The Confusion of Christians and “God’s Will”
We as Christians speak of “God’s will” in often vague and unhelpful terms. Consider some of the following phrases:
- “How can I know who God wants me to marry?”
- “We shouldn’t just ask God to bless our plans — we should ask him to show us what he wants us to do.”
- “Make sure you don’t miss God’s will for your life.”
- “I want to be sure this is God’s will for my life.”
Tim Chester and Steve Timmis comment on talking about God’s will in this way:
Statements like these can appear very spiritual and often they are driven by a good desire to obey God. But their premise is unbiblical. They assume that God has a specific and unique plan for the life of each Christian, and we an gain access to that plan in advance. God has chosen a partner, job and ministry for you, it is assumed, and your job is to find out God’s will so you can act upon it. This is a common view of God’s will. The problem is that God does not always seem to make this will clear to people.[1]
It is helpful to think of God’s will in two senses: God’s sovereign will and God’s moral will. God’s sovereign will is his ultimate will for all things. For example, it was God’s sovereign will that Haiti would be devastated by an earthquake on January 12, 2010. God did not reveal this part of his will to us, and we would be foolish to presume to know why God chose to take this action (i.e., it would be foolish to presume to completely understand God’s sovereign will in bringing disaster upon Haiti). God’s moral will includes all those things he has revealed in us through his written word (the Bible) so that we might live holy lives and reflect his character (love God, love your neighbor, “Be holy as I am holy,” etc.).
Often when we ask God to show us his will for our lives, we are asking him to reveal his sovereign will for our lives. In other words, we are seeking to know that which we are not meant to know. Sometimes the Christian will come to a crossroads in his life. He will have a decision to make that will affect his future. Perhaps this decision is whether or not to move across the country for a job opportunity, or whether or not to become a career missionary. At this crossroad the Christian looks down both paths, and both ways look good. Neither pathway leads to sin, but each is a godly way to take. The error we make here is to rely on some mystic sense of God’s leading in our lives. We can become paralyzed by the fear of “going outside of God’s will.” We want to feel God’s leading to a decision before we act.
Enter wisdom and Christian freedom. Hear these words from Pastor Mark Dever, who speaks of a decision that he and his wife had to make concerning whether or not he would accept the pastorate at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C. (and read the full article here):
I do believe that God’s Spirit will sometimes lead us subjectively. So, for instance, I am choosing to spend my life here on Capitol Hill because my wife & I sensed in 1993 that that is what God wanted us to do. However, I realized then (and now) that I could be wrong about that supposition. Scripture is NEVER wrong. I was free in 1993 to stay in England, or teach at a seminary, either of which would have been delightful opportunities. I understand that I was free to make those choices. But I chose, consulting Scripture, friends, wisdom, and my own subjective sense of the Lord’s will, to come to DC. And even if I were wrong about that, I had (and have) that freedom in Christ to act in a way that is not sin. And I understand my pastoring here not to be sin. So I am free. Regardless of the sense of leading I had.
Here Pastor Dever agrees that there are times in life where a subjective sense of God’s leading can be a very good and helpful in decision-making. But he goes on:
A subjective sense of leading–when we’ve asked for it (as in James 1:5 we ask for wisdom) and when God freely gives it–is wonderful. The desire for such a subjective sense of leading, however, is too often, in contemporary evangelical piety, binding our brothers and sisters in Christ, paralyzing them from enjoying the good choices that God may provide, and causing them to wait wrongly before acting.
So do you find yourself paralyzed by fear at the possibility of going outside of God’s will? Do you find yourself hesitating to move forward in life because you don’t want to anger God? Hear this, Christian. God does not have his fist raised above you, waiting for you to make a mistake so he can pound you back into place. He loves you. He died for you. He lived for you. And when you trust in Christ, you do so day by day. So are you trusting Christ? Are you seeking wisdom from your Christian community when you face big decisions? Or are you going at it alone, waiting for God to unleash his wrath on you when you make the wrong choice. Paul puts it this way:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.[2]
Sometimes we read this a bit differently:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. But now go do your best and work for your salvation.
Friends, our salvation is a gift. We have freedom to make wise, godly decisions, apart from a specific “leading” or “calling.” Don’t rely on a subjective emotion. But rejoice when and if it comes, and accept it as a gift from God.
[1] Unpublished Porterbrook material written by Steve Timmis and Tim Chester.
[2] Ephesians 2:8-9
Starbucks and the Great Story
I have had my ups and downs with Starbucks. I have worked at three separate Starbucks stores in the Louisville Metro area, and generally I have had a good experience there. The hours are flexible, the pay is decent, and the people (both my fellow Baristas and my customers) are interesting folk. But when you are around a place long enough you can get burned out. And I did. It wasn’t the company that did me in. I like the company. I like the coffee. I like the perk of getting a free pound of coffee a week. I like the management. I like the environment. So what burned me out? I think it was ultimately the fact that when I ended with Starbucks I was also working part-time at UPS and travelling 45 minutes to Taylorsville twice a week for an interim youth minister position at a small church, all while going to school full time (9 hours of graduate level studies) and trying to be involved in my local church.
