Tag: Will of God

God’s Will and the Life of a Beauty Queen

I recently saw an on-line story (noted below) about Carrie Prejean – the former beauty pageant contestant who some think lost the Miss America contest because of her answer to a question regarding same-sex marriage.  Ms. Prejean is quoted as saying, “God chose me for that moment because he knew that not only would I be the one to stand up for Him and for the truth, but because He knew I was strong enough to get through all the junk that I’ve been through.”

God “chose” her because she would be “strong enough”  Uh, not so fast, please. First, Ms. Prejean’s answer that evening was a credit to her character and a testament to the values she holds dear.  Given that she was one of the contest’s finalists and the Miss America title potentially moments away, Ms. Prejean chose to proclaim God’s truth.  That said, I’m hard-pressed to believe that Ms Prejean’s situation is any different from anyone else being challenged on a point of morality.  The circumstances of a beauty contest certainly provided more notoriety because of the setting and who was asking the question.  However, all believers will have tribulations at various times in their lives.  It’s a promise that Jesus gave in John 16:33. 

Has God placed particular people in particular positions at particular times for His end-results?  The Apostle Paul, of course, had his Damascus Road experience. And Jesus chose those whom He wanted as His disciples.  That said, from my reading and understanding of the New Testament, it is only rarely that God chose certain people for certain tasks.  Furthermore, in my opinion, those instances only occurred during the early formation of the Church. 

Did God call Carrie Prejean to be a beauty pageant contestant?  I don’t think so.  If anything, all believers are called to holy living and to being a living sacrifice (Rom 12:1-21).  The NIV Topical Bible states: “[A]fter citing general principles for the Christian life, Paul gives practical guidelines on several specific issues; using properly God’s gifts to us, living a life of love, respecting human governments and using our Christian freedom compassionately and lovingly in disputable matters.  These issues remain vital in our lives today.”  The challenges that confront God’s standards and His desire for our lives are all around us.  We have a choice to make each time we’re confronted with something at odds to God’s stated will for our lives. 

This is God’s will for everyone: to be willing to exchange that which is temporal for that which is eternal. 

http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/09/miss-california-wows-conservatives.html

God is large and in charge

A blog was set up on our church’s web site to allow for comments on the pastor’s summer sermon series.  There was one comment (which I’ve edited below for brevity) related to the will of God entitled “God is large and in charge” that I found interesting:

I look back and reflect on a time when God was real, present and in control of my life.  I must have fought with God every step of the way.  However, God began showing me that He had gifted me for a purpose and began the slow and painful process of changing my definition of success, and my trusting in Him alone for my security and well-being.  

During this time, God was present in every way I could have imagined.  He spoke to me through the Spirit (that still small voice), through other people, through the Word and even through the radio.  Everywhere I turned, I had confirmations regarding a life’s direction.  Everything from Bible verses reminding me God has plans to prosper and not to harm me (Jeremiah 29:11) and that God works all things for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) to radio songs about surrendering my life completely to God. 

I kept a journal of all the confirmations I sensed God throwing my way just so I could be sure and convinced that this was from God.  It’s almost comical the steps God used to get my attention.  It’s also incredibly encouraging to look back and realize God was there and really did have my best interests at heart.  I’ve never been happier in my life.  And, to top it off, God has met all of our financial needs and even most of our wants.  

 

I posted the following comment:

Your story of God’s leading is interesting.  However, the overriding perception seems to be that you’re trusting God based not only on the feelings you’ve experienced but also on the outcome.  Ultimately, you felt that this direction was the right thing to do and the outcome of that decision – being that you’ve never been happier and aren’t lacking for anything has validated that decision. Who am I to say that you’re not right?  Maybe God did lead you.  Still, I find it troubling that Christian cultists, or non-Christians for that matter, could use the same logic and draw the same conclusions based on their similar experiences.  This (for me) begs the questions, does God lead non-believers in the same way as you believe He has led you?  Perhaps that’s a question for another time.  Still, how is it that Christians today lay claim to God prospering them today based on Jer 29:11?  This is indeed what scripture says.  However, is this what scripture teaches?  The reference in Jeremiah is a historical event – God gave a promise to those whom Nebuchadnezzar had exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon.  Furthermore, there was a seventy-year period from when the promise was given to the promise’s eventual fulfillment.  It’s a little disconcerting to apply similar logic regarding Matt 27:5 – where Judas hanged himself.  In addition, I don’t think the Rom 8:28 reference supports your contention that God “willed” you into a specific direction as I don’t see the verse saying that God directs everything. 

 

Lo and behold, a reply from the original poster:

When I look back and see God’s hand in my life, I see two separate issues here – one related to His promise of provision, and the other related to a vocational direction.  Both were equally mind-blowing and joyful to me. 

