Decision Making and the Will of God - Part 6

Due to the length of time that it has been taking to do this series on Decision Making and the Will of God, I have decided to combine more chapters at a time per post. My last post was on chapter 8 of the book.

Even though it is taking much longer to read this book than I had initially anticipated, I am enjoying what Friesen is saying in this volume very much. He is very balanced in his approach to the subject of "finding" the will of God. And, what I mean by being balanced, is that he only uses the Bible as the counterbalance on the other side of the scale. He constantly does exegesis of the relevant passages making sure that what he is proposing remains true to the Scriptures.

Many writers on this subject use page upon page of ditty little anecdotes to "prove" their point while hardly ever attempting to let the Bible speak for itself. Anecdotes prove nothing more than gullibility on the subject, since people have stories about just about anything in which they have "experienced" something to disprove our own "experiences."

Friesen continues to let the Bible speak on this issue, and I know that some out there will simply not like what Friesen has to say because of their own presuppositional biases.

Chapter 9 handles the subject of our God-given freedom and responsibility to choose. Friesen refers to Augustine who set forth a principle that says, "Where there is no command, God gives us freedom (and responsibility) to choose."[1] These are not Augustine's words, but this is what the principle comes down to.

Inside God's moral will, there is an area of freedom and responsibility. As a result, anything in which God did not pronounce a direct command or law, we have freedom and responsibility to choose the wise option. This freedom and responsibility as a unit is exemplified in God's command to Adam that he could eat from any tree of the garden except one. God gave a specific command concerning only one tree, from which Adam could not eat. Therefore, Adam could choose freely from any of the other trees without the need to be told which one to eat from next. This principle shows that within the given boundaries there is freedom.

After learning in chapter 9 about the freedom and responsibility to choose, we come to chapter 10 which answers the question, "On what basis does the believer make decisions?"

Whereas in chapter 9 we read that where there is no command, God gives us the freedom and responsibility to choose, we now find a further principle, "Where there is no command, God gives us wisdom to choose."[2] Friesen shows how men of God, in both the Old and New Testaments, had wisdom to make decisions in situations where God did not give direct revelation. Examples of verses in this regard are Eccl 10:10, Mt 10:16, Ac 15:28-29, 1 Cor 16:3-4 and 1 Thes 3:1.

Having built a case for the way of wisdom in chapter 10, drawing from the OT, Jesus and from the apostles, Friesen moves into chapter 11 looking more deeply at the lives of the apostles.

At the end of chapter 10, Friesen tells us that the real "clincher--the biblical data that provoked the radical reshaping of my understanding of decision making and the will of God--was the instruction of the apostles."[3]

Something that I have been battling with for some time now, way before I started reading Decision Making, is the idea that we should be seeking God's individual will for our lives on a daily basis, yet there are no examples, nor instruction to do so anywhere in the NT. Friesen picks up on this teaching and categorically states that it is not recorded even once, that the apostles ever tried to discover God's individual will for their lives. The apostles use phrases concerning their decision making that point to freedom in decision making.

I agree in this regard. We will be hard-pressed to prove from the NT that we are supposed to search for God's individual will for our daily lives.

As usual, Friesen builds principles in this regard: "In the area of freedom, the believer's goal is to make wise decisions on the basis of spiritual usefulness, Or, when there is no command, God gives freedom and wisdom to make spiritually advantageous decisions."[4 - Italics supplied by Friesen]

Naturally, Christians will ask how this wisdom is acquired. This involves the believer's attitude and approach.

A Christian's attitude must reflect the following:
1. Each Christian must become aware of the fact that no man is naturally wise,
2. He must have the conviction that God is the ultimate source of wisdom,
3. God will grant wisdom to those with certain characteristics, such as reverence for God, humility, teachableness, etc.,
4. The believer must have faith.

In the proper approach, the believer must understand the following:
1. He must ask God for wisdom,
2. Wisdom is found in the Scriptures,
3. Outside research must be done where appropriate.
4. Wise counsellors are needed,
5. Life itself can provide wisdom, and
6. Direct revelation may sometimes be used by God himself to direct us. [This is dealt with in chapter 15 of Friesen's book.]

