I came across this teaching recently where the seminary professor taught
that God does not guide Christians by telling them what to do - whether to
marry a certain person or not, whether to take up a job or stay, etc. You just
have to use the wisdom that God has given you and make your decisions based on
your best pro-and-con evaluation. As long as it is not a moral decision that
contradicts the bible's moral teachings, you can do anything and choose any
path.
This teaching alarms me as there are implications. Besides the
fact that this new teaching contradicts many of the teachings by other devoted
Christians, especially godly men of the last and previous century, this
teaching seems to fly against the teaching of scriptures.
In the book of Acts, we see the Holy Spirit clearly leading the
apostles. Go there, don't go there. Granted that God does not tell everyone
exactly which step to take next all the time, we have cases whether holy men
asked God and He answered. The Old Testament are full of examples of prophets
and kings who asked God for direction, and He answered. Are we saying that now,
when the Holy Spirit has been poured out, that we receive less guidance? Of
course not. God guides nowadays more than ever. He who guided the apostles is
the same Spirit who is in us now.
I digressed from my original intention of writing this article. I want
to list some of the dangers of the mentioned teaching.
- It takes God out of the picture. We don't have to ask for God's will anymore. Just weigh the pro-and-cons and decide. This is contrary to the whole spirit of the bible where we are reminded of our constant sinful independent spirit instead of relying on God. My will and decision is what matters since God doesn't give guidance.
- On a more subtle area, it takes the supernatural out of the bible. God has given us His written Word and is now silent. Don't expect supernatural guidance. Don't expect to hear the voice of God (by this I do not mean a verbal voice, I mean God speaking to our spirit through various channels and means).
- Another danger is that it also implies that God doesn't care about these kind of decisions. He leaves them totally to our 'wisdom'. Too bad if some Christians are not too bright!
- It becomes a very subjective
decision. My pro-and-con will be tainted by my own selfish motives
and desires. My conclusion will be different from someone who has
different experiences and knowledge, and even age or gender.
- It allows me to do almost
anything I want and justify it. It's so easy to rationalize that God
wants me to do something when it is actually myself who wants it. A
person can have grand ideas that he will make a great preacher like Billy
Graham. He can rationalize that he has good oratory skills, can understand
the bible like a theologian and likes the kind of respect given to
pastors, so he applies for a job as a pastor. And he gets it based
on good academic results and personality.
Imagine what harm he can do the church when he has not been called
into the ministry.
When such a teaching is adopted, it encourages seminary graduates to
take up pastoral positions because it is something they like to do (after all
they have done the training), instead of asking if God wants them to be
pastors. Imagine a whole generation of graduates from bible seminaries looking
for jobs and applying for any pastoral position that comes along. Imagine them
'pastoring' churches because it is a job they applied and got instead of where
God wants them to be. Then ask why there is so little genuine love for the
people in the church. Also ask why the pastor also chooses to work in certain
ministries and not others. If it is a high profile job like preaching, yes of
course. But if it is working in the background encouraging the down-hearted or
calling up those people with problems, the pastor is nowhere to be found. These
background jobs don't give him the profile he craves. You end up with a
'hireling' instead of a genuine 'shepherd'. (BTW the word for pastor is the
same word for shepherd)
Look at David. In 2 Samuel, he asked the Lord “shall
I go up to one of the towns in Judah?”
God directs him to Hebron. Again
in 2 Samuel 23, David asked the Lord if he should attack the Palestines in
Keilah. God tells him to go. Shall I do this or shall I not? God gives him the answer all the time.
That is what we must do as Christians. Ask the Lord
to direct us. And He will, often not the way we expect. He can direct us so
many ways, through our spirit, through the counsel of another Christian,
through His written word, etc. Let’s not
limit God to one method only. At the
same time, let’s not limit God by saying He doesn’t guide Christians anymore.
“The Lord is
my Shepherd..” (Psalms 23:1). I’ve never heard of a shepherd who doesn’t
leads his flock? Have you?
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