Wow. Just looking at that last sentence makes me tired.
I think that at the end of the day my frustration with Starbucks was not so much a frustration with Starbucks. It was a compilation of all the responsibility that I felt piled on top of me all at the same time taken out on Starbucks. I never said that I hated the company, just that I never wanted to work there again. And I didn’t. Really. I was determined.
But when you have a part-time job at a church that you love (Sojourn Community Church) and need some extra dough to take care of your family, you’re willing to do anything again. So it was with some trepidation that I turned my resume in to several Starbucks around town. I had started to give up hope when I heard back from the Starbucks in Crestwood, KY, about a 25 minute drive from my apartment. I went to interview with the store manager, feeling the heavy weight of dread at going back into the dregs of the Bucks once again. But I was determined to put on a good show. So I walked in, and began my interview with the chatty brunette who had a generous smile and magnetic personality. Her name is Rachel, and I soon found myself enjoying the conversation. The interview was not as bad as I thought it was going to be. In fact, I was getting excited at the prospect of coming to this store.
It turns out that this store, which I had mistaken as a slow store that probably got no business because it was on the outskirts of Louisville, actually vies for top numbers with the store on Shelbyville and Hurstbourne (the store at which I started my Starbucks journey and the busiest Bucks in Louisville). There are seven schools and five churches within driving distance of the store, and several of those churches host Bible studies during the week in the cafe. Wednesdays are Ambulance days, when the local force stops by and enjoys a cup of joe before duty. Thursday through Saturday mornings greet a string of cars that loop around the building and into the street as folks on their way to their destinations fuel up for the day.
In short, I found that this particular Starbucks is a community Starbucks. Many stores claim this for themselves, but Rachel claims that it is true for her store in a unique way. They know the folks who come by. Their regulars are many and varied, and she loves to hear their stories. And, to tell you the truth, I am looking forward to hearing their stories. I am interested in getting to know some of the elders of the churches that frequent the cafe. I am excited about getting to know the staff at my new Starbucks. I am ready to jump back on the drivethru and get caught in the rhythm of the morning rush.
But most of all, I’m ready to have an outlet. A way to meet friends who are not necessarily part of a church community. A way to meet people who aren’t like me. And to have the opportunity to hear their stories and to share my story with them. Because ultimately my story is a part of a much greater Story. A story that they can be a part of. Pray for me as I re-train this week and begin my new (old) job as a barista, and pray that I would be faithful in telling the Story.
Sticks and Stones: Words Can Do More Than You Think
If you have ever been degraded by another human being, you know that the old addage, “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me,” is as false a statement as a person can make. Whether it is a taunt thrown from one six year-old to another or a cynical comment thrown in adult conversation, hurtful words can scar us. Proverbs 28:21 says that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Many of us can speak to the truth of this proverb.
Take Sara, for example (I have changed her name to protect her identity). Bill and I (we are both deacons of mercy at our church) met with Sara because she needed help with an electric bill and a water bill. During our conversation, she kept on saying things like, “I’m not stupid,” and “It’s not like I’m dumb.” Halfway through our meeting, Bill paused and caught Sara’s eye. He gently said, “Sara, as we have been talking for the past hour, you keep using the words ‘dumb’ and ’stupid.’ Did someone tell you that you’re stupid? Because you’re not.” After a pregnant pause, Sara broke down. She sat quietly and tears streamed down her face. She recounted how in her childhood she had been told by her mother that she was dumb, stupid, and worthless. On more than one occasion, her mother even told her that she wished she would have had an abortion so that Sara would never have been born.
Sara’s mother’s words were worse than stones. Had she been pummeled with stones the bruises would have faded away and life would have moved on. But the scars left on Sara from the words her mother spoke to her broke her spirit. She dropped out of high school and as a result can’t get a job and lives off of the government. The father of her children is in jail and she wants to have nothing to do with him, for her childrens’ sake. Her mother lives blocks away but they never talk. Her closest friend of 25 years died of an overdose in December, so she has no one to confide in anymore. In her eyes, Sara is alone in the world–just her and her children.
Some who are reading this might be thinking, “But didn’t Sara drop out of school? Didn’t she make the decisions that led her where she is today? What about her responsibility.” Yes. Sara is responsible for the decisions she made. She is living in the consequences of many of those decisions. But for those of you whose might be quick to put responsibility on Sara, let me ask you a couple of questions. What kind of home did you grow up in? Did your parents speak words of encouragement to you? Did you take those words of encouragement for granted? How much of your situation now–your job, your lifestyle, how you treat your family–is a consequence of how you were raised?
Am I saying that Sara has no role in the financial situation she is in now? No. She made the decisions that brought her to where she now is. But I have to wonder how much of Sara’s situation is a result of the words her mother spoke to her. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year Sara was told she was worthless and it would have been better if she had never existed. And now she is a truly broken woman.
But she is a broken woman with dreams and a glimmer of hope.