What Friesen is telling us here is that wisdom ultimately comes from God himself. The principle that where God has given us no commands, He gives us wisdom to choose is aimed at here. That wisdom can then be acquired through the right attitude and approach.

Continue with part 7...

1. Friesen, p137.
2. Ibid., p160.
3. Ibid., p173.
4. Ibid., pp174-175.

Piper speaks clearly on prosperity gospel

John Piper is very concerned about the spread of the "Prosperity Gospel" heresy. And, rightly so! When I walk through Christian bookstores, I see the sections on heresy growing at an alarming rate! Christian bookstore chains such as Impact, CUM, and Gospel Direct sell books by these heretics of the prosperity cult and others that by right should not be called Christians.

It is troubling that churches keep on supporting the sellers of and even sell these heresies themselves. I have posted extensively on this subject before in the series, Heresies in the Church.

John Piper, from Desiring God is also angry about these heretics that are given free reign. Watch this video to hear his words on this matter.

This is probably the angriest I have heard in Piper's tone!


HT: Eddie Beal

Creation Museum is open!

The Creation Museum finally opened its doors on 28 May 2007.

The Creation Museum presents a "walk through history." Designed by a former Universal Studios exhibit director, this state-of-the-art 60,000 square foot museum brings the pages of the Bible to life.

Sex-change minister reappointed to lead church

Apostasy is rife in the church. I am talking about churches that are supposed to be evangelical. They allow heretics such as T.D. Jakes, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, and others like them to grace their pulpits and their bookstores!

However, there are churches out there that simply no longer deserve the term "church" in the name of their liberal, ungodly institutions! One such church reappointed a minister that had a sex change operation since being appointed there initially!

A United Methodist minister who has changed gender since being chosen to lead a congregation in Baltimore will be reappointed there, church officials announced Thursday at a regional convocation.

The Rev. Drew Phoenix told the church's Baltimore-Washington conference that he had gone through "spiritual transformation" in the past year, since changing his name from Ann Gordon and receiving medical treatment to become a man.

Continue reading...

What is that you're wearing?

Dan Phillips has written a couple of thought proving blog posts on the issue of dressing modestly.

In this post he points to a post by Jim Jordan simply called "On Dressing Modestly." This is an excellent post for dads who have daughters (and sons). Here is an excerpt:

While reading a post over at Pyromaniacs on this subject I was reminded that I had intended to write about something that happened when my daughter first dressed too immodestly. She had just shy of 10 years old and had decided she was going to wear her 5-year old Power Puff Girls shirt [is that still around?], which didn't cover anything below her rib cage. She combined that with a pair of low riding shorts. Prancing around the room, she asked, "Daddy, what do you think?"

I thought for a second, then answered,"It looks like you want all the boys at school to know that your dying to have sex with them." Her face turned beat red and her her mouth formed into a Mr. Bill-style "Oh, no!" expression.

Continue reading...

Of course, this goes against everything this "Britney Spears/Lindsay Lohan/Pussycat Dolls" culture is trying to force onto our sons and daughters!

Well said Dan and Jim!

The New Defender’s Study Bible

Study Bibles are popping up everywhere. Another one is The New Defender’s Study Bible.

"This is a new edition of the only study Bible stressing the defense of the Biblical Christian faith from the perspective of literal creationism and absolute Biblical authority. The New Defender's Study Bible offers:

• Introductory notes on each Bible book
• Greatly expanded commentary notes
• End-of-Verse references
• Words of Christ in red
• Concordance
• 21 topical appendices for understanding biblical authority and accuracy
• Maps
  

"With each copy of The Defender’s Study Bible, the Abridged Defender’s Collection CD-ROM (containing the entire Study Bible with all footnotes and the text of Many Infallible Proofs) will be included at no additional cost."

Read more...

Church Growth 101

Are you not glad this guy never became a preacher!

