I have recently been facing a dilemma. “Fortunately”, I have some close friends who have been a great deal of “help” to me in order that I might make the best decision.
Here is what I have been struggling with: My occupation has necessitated my spending a fair amount of time on the road (out of town) for about five years. I had always been at peace with this until recently; about eight months now. I began to feel a desire and urge to become more active in the ministry that I am associated with; and was feeling led to make myself more available to the ministry and the church, to do whatever work the church might deem as fitting in relation to my gifts. I chose to tell my employer that I was looking for another job because I no longer desired to travel. This seemed to me to be the most immediate action to take in obedience to this inner prompting that I had received. My employer’s response was that he would figure out a way for me to be able to remain an employee and yet not have to travel. I gave him the benefit of the doubt and we agreed that in three months time I would be working locally.
Well, it has now been five months since we made our agreement and there has been a significant amount of change. I have had to travel some, but far less than previously. I have also tried to make myself available to be of service to the church and there seems to be little I have to offer, or that the proper time and moment has yet to arise for any significant development to occur in regards to my work situation or participation in service to the church.
I am struggling with the question of either waiting and trusting that I was obedient to what God called me to do, and that in His time He will bring to pass what He has chosen for me to do. Or, am I to be more firm and demanding with my employer as to my not traveling, and continue to thrust myself into situations that seem to have a good prospect of my being used for ministry purposes?
As I stated earlier, there are friends that I have asked for some advice on this matter. There are two in particular that I have spoken with; Steve and Mary. The interesting thing is that this dilemma was non-existent until these two started giving me their thoughts on the matter. Now don’t misunderstand me, the reality of the situation was indeed real but it hadn’t been a straining matter that I had to resolve until I started receiving these suggestions from my two friends. Or at least they were my friends before I published this article. I’m just kidding. I asked both of them before hand if they had a problem with me sharing this with everybody. They both replied that they did not.
Here is how this phantom issue suddenly became an all consuming source of much anxiety and despair:
One day, about a month ago, I was telling Steve that I was going out of town on a job; and he replied,”I thought that you weren’t going out of town anymore?” I replied,”Yes,well, it is only a few days and since it doesn’t conflict with any preexistent commitment I felt no need in refusing to help out in this situation.” “Ya, I guess so,” Steve said.
Now Mary had been the one that encouraged me to take such an approach if this situation arose; and I felt confident with taking this stance. But Steve became relentless in his questioning my choice on the matter. He would say,”If God called you to pursue active participation in the church, don’t you think that you ought to stand firm in bringing it to pass?”
I was beginning to see where Steve was coming from. If I did not persevere in bringing this about then the entire thing was just some whimsical decision based on something; but certainly not a call from God.
Becoming very unsettled by this, I approached Mary with this idea. “Mary”, I said, “Don’t you see that if I do not make sure that this vision comes to pass it will neccesitate the conclusion that it had not been a call from God but merely my own imagination?”
Mary answered, “Okay, fine. So what you are saying is that you can only be confident that you are doing God’s will if the outcome of a decision made by faith is what you have imagined His purpose for your deciding to be?”
“Well, I suppose so. But that seems to imply that I do not trust God”, I replied. “So then, how can a person discern what decision God would have them make in regards to a certain situation?”
“I guess you have to make a decision in faith that it is what God has chosen for you to decide and it is therefore pleasing to Him.”
“Yes! That’s it!”, I responded.
So after this conversation I saw Steve and told him how I was going to handle the situation. His response was not what I had hoped. That is; it was not one of encouragement and affirmation.
“Well. That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. Sounds like a cop-out to me. You began with excitement and now you have resigned yourself to remain in the same state of life. I just cannot see how by not doing anything, you could possibly be doing what you ought to do! Or, not do, for that matter!”
I feel that the problem with Steve’s thinking is that he does not realize that choosing not to take assertive action towards accomplishing a goal is just as active as the assertive one is; and quite possibly is the one that actually requires faith in God. For the assertive action indeed has it’s goal in view and it’s trust is in the vision; that is, in its having come from God. But the non-assertive has no goal in view; that is, in so far as man is able to see. It’s goal rests in that eternally unknown, and requires trusting in the One who knows.