For the past three months Sara has been attending a church twenty-five members strong in Louisville. This church is embracing Sara, but they are a small, poor congregation and cannot meet all of her material needs because many of them are in a similar situation financially. Sara does not understand the gospel yet, but she believes in God and believes that he loves her. We were able during our meeting with her to remind her that her congregation loves her and that God loves her. God made her in his image and wants her to be part of his family. In fact, God loved her so much that he sent his only son to pay for her sin and to clothe her in his righteousness so that she could stand before God. Sara wants to get a GED so that she can get a job. She wants to show her daughter a mother who can provide by working instead of one who provides by getting a check from the government. And as the body of Christ, we want to respond not only by pointing her to the cross (her ultimate need), but also by assisting her with the electric and water bill (her immediate need) and by walking with her as she attempts to get her GED and a job (personal development). We want to show Sara that God is a God who not only meets her spiritual need of salvation and restoration through Christ, but who also meets her physical, emotional, and social needs through his body, the church.
Sara is a clear example of Proverbs 28:21. And she is not alone. I am willing to steak my meager salary that you know someone who has been broken by hurtful words. It is likely that many who are reading this have been scarred by hurtful words spoken by someone else. But the beauty of the gospel rests in the truth that we have the ability to use our words to build others up. The redeemed tongue has the power of life. So speak words of encouragement to someone this week. If you are not used to this, it will be awkward. You might feel silly. You might get a weird look from whoever you speak to. But if you continue practicing encouraging those around you, you will find that it becomes more and more natural. And you will find that life is in the power of the tongue.
Change is in the Wind
As you have proba
bly noticed, I have done some remodeling on the website. I am tempted to keep searching for a background and template that are cooler and easier on the eyes, but I promise to stick with this background for a season. You might notice some smaller changes in the days to come, like more tabs at the top of the page, actual links to resources on my resources page (which is a blank page at this very moment), and more goodies on the sidebar of the page. I have been soaking in a TON of information about blogging, and the lingo and some of the concepts are still fuzzy to me. But I am excited about having the opportunity to channel my desire to write (the English major in me) about God (the theologian in me) and how the church can be the church (the benevolence minister in me).
I hope that as I continue to write and figure out exactly what I’m doing that this blog will not be a one-way conversation. I want your input. Comments are my friend, and I want to afford you the opportunity to respond. So many of my posts will end with questions, and they will not be rhetorical. I want your opinions. I want your responses. I want to know what you’re thinking. And I will respond appropriately.
A Tribute to the Genius of Calvin and Hobbes
I have been making my way through The Complete Calvin and Hobbes, a three volume collection of Bill Watterson’s genius cartoon that follows the spastic boy Calvin and his not-so-run-of-the-mill stuffed tiger, Hobbes, from the first strip in 1985 to the last in 1995. I am a third of the way through volume three, and I must say that I haven’t had so much fun reading in a long time. If you have never read Calvin and Hobbes before, or think that comic strips are silly, or boring, or not for you, I urge you to give Calvin and Hobbes a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.
My love for Calvin and Hobbes runs deep. I remember reading the strip as a child, and as the years have gone by the strip has only grown more entertaining and stimulating for me. One of the things you will find if you read the strip with any regularity is the way that Watterson asks big questions about God, the meaning of life, and the importance of relationships through a comic strip about a boy and his stuffed tiger. I won’t expound any of my thoughts on such things at the moment, but you can be sure that there will be future posts dedicated to some of these strips that pose such deep questions. For now, though, I want to share with you a poem I wrote in college dedicated to my favorite comic strip of all time. I hope you enjoy.
What I Do Instead of Homework
A poem by Jesse Moss
Perusing the pages
of a Calvin and Hobbes collection
I find myself chuckling aloud
at the imagination of this six-year old.
____________________________
One moment he is Stupendous Man,
thwarting the evil Mom-Lady’s endeavors
to consign his alter-ego Calvin to school
or upstairs to finish his homework,
____________________________
and the next he is a T-Rex
devouring his fellow students
as the teacher lines them up
to go in after recess.
____________________________
In one particularly hilarious frame
Calvin milks his creative ingenuity
to elucidate to his mother why
instead of completing his homework
____________________________
he is standing in his tightie whities,
only to find that this time
his explanation is not enough
to keep him from punishment.
____________________________
But as I thumb through the pages,
finding every strip equally funny,
I begin to consider
certain incongruities in the text.
____________________________
For instance, the mystery of how
the vocabulary of a six-year old
is at many times equal to or exceeding
that of a college graduate.
____________________________
Or how in three to four frames
Calvin can explain the meaning of life,
outwitting any long-winded philosopher
or well-intentioned poet.
____________________________
And then there is the fact
that the baby-sitter always—always—
seems to fall for Calvin’s witty schemes
to eject her from house or drive her insane.
____________________________
But then I turn the page and see a Sunday strip—
giving Calvin more space to maneuver
than the weekly three-to-four frames
to which he is normally confined—
____________________________
and see the mastery of comedy
as Calvin contemplates whether or not
it is worth docking points with Santa
to nail little Suzie with a snowball
____________________________
and comes to the conclusion
that it is more than worth the sacrifice.