While I certainly had financial fears about this vocation, that doesn’t mean that God’s financial provision since then is proof that taking this job was God’s will.  Rather, during this call, I was forced to confront the issue of whether or not I really believed I could trust God for my financial provision.  I was stepping onto new spiritual turf because of my upbringing and the resulting philosophies I carried with me about self-reliance and even definitions for success.  I placed my trust in God and gave up my illusions of control and still we have lacked for nothing.  This is proof of God’s faithfulness and provision and that we can trust him – not proof that this vocation was God’s Will.  Indeed, through prayer, scriptures, listening to the Holy Spirit and through council from trusted Christian friends I was sure of God’s will before I took the leap.  A “last act of desperation” I wrote of was more about my own insecurities and hoping that if it wasn’t what God wanted then He would close that door.  I knew I was called but I was afraid and reluctant to take what I felt was such a big risk with my life.  

The references to Romans 8:28 and Jeremiah 29:11 were of course written in different cultures and different audiences and situations.  However, I believe the same words of God are relevant to us today.  These scriptures are promises that God will provide for His people and will work all things for good.  Those scriptures God called to mind as I was considering whether I could really trust Him and step into the relative unknown I was facing gave me comfort that although I didn’t know the how or the when – everything would work out if I would continue to seek God in all things.  Thankfully, it didn’t take seventy years to see that God would provide for me.  To me those scriptures are not guarantees that we will see the results with our own eyes or that the “plans for good” are even how we would define goodness in terms of our own desired outcomes.  Rather, they’re a call to trust God, in all things, without necessarily knowing what His plan will look like.  For me, it took a transition into the unknowns of a vocation to grapple with these scriptures in ways that I hadn’t before.  The result of learning to trust God in this way is that we have had our faith encouraged and we never been happier. 

The Will of God in 28 Easy Steps

I often sense Christians want God’s will regarding some decision they need to make. The Bible is replete with passages on how we are to live. Yet, there are no passages on how to:

· Interpret circumstances

· Determine if something is a closed door or a test

· Choose among equal options

Romans chapter 12, which is entitled “Christian Living” in my NIV Study Bible, is one passage where God tells us His will for how we should live our lives. It seems to me that if we concentrate on that which God has told us, because of His grace, we need not worry about “missing the center” of His will.

1) Rom 12:1 Offer your body as a living sacrifice to God

2) Rom 12:2 Be transformed by the renewing of your mind

3) Rom 12:3 Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought

4) Rom 12:6 Use your gift(s)

5) Rom 12:9 Love with sincerity

6) Rom 12:9 Hate what is evil

7) Rom 12:9 Cling to what is good

8) Rom 12:10 Be devoted to one another

9) Rom 12:11 Never be lacking in zeal

10) Rom 12:11 Keep your spiritual fervor

11) Rom 12:12 Be joyful in hope

12) Rom 12:12 Be patient in affliction

13) Rom 12:12 Be faithful in prayer

14) Rom 12:13 Share with God’s people who are in need

15) Rom 12:13 Practice hospitality

16) Rom 12:14 Bless those who persecute you

17) Rom 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice

18) Rom 12:15 Mourn with those who mourn

19) Rom 12:16 Live in harmony with one another

20) Rom 12:16 Do not be proud

21) Rom 12:16 Be willing to associate with people of low position

22) Rom 12:16 Do not be conceited

23) Rom 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil

24) Rom 12:17 Be careful to do what is right

25) Rom 12:18 Live at peace with everyone

26) Rom 12:19 Do not take revenge

27) Rom 12:20 Do good to your enemies

28) Rom 12:21 Overcome evil with good

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.

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.

“Cut to the Chase” as to Decision Making and the Will of God

“From the Experts”, pg 34 in the April, 2008 Focus on the Family magazine, a young woman is trying to work through a decision-making process regarding either law school or medical school and how that would be compatible with being a wife and mother, and staying home with the children. 

Dr. Dobson defines the three competing choices before this woman:

  • Have a career
  • Be a wife and mother
  • Have a career and be a wife and mother

Since she does not yet have plans to marry, Dr. Dobson recommends that she press ahead with her academic goals and that once her training is complete, she will still have all of the above options available to her.  Dr. Dobson continues that she could put her career on hold should she marry and want to become a full-time mother. 

That sounds like sage and pragmatic advice; try not to limit your options.  Dr. Dobson goes on to state that only she can decide what is best for her.  However, Dr. Dobson then closes with, “I would strongly suggest that you make it a matter of prayer as you seek the Lord’s will for your life.” 

Please – help me understand.  How on the one hand can you state that one can only decide for themselves what is best and on the other hand tell that person to seek the Lord’s will? 

In considering the three aspects of the will of God, the question posed by this young woman obviously is not related to the sovereign will of God.  Granted, there are inherent ramifications to each of the three choices before this woman.  However, I do not sense any conflict regarding the moral will of God.  As such, I can only conclude that Dr. Dobson believes that God does indeed have a plan as to which option she should choose.   If that is the case, then why not “cut to the chase” and advise this woman how to go about finding God’s will for her life?