So, both types of decisions require faith. But the latter is far more difficult, even though the opposite seems to be true.
Sometimes the greatest action we can take is no action at all and allow God to reveal his plan to you. Your place in the Church is ever-changing and may not be apparent to you yet.
God can work in both conclusions as far as your work situation and you just have to be aware of what direction he is pulling you in.
This is from Garry Friessen’s book Decision Making and the Will of God. I have found it to be a great blessing.
PRINCIPLES OF DECISION MAKING AND THE WILL OF GOD
1. Where God commands, we must obey. Every command of the
moral will of God is a specific expression of the greatest
command to love. Love should simply be the foundation and
motivation for all commands. “You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” To love Christ is to
keep His commands.
2. Where there is no command, God gives us freedom (and
responsibility) to choose.
a. First, the nature of effective lawmaking requires that where
there is no command, there is an assumed area of freedom.
For example, if a sign at the beach informs everyone there is
no swimming, do I need to ask the lifeguard then permission
to do things such as build a sand castle, fill a pail with water,
etc…
b. Second, the nature of sin requires that where God gives no
command, there is freedom. “Where there is no law there is
no transgression. - Rom. 4:15″ A person can sin against God
in a decision by action as well as attitude, but if a particular
decision is not directly addressed by God’s commands, and
our goals and attitudes are right, then how can one sin in
making a decision?
c. Third, the direct statements of Scripture reveal that God gives
freedom where He gives no command. Paul states, “all things
are lawful but not all things are profitable, all things are lawful
but not all things edify.” The freedom here Paul speaks of is
qualified by the moral command to be wise in the sense to
select what is profitable or edifying from the lawful options.
3. Where there is no command, God gives us wisdom to choose.
a. First, the Old Testament teaches wise decision making by its
Wisdom Books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song
of Solomon) and examples of wise men.
b. Second, Jesus commands His servants to be wise and
illustrates this point in many of the parables such as “Two
Foundations” (Matt. 7:24-27), “Counting the Cost” (Luke
14:25-32), and “Ten Virgins” (Matt. 25:1-13) just to name a
few.
c. Third, the apostles modeled wisdom in their decision making
and also commanded believers to use wisdom as well.
Examples are to numerous and lenghty, but I feel Friessen
illustrates this point well from New Testament scripture.
d. Fourth, God promises wisdom through the Bible, prayer,
counselors, research, and experience that if anyon lacks
wisdom we are to ask of God (James 1:5).
4. When we have chosen what is moral and wise, we must trust
the sovereign God to work all the details together for good.
Some of the greatest things about God’s sovereign will are:
a. First, there is certainty it will be fulfilled;
b. Second, it is detailed to include all things;
c. Third, it is often hidden except when revealed by prophecy,
d. Fourth, it is supreme by not violating human responsibility
and making God the author of sin; and
e. Fifth it is perfect by working all things together for God’s
glory and our good.
In conclusion, I believe that God has indeed given freedom to make decisions by obeying His moral commands and when there is no command, to select the decision tha is Godly, wise, and most of all in good faith. This is not to say these decisions are not hard and difficult, requiring much prayer, time, counsel, and wisdom, but once made, a trust must follow that God is sovereign over every plan and circumstance.
Praise be to God and how He has revealed to us the mystery hidden for ages and generations, which is Christ Jesus in us, the hope of glory. May we all continue to grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding as to walk in a manner fully pleasing to Him.
Peace and Blessings brother in Christ, our hope.
Bryan,
That method basically implies that God has no specific will for Christians in every decision in life. I cannot agree with that. It seems to say that if a person does not break any moral command and does what ever they choose to do, then they are doing the will of God. Some may be able to be at peace with that, but I cannot. What a meaningless existence! Is that what you believe? It certainly has seemed that you thought otherwise.
Well I do not think it is a method. I feel Friessen makes a strong case that the wisdom model is what the Bible teaches. I will say this, before you criticize I would encourage you to see/read for yourself. Do not just assume that is what is “implied” until you are certain. Friessen does not teach nor say that in noncommanded decisions God is excluded from the process. Far from it.
