Five Ways God Reveals His Will to Those Who Are Adrift
Non-stop exposure to a naturalistic worldview in education and the media has convinced most young adults that direction cannot be found because the world isn't actually meaningful.
But the church has also done its share to confuse this generation. In our postmodern age many leading pastors, authors and thinkers have given young Christians the impression that spiritual development is in the realm of feelings and opinions, and that spiritual knowledge isn't actually knowledge.
This popular but tragically wrong view might be summarized as follows:
In contrast to facts about the physical world, spiritual things are a matter of belief, not knowledge. Beliefs are personal--there is simply no way to know whether they are right or wrong. Therefore, the way to help people grow spiritually is not by teaching them what is 'true' but by tapping into their deepest emotions through storytelling, music, movies, art, etc. The 'meaning' of the Bible can't be definitively known, so if it is read or discussed at all the focus should be on what a given passage means to each person individually.
It goes without saying that if spiritual knowledge isn't actual knowledge, the question of "What God wants from me" is not one that can be answered with any certainty. Doubt and aimlessness inevitably result.
Spiritual Knowledge and Direction in Life
One important way to help aimless young Christians is to make the case that spiritual world is accessible to knowledge--that it actually exists and can be known.
The Summit Ministries students I've discussed this issue with this summer have found it helpful to know that there are five main ways God reveals His will:
- Nature. God has structured the world such that we are compelled to comply with the laws of nature. A person who jumps off a tall building doesn't test the law of gravity--he proves it. In the same way, the laws of physics, geographical boundaries, seasons, physical limitations and so forth all affect what we are able to successfully do.
- Scripture. In scripture God has revealed both His own nature and character and the path that leads to life and righteousness. Scripture refers to a moral course of action called "the way." Proverbs indicates that adhering to the way leads to safety, blessing, honor, and good success. Straying from the way, on the other hand, leads to dishonor, misery and death.
- Design. God has placed in the heart of each person a set of motivated abilities that cause them to act more strongly and successfully in some situations than in others. These motivated abilities may be discerned by examining one's accomplishments for clues about how one operates most successfully, in what situations, and for what purposes.
- Counsel. Scripture assures us that there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors (Proverbs 11:14). A wise person isn't necessarily someone who is older, though there are certain kinds of knowledge that only years of experience entitle one to possess. Rather, a wise person is someone who has successfully stewarded his God-given domain, remained teachable, and gained favor with others. Such people should be sought out and consulted.
- Providence. God acts in history to secure outcomes that we could neither anticipate or plan, as we move faithfully in obedience to Him (Philippians 4:19, Psalm 38:8, Proverbs 3:5-6). Scripture says that a man makes His plans but God guides his steps (Proverbs 16:9). We are led by these passages to the strong impression that God doesn't steer immobile objects! We must have faith to act on passions that have been redeemed by our creator and trust that the author of the universe will weave our activities together into a tapestry of meaning.
If you know someone who is trying to gain traction in life, consider sharing this e-mail, along with these helpful resources:
- On-line database of answers to perplexing questions Christians face: http://www.allaboutgod.com/
- Knowing Christ Today: Why We Can Trust Spiritual Knowledge by Dallas Willard
- Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God's Will by Kevin DeYoung
- Cure for the Common Life: Living In Your Sweet Spot by Max Lucado
