good friend asked me the question: If one takes away all of the questions, all of the assumptions, all of the preconceived notions that we as believers have – what is left?  I wasn’t sure.  Readers of this blog know that I’ve been struggling to understand the nature and character of God.  In all honesty, my relationship to my heavenly Father has been at best distant as I’ve struggled through such issues as the will of God in the life of the believer and predetermination as advocated by ardent Calvinists.  This good friend put it like this: perhaps it all boils down to the simplicity of believing as spelled out in the Apostle’s Creed.

The Apostle’s Creed states:

  • I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth
  • And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord
  • Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary
  • Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell
  • The third day he rose again from the dead
  • He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty
  • From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead
  • I believe in the Holy Ghost
  • I believe in the holy catholic church: the communion of saints
  • The forgiveness of sin
  • The resurrection of the body
  • And the life everlasting

Perhaps the will of God is indeed an impenetrable mystery.

Perhaps the debate between Calvinists and Arminians doesn’t really matter.

Perhaps it would be best to start again at the beginning – from the perspective that God is God and that through faith I am His child because Christ died on the cross to forgive my sins so that I can have fellowship with Him.

Is it so simple?

Can one just believe?

I don’t know.

The Will of God According to Wall Drug

Anyone traveling through the upper midwest surely knows of a certain drugstore in Wall, SD.  After all, it’s next to impossible to miss the billboards.  I happened to be in the area and thought it would be fun to visit what has to be one of the all-time great tourist spots.  The Wall Drug facility is immense and thankfully there are store maps conveniently located at each entrance.   There’s a short summary of Wall Drug’s history in the brochure that includes the following statements:

  • Our families agreed that we should all pray about the decision (for Ted & Dorothy Hustead to buy a small drug store in Wall, SD in 1931).  
  • We asked God’s guidance. 
  •  In the end everyone felt that it was God’s will for us to go to Wall.  
  • But now that Dorothy and I were all alone here (in Wall, SD), we wondered if we’d heard God right.

Did God have a plan for this young pharmacist related to a location in Wall, SD?  Was it God’s will for Wall Drug to prosper during the middle 1930s when so many people and businesses were struggling through the Great Depression?  If so, then is it reasonable to believe that God picks and chooses which businesses will thrive and which ones will fail?  If that is so, is it reasonable for one to believe that it is God’s will for many people to suffer financially because God has decreed this current recession?  

I personally don’t think so as I don’t believe God is in the business of picking and choosing winners and losers – for eternal salvation, a business adventure, one’s health, or any number of other things.  Could it be that it frustrates (or even angers) God when, as per the Wall Drug founders, people act out their faith based on “feelings” and then when circumstances change or situations become difficult, people question their faith?

For whom shall I vote?

Tom Minnery wrote an article in the Sept 2008 issue of Focus on the Family’s monthly magazine entitled “How Do I Choose?” in which he lays out six issues to consider before voting in the November elections including:

Separate principles from policies.

Does the candidate have a Christian world-view?

Political parties matter.

Isn’t the lesser of two evils still evil?

What if all choices are bad?

What if I don’t know the candidates?

 What is not present in Mr. Minnery’s article is any mention about having “peace” or otherwise praying to God for guidance with regard to a particular candidate. My NIV Topical Bible references Ecc 1:13, 17 & 7:25 with regard to acquiring wisdom through research and education. To that end, we have important decisions to make in November regarding our elected officials and it’s up to us to chose wisely.