Here are a couple questions I have pondered lately. So if God has a specific will (that we are to know exactly) for Christians in every decision in life as you stated earlier, can an honest individual say they seek God regarding every decision? Because the reality of this view is whatever decision is to be made, the criteria should be the same. Or do we skip this part and exercise wisdom and good judgment with what we deem “little” everyday decisions of life and only seek His specific will on the “big” ones?
So then that leads me to the next question of what then is the role of an earthly father in an individuals life? Does a father make all the decisions for his child throughout their life, or does he seek to enable them and train them to make right decisions on their own?
You see I do not think it “meaningless” at all, but actually the complete opposite. I see meaning as to how God desires for His children to grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding so as to walk in a manner fully pleasing to Him.
David,
In looking over your post a couple of times, it is my understanding that the crux of your dilemma lies in your fourth paragraph:
First off, I do think you were faithful to what God calls us to when you made a decision to become more a part of our community. I remember the two of us talking about this same issue one night in the late summer of 2004, prior to the formation of our small group. At that time, I challenged you to consider whether or not traveling less and being more a part of our community would be a means for God to grow your faith.
Plus, I think you understood that my challenge was something for you to pray and think about because my philosophy regarding our present circumstances is that we should “bloom where we are planted”. (That is something that I have seen you do while you have “been on the road,” and I am looking forward to seeing how you will bloom now that you have more time to spend with us.)
In this post and previously in our small group, you have let us in on your thoughts with regards to traveling less and strengthening your ties with our community. I’ve felt privileged and blessed by God to be a part of your life as you have made this transition. Furthermore, I want to encourage you by saying that I think you have a lot to offer both our community group and the larger church that we are a part of.
Now, the question remains whether or not you should hold your boss to his word, or whether you should let this matter slide. My advice is that at the very least you should have another conversation with your boss. Gently talk with him and see if he is aware that he hasn’t held up his end of the bargain.
As for serving at church, I definitely think you need to give this more time. From experience, I know that so much of our serving in the body comes from simply “showing up”. As you start to “show up” more around here, I have no doubt that opportunities to serve will present themselves to you.
Peace and Blessings to you brother.
Thank you brothers for all of your encouragement and helpful instruction.
Michael,
I must take advantage of this opportunity to shine some light on what I am in total disagreement with and the basis for nearly all of my protest concerning what I will refer to as ‘rational theology’. This is the very matter that keeps me in a perpetual state of concern and despair over the present state of the Church.
This is what you said:
This is my problem: You say that you think I was faithful to what God calls “us” to. It is my belief that God does not call “us” to anything. Rather He calls “me” to what He would have “me” do; and He may call the many “me”es to form an “us”. But the idea of this “Him calling us” is exactly what makes it impossible to understand any of my beliefs concerning the Will of God.
When you said:
Your advice concerning this issue is the perfectly logical action to take. The problem is that it is logical if the assumption is that being involved in community is “what God calls us to”. I too agree that community is part of the Christian’s life, but I cannot be certain that it is God’s will for me “now” to continue in the same direction He had me go “then”. My only comfort is in the certainty that I have not given myself over to establishing an external verification that I am doing God’s will, so that my faith might rest in what is unseen and placing all my confidence in His promises.
I am sure that you have noticed that your advice is the same that was given to me by Steve. I am going to be very bold in asking you to ask yourself this question: Is my understanding of God’s Will one in which an action must undergo the scrutinty and inspection of an immediately recognizable criteria that either myself or others have established in order to secure myself from having to put faith in Him who speaks and guides me and so always having to defend the idea that God’s will is to be known and related to with objective certainty?
I do want to make it clear that I believe that one must hold himself to objective standards, but only in so far as moral and other objectively verifiable commandments go. This is the same as the beginning of the model that Bryan laid out. But from that point to say that whatever you choose to do in wisdom and good heart is acceptable to God still does not address the issue that I was faced with. I suppose that it seems foolish and trivial that I should despair over such a thing, but I can’t help it. It truely comes from a sincere desire to only do what the Lord wills for me to do. And since one must have a destination to reach or goal to accomplish in order to act, it is extremely difficult when that goal and destination are enshrouded in darkness and hidden from human eyes. I need direction for each step. And when I’m directed to take a step in a certain direction I cannot presume that the next step to be taken is in that same direction.
