Today we arrive at our 2nd week of 'Just Do Something . . .' By Kevin DeYoung (Who's wife just had a baby).
Last week we looked at Chapter1 'The Long Road to Nowhere' in which Kevin sets forth the argument that many of us are 'tinkerers' & often use the quest for God's will as an excuse to prolong adultolesence & avoid making decisions etc.
Discussion
In this chapter Kevin explains 3 main ways in which we talk of God's will.
1st there is 'God's will of decree - what He has predetermined from eternity past - cannot be thwarted.' 2nd is 'God's will of desire - the way He wants us to live - can be disregarded.'
Talking of how God's will of decree & desire come together Kevin says "I believe that there are theological categories that can help us reconcile divine sovereignty and human responsibility, but diving into these ideas would take us far beyond the scope of this short book. I am simply noting that God is sovereign, but He is not the author of sin."
I think he sums this up well when he writes "We are under His sovereignty, but we are not free from responsibility for our actions."
Before moving on from this, i'd just like to say that i love how Kevin dealt with it, & though i'd like to read what his categories are, i agree that it would take us off course.
The 3rd meaning we have for God's will is His 'will of direction' - "We want to know His individual, specific plan for the who, what, where, when, and how of our lives."
Kevin then poses the question:
"Does God have a secret will of direction that He expects us to figure out before we do anything?"
I know alot of people who would disagree with Kevin's answer to this, but on my part i think his answer of "no" makes absolute sense, and i found the rest of this chapter to be very liberating.
He argues that "Yes" God is sovereign & has individual plans for us, and often we'll look back & see God's leading & purposes. "But" Kevin says, "while we are free to ask for wisdom, He does not burden us with the task of divining His will of direction for our lives ahead of time."
On page 25 Kevin quotes Gerald Sittser on the Conventional way of understanding God's will of direction, which he describes as being 'Misguided'.
Now, i totally agree with what Kevin says here, and have done since first hearing John MacArthur on 'Knowing God's Will' but i can understand why some would struggle with this view at the first hearing of it.
It seems that there is, especially in N.Ireland, a strong Christian culture that holds tightly to the conventional approach & is quite unwilling to give a hearing to others. But i think Kevin brings wisdom to the table when he says:
"He is a good God who gives us brains, shows us the way of obedience, and invites us to take risks for Him...
...The better way is the biblical way: Seek first the kingdom of God, and then trust that He will take care of our needs, even before we know what they are and where we're going."
The highlight of the chapter, for me, was Psalm 139:16 "Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them." I found this verse to be so liberating in that i can simply trust that God has a plan & purpose. Not that i know the plan, or need to! But that i can live, trust & risk, stepping out in faith, knowing that unless it is written in His book of my life, it will not come to pass.
The hard part is drumming this into my head, heart & life!
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Your Turn
Over to you, i've written alot today (perhaps too much). Now i look forward to what others say about this chapter. What do you think of what Kevin says vs the conventional approach? What stood out, challenged or excited you, & did you disagree with him on anything?
See Also:
*Undiluted Christianity*
*Supersimbo*
Next week
Next week we'll take a break since i'm on holiday. But the following week (3rd July) we'll turn to Chapter 3 'Directionally Challenged'.