Laying on hands or laying off staff

A recent letter from our church’s Board of Elders confirms my sense that although many Christians seek God’s will regarding a decision; in reality, most Christians work through decision making the old-fashioned way – thinking about options, considering the facts before them, and then making a decision. The letter states, “After evaluating recent giving patterns to the General Fund, the Board of Elders has determined (emphasis mine) that we must take a decisive step toward “right sizing” our current staffing numbers.” The Board of Elders appears to have given this decision its due consideration regarding laying-off a staff member regarding:

Analysis – “After evaluating recent giving patterns”

Collective wisdom – “After much prayer and discussion”

Decision – “We must take a decisive step”

Reflection – “This was not an easy decision”

 Decision-making is often difficult and stressful. We often have incomplete information and may not always realize the impact decisions have on one’s self or others. Certainly, some decisions made can be better than other decisions but the more I think about it, the more I think God allows us to freely make decisions. My sense, as I read Paul’s letters, is that direct guidance from God was the exception and not the rule. Consider:

Phil 2:25 (I think it’s a good idea)

1 Cor 16:3-4 (If it seems the right thing to do)

Acts 6:1-7 (We need to do something about this)

Acts 15:24-29 (People got together, debated, decided, and acted)

To that end, I don’t believe God routinely directs the decisions we make today. In addition, it seems that so long as any decision made does not violate any of God’s moral laws, then any decision we make can bring about honor and glory to God.

The Will of God; A Taxing Situation?

It’s not my intention to delve into politics with this post and anyone reading my bio will sense who is my preferred presidential candidate. That said, I came across an article by Ben Smith in which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi referred to presidential candidate Barack Obama as “a leader that God has blessed us with at this time.” It’s awkward (to me) when people of faith talk in such a manner. However, when politicians exude religious overtones, I sense we’ve reached a new theological realm relating to the will of God. But I’m not sure just what that realm is. Still, I would be curious to know how and when Ms. Pelosi realized that God had blessed this country with Barack Obama? And, how does Ms. Pelosi know that God hasn’t blessed this country with George Bush for these last eight years?

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0808/Obama_I_will_win.html

Blind Faith

There’ll be extra-credit given to anyone who remembers a rock group by this name. However, instead of being about Blind Faith, this post is about blind faith in relation to money management and the will of God.

An acquaintance recently said, “I’m realizing that the most important thing I can do is give up the control I think I have over my own life so that the Lord can bring about His control in my life. I need to trust and give up control.”

What’s so astonishing to me about this quote is that just two years ago this same person emphatically told me that it was God’s will that they were able to buy a particular house. In answer to my question as to how they knew that it was God’s will to buy the house, the response was, “Well, we got the house, didn’t we.”

Suffice it to say, higher mortgage payments due to an adjustable rate mortgage coupled with other significant financial blunders is putting a severe strain on this couple’s relationship – not only with each other but also (as I see it) with God. What’s most interesting to me is the inability (or unwillingness) to understand that a series of poor financial decisions – and not “the will of God” has brought about their difficulties. I can only surmise that the “faith waters” just beneath the surface are roiling. I see a desire to admit that “mistakes were made”. However, admitting to mistakes is to admit that they were exercising a false faith by believing that God gave them the house in the first place.

I think of someone who’s blind and I think of someone not able to see. Duh! However, Webster’s dictionary definition of the word ‘blind’ clarifies what I believe to be the root cause of this couple’s difficulties:

  • Unable or unwilling to discern or judge.
  • Having no regard to rational discrimination, guidance, or restriction.
  • Made or done without sight of certain objects or knowledge of certain facts that could serve for guidance.

The reality is that God has provided a “wealth” (pun intended) of information about money-matters. It appears to me that this couple is experiencing the consequences of financial decisions that are inconsistent with biblically based money management practices and that their current difficulties have nothing to do with the application of God’s sovereign will.

The Intangentiality of the Will of God

Intangentiality?  Okay, so I made up the word. I couldn’t find it in my trusty Webster’s but maybe a little meaning can be dissected out of it:

  • (in) opposite
  • (tangent) touching at the outer edge i.e. a straight line just barely touching a circle
  • (iality) the “fluff” part of the word – sounds good but doesn’t mean a thing

A recent sermon, “Under-Construction Priorities”, was interesting. Referencing Eph 5:15-21, the sermon related to establishing God-honoring priorities which will help stifle human folly and establish spiritual wisdom. The NIV Topical Bible breaks chapters and verses into a general context and the theme for this passage, which actually begins at Eph 4:17 (and ends at Eph 5:21) is titled, “Living as Children of Light”. A cursory reading reveals a lot of “to-do’s” including:

Don’t live as the Gentiles do

Put off the old self (deceitful desires)

Put on the new self (righteousness and holiness)

Speak truthfully

Don’t let the sun go down while you’re still angry

Don’t steal

No trash-talking (unwholesome chit-chat)

Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit

Lose the bitterness, rage, anger, brawling and slander

Be kind, compassionate, and forgiving

Be imitators of God

Live a life of love

Live a life of purity (not even a hint of sexual immorality)

No obscene or foolish talking or coarse joking

Exercise caution – be wise

Make the most of opportunities

Don’t be foolish

Understand what the Lord’s will is (emphasis mine)

Don’t get drunk

Be filled with the Spirit

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord

Always give thanks to God for everything

Submit to one another

Why does Paul mention something about God’s will in the middle of all this “behavior” stuff? Is the placement of the phrase, “understand what the Lord’s will is” – between “don’t be foolish” and “don’t get drunk” significant? I’m not sure. However, my overall sense is that the will of God is not something tangent to one’s faith. Rather, the will of God can be easily recognized and understood and is front-and-center in how we conduct our lives. Paul isn’t teaching us to discover God’s will for some decision we need to make (here or in other passages such as Romans 12) by “praying in earnest”, “seeking wise counsel”, or “accurately interpreting one’s circumstances”. Many Christians talk about the will of God as it relates to a whole host of non-moral decisions in their lives such as:

  • Should I go to a Christian college?
  • Whom should I marry?
  • What career should I pursue?
  • Is it the right time to buy (or sell) a house?
  • Should I get my tubes tied?
  • Is God leading me to attend a Baptist church?

Regarding all the “stuff” that makes up our lives, does the grace of God allow believers to make decisions they deem best? Is the passage evidence that God is more concerned with how we live instead of how (or whether) we seek His direction on non-moral “things”? I like a comment from a previous post and think it’s applicable: “It’s grace. All grace.”

Criticisms invited if you think I’m in error.

Blessed to Death

This is a letter posted on a Caring Bridge web site for a young boy with acute myelogenous leukemia:

  • God has so many ways to teach patience – and all of the other Fruits of the Spirit. Keep remembering that you are all doing God’s work right now. What a blessed job you are called to do – what an awesome job you all are doing! Thank you for being faithful servants. What an example you are to the rest of us. Rose

Although I’m sure Rose is well intentioned, her comments (to me, at least) raise a number of questions about who she believes God to be and how He interacts with us. Perhaps Rose is a “Godwillian” – someone who believes that whatever happens, God desires it to be, and we need to figure out what it is that God wants us to learn.

I’m guessing that John Piper is a Godwillian. He’s quoted in Greg Boyd’s book, Is God to Blame (pg 48) as saying, “From the smallest thing to the greatest thing, good and evil, happy and sad, pagan and Christian, pain and pleasure – God governs them all for His wise and just and good purpose.”

Greg Boyd responds on pg 53:”Not once did Jesus suggest that a person’s afflictions were brought about or specifically allowed by God as part of a ‘secret plan’. Nor did He suggest that some people suffered because God was punishing them or teaching them a lesson. He didn’t ask people what they might have done to get in the sad predicament they found themselves in – even when dealing with demonized people. Jesus never suggested that a person’s suffering was brought about to contribute to a ‘higher harmony’. To the contrary, Jesus consistently revealed God’s will for people by healing them of their infirmities”.

I’m told that my thoughts on will-of-God issues tend to put God in a box. We mere mortals simply can’t understand the nature of God and how He interacts with His creation. Fair enough. But I can’t help but think that people, such as Rose, who posted about God using leukemia to teach patience, often make God out to be something He isn’t.

The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you

When I recently searched, again, on the “will of God”, I came across the site http://nicoleleeartistry.wordpress.com/2008/04/09/concentrate-on-this/ on which is posted,

The will of God will never take you where the grace of God will not protect you.