To be honest, I do not struggle with this type of uncertainty often. I usually trust God that the way I go is the way He has chosen for me. I would have been fine if I hadn’t listened to Steve and just took Mary’s advice, which is what I am doing anyway!
Michael, your thinking expresses exactly what most mature Evangelicals believe it means to be a Christian. I would say that we have the same doctrinal beliefs and agree about the dogmatics of the faith. I just think we have a different view of what belief and faith are! Love you man.
David,
With your most recent comment, I believe that between the four of us (you, Bryan, Cade, and me) we have broken the record on our blog for the most combined words on a post and its comments!
Furthermore, I have read your most recent comment a couple of times, and you have given me many good things to ponder. Now, as it may be a day or two before I am able to give a good reply (or speak in person), I just wanted say thanks for sharing your many thoughts here. I am enjoying the opportunity you have given each of us to express our views, be challenged, and sharpen one another.
As always, may Christ’s peace be present in your heart. See you this Thursday, if not sooner.
P.S. - I added some “blockquote” formatting to your comment. That is why your long quotes of my comment now have the nice apostrophe graphic and the grey text. Let me show you how to do that sometime.
David:
I am thinking about your post and some of the comments made to it, and I thought I would share a few thoughts that come up. In terms of the community idea, I believe that the “call” to community might look different for each individual believer, but I think the general call to community is something we can say does apply to “us” as a whole. Hebrews’ comment not to give up meeting together is a good example.
I think God does always call us to community. It seems like the times I have sought Him for wisdom about a problem or a situation, He has put it upon my heart, “Press in to community (here) (somewhere).” That has typically been an awareness, “Lord, I am really desiring this. Should I pursue it?” And then I see that there was an answer in the group that was provided. It’s usually not the idea that that particular group will handle this specific problem, but I go with the expectation that it will meet a need that I have that may strengthen me in another area. I know He has disciplined me when I have decided not to pursue in community. I feel like the feeling I am left with is one of being alone and ineffective, and that usually motivates me to seek out a place where I can be more involved.
I wouldn’t expect to try to change you from your theology that God can and will provide a specific answer to your questions and requests of Him. I do know personally that there will be a lot of anxiety in that. If you can live with that, then that’s fine.
Something I am ruminating on and trying to find a resolution to is an idea expressed in a quote that basically says this: “Visions are like straw”, comparing it with the Word as more substantial food. The idea is you can’t live on just eating straw, you have to get solid food. My parallel with what you all have been discussing is that we have to find a way to get nourished by solid food.
I would agree with the point made that the step to be involved is a step in being involved in more ministry and is in fact part of it. The quote was made: “As you start to “show upâ€?? more around here, I have no doubt that opportunities to serve will present themselves to you.” I do believe that process takes time, and that God will show a new direction as you be more involved.
I like Steve’s idea that “faith” does require action. I do believe that his approach favored doing something to show that it was God’s will, or that if happened it must be God’s will, which I do not agree with. I also believe, as you said, that sometimes the hardest step and the step requiring the most faith is to wait. That faith step may be undiscernible to other eyes.
I enjoyed the discussion that you all had.
David Kendall
Michael,
I would be delighted to have you show me how to put those quotes in!
David,
Your thoughts reflect a sincere internal scrutinity to discern what God’s will might be. God bless you.
David,
I believe you are making the right decision by doing nothing. Unless I am wrong, it appears to me that your current predicament, although sincere, does not necessitate an immediate action. I believe the Lord has blessed you with time and taking advantage of that time given until things are clearer is a wise decision.
I think your previous post was very thought provoking. I agree God sovereignly has plans for each of us and they are different. He revealed these differences to Peter about the kind of death he was to glorify God and then immediately told him not to be concerned with John, but exclaimed “You follow me.” The question that begs to be asked is this. Was Peter from then on consumed with the thought of having to fulfill the Lord’s will? Or instead by doing and walking in a manner where all is done unto the Glory of the Lord, His will would be accomplished? I believe you said these very sentiments earlier, “To be honest, I do not struggle with this type of uncertainty often. I usually trust God that the way I go is the way He has chosen for me.” That my brother is faith.