The devil did not approve of Joshua wanting to become a preacher, so he told the unsuspecting preacher wannabe to microwave his daughter... And, Joshua did as the devil commanded!

No wonder the world takes Christianity so seriously!

This video proves why the world takes Christianity so seriously! I do not mean seriously as in a viable alternative worldview with answers to life, but seriously as in need of psychiatric treatment. No wonder in some circles Christianity is seen as a psychological disorder!

But then, if the non-discerning keep supporting these quacks--this is the nicest word I could think up for them--then these quacks will keep on multiplying like rabbits!

This is not REAL Christianity, but Hey!, this is all the world really sees of Christianity. And, we all know that TV is not a good medium of presenting anything the way it actually is!



HT: Irish Calvinist

Jerry Falwell: 1933 - 2007

Dr. Jerry Falwell (11 Aug 1933 - 15 May 2007) has graduated from this life, and has passed on into the heavenly mansion prepared for him by our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dr. Falwell died yesterday, 15 May 2007.

"The Rev. Dr. Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority and Liberty University and pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church since 1956, died today. He was 73.

"Falwell was found unresponsive in his office this morning. Attempts to resuscitate him failed."
Read more...

Woman, what are you wearing?

Dan Phillips, a member of the PyroManiacs, wrote an excellent article called Sister... show mercy! In this post he tackles the oh, so sensitive issue of how women (even in the church) dress. In the comment section, someone said that even if a completely naked woman strolls down the aisle in church, it still would be no excuse to sin. I agree with that, however, I do not believe that the temptress is therefore exonerated. See Mt 18:6. The one who tempts is just as guilty as the one who sins!

Dan has followed up with another post, Young lady, I'm talking to you.

It is really worth reading these posts!

After you have read these posts and you are stark raving mad, thinking that nobody has the right to tell you what to wear, think again! Then you obviously haven't met God yet!

Rick Warren: Pastor of porn sellers?

Rupert Murdoch is starting to move into putting porn on TV channels! Does Rick Warren, his mega-church pastor, have something to say about his church member's unholy partnership with the devil's porn industry?

There is lot of concern about Rick Warren's connections to Rupert Murdoch, and rightly so!

Greg Koukl on Christian political passivity

I have been involved in politics now for just over a year. The longer I am involved in politics, the more I realize that there are more Christians needed in politics. And, I do not mean just any Christian! My call is for Christians that have a solid grasp on historic Biblical orthodox theology.

A non-theological Christian (which is an impossibility, but I am sure you get my drift), will definitely not make a good Christian politician. Such Christians have the idea that a verse from the Bible on its own can say its own thing, without being connected to its context. False doctrine, even heresy, is born in such conditions. This is not what we want in politics.

Greg Koukl, wrote an article called "Political Passivity—Vice or Christian Virtue?" In it he writes:

"It’s not only the left that sounds the alarm when Christians “jeopardize the separation of church and state” by engaging in political action. Some Christians object, too. One evangelical leader offered this stern warning: “There should not be even a hint of anything political in our public discourse.”

"This may sound spiritual in some circles, but it can be devastating to the public good. Without question the Gospel has supernatural power to change lives, and those changed lives can change the world. William Wilberforce, Martin Luther King, and Mother Teresa come immediately to mind.

"Some Christians wrongly conclude, however, that political involvement is therefore a waste of time. This is a mistake. The Gospel is never communicated in a political or cultural vacuum."

Read more...

Good family devotions?

Someone asked: "What is a good way to do family devotions?"

The Irish Calvinist answered!

Banking on Greek!

As most of us know, Greek is very important for any pastor to master! Oh! Sorry, I don't really believe that most of us know of the importance of a strong knowledge of Greek (and Hebrew) to the pastor. Most pastors have a care-less attitude to the Biblical languages!

John Piper wrote an article in the June 1983 The Standard, called "Brothers, Bitzer Was a Banker!"

It is of great importance for pastors to read this article, but also for the rest of us. If only pastors would take the study of the Biblical languages seriously, it would make such an amazing difference in their churches!

HT: Dan Phillips.