I commented on Nicole’s blog and asked how she would know if something is indeed the will of God versus something that would just otherwise happen? Nicole graciously responded in an email and has provided some interesting thoughts that I have condensed for time and space consideration.

  • Have faith like a child that is unwavering and know that what I feel and believe is true.
  • Trust my conscience and the basics of right and wrong.
  • There is a will of God but we also have a free will of our own.
  • If you have faith in what you do not know and do not understand, trust that God will never leave you when you need Him. If you humbly ask God to make His will known to you, He will.
  • God always presents a path for us to follow, but it is up to us to choose if we want to follow that path or not.
  • If I am doing what I can to seek God’s Grace in the way I live, then I need not worry.
  • When you are not close to God, you are open to Satan’s influence.
  • God is stronger than Satan is. Being weak himself, Satan preys on people who have weak spirits.
  • Everything happens for a reason.
  • God has a plan for each one of us.
  • We serve a purpose while we are on this earth.
  • All contributions, big, small, positive or negative affect our lives and the lives of others.
  • Discerning the will of God versus that which would otherwise happen requires a relationship with God.
  • A conversation with God is required to decide what His will is.
  • There is nothing wrong with deviating from that path, because God will be there to guide you and protect you if you have faith.
  • If you choose to go your own way and do not seek God’s guidance, then that road you are following will be much more difficult than if you had sought God’s will.
  • Things become confusing when people are not close to God.
  • People profess skepticism and doubt when they do not have a relationship with God.
  • Do not forget the importance of being thankful to God for all that He does for you!

Nicole sums up her email this way:

If you seek to do the will of God, and you ask for His guidance and blessings and influence in your life, and you open your mind and senses to hear Him speak to you when you need it most, then you will know God’s will because He will make His will known. It is up to us to listen!If you choose not to ask, and you choose not to listen, it is a choice you make. However, if you choose to ask and choose to listen – ask God for what it is you need and He will provide – seek and you will find.

There are some of Nicole’s thoughts that I agree with and some of which I have significant disagreement with. I’ll close here and post more on this later.Please feel free to add your own $0.02 worth. As I’ve stated before, the matter of God’s will in the life of the believer has been something that I’ve struggled with and have tried to understand for some time. Many thanks to Nicole for her time and effort in answering my question regarding differentiating between God’s will and something that would just otherwise happen.

God’s Will for How We Should Live

While doing some “Will of God” searching, I happened to land on Gloria Copeland’s blog: http://heart4myhome.blogspot.com and found this 1/24/2008 posting: 24 Things to Get You In the Perfect Will of God. Paul gives practical guidelines for Christian living. In essence, this is how God wants us to live. More to the point, this is God’s will for how we should live:

1) Rom 12:1 Dedicate your body to God.
2) Rom 12:2 Be transformed. Put on new man.
3) Rom 12:3 Don’t overestimate yourself. Rate your own ability soberly.
4) Rom 12:6-7 Use your gift and give yourself to it.
5) Rom 12:9 Love with sincerity.
6) Rom 12:9 Hate evil and turn from it.
7) Rom 12:9 Hold fast to that which is good.
8) Rom 12:10 Love one another. Prefer one another.
9) Rom 12:11 Never lag in zeal and earnest endeavor.
10) Rom 12:11 Be aglow with the spirit, serving the Lord.
11) Rom 12:12 Rejoice and exult in hope.
12) Rom 12:12 Be steadfast under pressure.
13) Rom 12:12 Patient in suffering.
14) Rom 12:12 Constant in prayer.
15) Rom 12:13 Give.
16) Rom 12:14 Bless those who persecute you.
17) Rom 12:15 Share others’ lives, give of yourself.
18) Rom 12:16 Live in harmony – adjust.
19) Rom 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil.
20) Rom 12:17 Be honest and above reproach. Avoid the appearance of evil.
21) Rom 12:18 Live at peace with everyone.
22) Rom 12:19 Avenge not yourself.
23) Rom 12:20 Do good to your enemies.
24) Rom 12:21 Overcome evil with good.