Here is where I get a bit confused. You say your comfort is in the certainty of having, “not given myself over to establishing an external verification that I am doing God’s will, so that my faith might rest in what is unseen and placing all my confidence in His promise.” I could not agree more and think this is exactly what Abraham did when he went out in “faith” not knowing where he was going. Or the faith of any others in that great cloud of witnesses Hebrews chapter 11 speaks of. But then you say “one must have a destination to reach or goal to accomplish in order to act, it is extremely difficult when that goal and destination are enshrouded in darkness and hidden from human eyes.” I have come to believe the goal or destination must be viewed as Abraham did, in faith. It is not tied up in some tangible job, physical location, or specific ministry, but rather the pressing, “on toward the “goal” for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Praise be to God! You have understood nearly all I have said, Bryan. I’m not sure what you mean when you begin your final paragraph with: “Here is where I get a bit confused.”
The two statements that you quote me as having said are in perfect agreement with one another. Nevertheless, if I worded it in a confusing way or whatever the reason for confusion may be, what you assert in your own statements is EXACTLY what I intended to convey in mine. Thank you dear brother. My heart is at ease tonight as I go to sleep knowing that you see this truth.
May the Lord have mercy on us all. And especially me. Not that I necessarily desire it more for myself than others; but that I feel myself to be in much greater need of it than most because of the numerous and grievous sins I have, and to my shame still continue in to some degree to commit agianst the Lord.
David,
I am sorry that you did not receive the encouragement that you needed from your friends. Perhaps someone has commented on this above (there are so many words!), but I think part of your dilemma stems from some erroneous reasoning (which one of your friends also engaged in). You said, “Don’t you see that if I do not make sure that this vision comes to pass it will neccesitate the conclusion that it had not been a call from God but merely my own imagination?â€?? The flaw is thinking that it is up to us to make any vision from God come to pass. We are called only to obey; it is He who brings the result.
Do I believe your original decision to change your work schedule to be more locally available was pleasing to God? Yes. Do I believe he led you to make that decision? Yes, in the sense that he arranged your circumstances to bring you to a point of decision and that he has been continually growing in your heart both wisdom and a desire to please Him. Whenever God calls us or reveals part of His mysterious will, our tiny human minds can make sense of it only by speculating on God’s plan, or His motives, or coming up with some other set of plausible reasons. These “stories” we create around our sense of what we ought to do are bound to be distorted and flawed; but this is ok. We live and learn. Our confidence is not that the “story” we attach to any such decision is itself God’s will, but that in making such a decision of faith, God will accomplish His will in our lives.
So, I think your confidence need not be shaken unless you are claiming that God specifically said to you, “Before five months have passed, you will be in service to your local church seven hours a week, yea, more than seven, for behold I am THE LORD”. In that case we would have a problem
Ryan,
You hit the nail on the head with that! The anxiety comes from: After having made a decision in faith, because of the hope we have in God, our imagination starts to produce a glorious vision of our being used mightily for His purposes. Well, at least that’s what happens to me! I wish I could say that I did not do this; but in order for that to take place I think that you have to replace a spirit of love and hope with one of indifference and hopelessness. It would be so convienent to never have to be disappointed, but you are also never alive! I know this because I’ve tried it, seeing how I was raised in a cave by monastics! Just kidding. But I did endeavor to fully appropriate their teachings. I can say this: That God has given me the type of faith that wants to make an inseparable commitment to something. How difficult it is when that “something” is God’s mysterious will!
Now that I have completely strayed from what I started to say, I think I’ll stop here. Perhaps I’ll continue this(?) thought in another post. I’m guessing that one is more likely to read a new post than the fourteenth comment on an exceptionally long older post.
Thanks Ryan for the :
Actually, I might ask you something in a comment here tomorrow concerning your comment, but I have got to get in bed! Peace brother.