Listening To God in Times of Choice
Author: Gordon T. Smith
ISBN: 0-8308-1367-5
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Review:
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The quest for discernment is as old as humanity itself. Indeed, we discover in Genesis 3:6 that one of the reasons Eve took of the forbidden tree was that it was "a tree to be desired to make one wise." As Smith says, "we do not live well unless we choose well" (pg. 14) and unfortunately our desire for wisdom influenced probably the worst choice in history. Although Smith does not explore discernment in relation to fallen humanity, he still presents an interesting discussion on the foundations and avenues of discernment and dispenses practical advice on how to incorporate discernment into our lives.
From the outset Smith differentiates his approach from two other discernment trends in Christian culture which he depicts as the "blueprint" school and the "wisdom" school. Those of the blueprint school believe that God has a perfect plan for each of us which we are to discover through "signs" and "open doors". Smith asks a question of the blueprint proponents, "Do we really have sufficient biblical evidence to conclude that God has a plan for each life - a plan that is predetermined?" I would suggest that the blueprint school and Smith's response both miss a key point. God's thoughts (or plans) towards us are many and definite, see Jer. 29:11, Psalms 139. But these thoughts are found within the nature of God, whose nature is outside of time. God sees our entire life as it will be, or rather, as it is in its entirety. He knows the end from the beginning. And the key to understanding this, I believe, is that as the master weaver, God takes the sum total of our choices, both for good and for bad, and weaves them into His master plan to achieve the maximum good. God's plan isn't a plan that depends on our choosing the right thing every time. He isn't constantly revising it every time we make the wrong choice. Paul says that "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God". Smith does, however, put his finger on the solution. Walking with God isn't a matter of meticulously reading every "sign" that comes our way in hopes of a better peek at the "blueprint", rather it is a matter of loving God and depending on that relationship to guide us.
The wisdom school advocates the internal absorption of the principles of Scripture so that through wisdom we understand how to choose wisely. While on the surface this approach appears to be "wise", it can tend to produce Christians whose confidence in decision making is grounded in their own wisdom, albiet appropriated from Scripture. Smith advances a good critique of this approach in that individuals cannot fail to have their wisdom influenced by things other than Scripture, i.e. our emotions and upbringing. I concur with him on this and would further suggest that our absorption of the wisdom of Scripture is through the fault-prone vehicle of human understanding and thus needs something additional for true discernment in the haze of our weaknesses.
Smith argues for a third approach that does not depend on signs nor does it depend solely on the wisdom we have been able to absorb, but rather upon the relationship we have with God within the community of the Church. He calls it our friendship with God and it involves the meeting of two free wills. It is also not a sporadic, only-in-a-crisis relationship that achieves true discernment (although God is gracious), rather it is the practice of a life of discernment that is most effective. And in this life of discernment the key is the inner witness of God. If we build foundations of clear commitment to Christ with continuing transformation then we are opening ourselves to that "still, small voice" in which the Lord can make known His will through direct communion with our spirit. It is this which the wisdom and blueprint school have passed over. Born out of a relationship with God is a life into which God breathes and directs through the Word AND the Spirit. Both are needful for proper discernment and both within the Church community. It is within a community that is encouraging, helpful, other-serving and above all honest that we can safely seek for discernment. Much of the book is devoted to exploring how the witness of the Spirit operates, how and in what type of life it flourishes and suggests different ways in which we can begin living a life of discernment.
I do have to take issue with one statement the author makes. On page 47 he writes, "There is no new revelation by the Spirit in the scriptural or apostolic sense." Although I agree that Scripture is complete and cannot be added to nor diminished, I wonder what he means by using the word apostolic. I believe that through the Spirit, individual Christians can, even today, receive revelations for themselves, for their community, and perhaps even for the world. I also believe they can take the form of prophetic revelation. Of course, any prophetic revelation is subject to Scripture and obviously should not be elevated to the level of Scripture, but we need to be careful about conveying the idea that God does not reveal Himself anymore to humanity. Hopefully, that is not the author's intention with this statement. I also found his comment that "there are few things so presumptuous as a pastoral candidate's statement that he believes he is called to a particular church" as a bit strong. Not being in the ministry myself I cannot identify with the calling to pastor, but I would hope that ministerial candidates only apply IF they feel called. Now granted, it may be a bit presumptuous to emphatically declare this to a congregation, but certainly a candidate should feel called.
More positively, Ignatius' third insight shared on pg. 54, "never make a decision or change a course of action when you are in desolation" spoke volumes to me. I wonder how many ill-choices are made from a poor vantage point. When we are in despair, when we are discouraged, it is then we are often tempted to make a change but paradoxically it is likely the worst time to make a change. Another point that was personally meaningful concerned false peace. False peace can arrive in the form of "comfortable" decisions that lead to mediocrity and it can be generated by busyness. We often hide anxiety through busyness and when that fails we often choose the most comfortable path which only serves to disguise the danger inherent in the "broad way".
There are many other beneficial insights disclosed in this book and I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking to increase their understanding of spiritual discernment.
ISBN: 0-8308-1367-5
Publisher: InterVarsity Press
Review:
--------------
The quest for discernment is as old as humanity itself. Indeed, we discover in Genesis 3:6 that one of the reasons Eve took of the forbidden tree was that it was "a tree to be desired to make one wise." As Smith says, "we do not live well unless we choose well" (pg. 14) and unfortunately our desire for wisdom influenced probably the worst choice in history. Although Smith does not explore discernment in relation to fallen humanity, he still presents an interesting discussion on the foundations and avenues of discernment and dispenses practical advice on how to incorporate discernment into our lives.
From the outset Smith differentiates his approach from two other discernment trends in Christian culture which he depicts as the "blueprint" school and the "wisdom" school. Those of the blueprint school believe that God has a perfect plan for each of us which we are to discover through "signs" and "open doors". Smith asks a question of the blueprint proponents, "Do we really have sufficient biblical evidence to conclude that God has a plan for each life - a plan that is predetermined?" I would suggest that the blueprint school and Smith's response both miss a key point. God's thoughts (or plans) towards us are many and definite, see Jer. 29:11, Psalms 139. But these thoughts are found within the nature of God, whose nature is outside of time. God sees our entire life as it will be, or rather, as it is in its entirety. He knows the end from the beginning. And the key to understanding this, I believe, is that as the master weaver, God takes the sum total of our choices, both for good and for bad, and weaves them into His master plan to achieve the maximum good. God's plan isn't a plan that depends on our choosing the right thing every time. He isn't constantly revising it every time we make the wrong choice. Paul says that "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God". Smith does, however, put his finger on the solution. Walking with God isn't a matter of meticulously reading every "sign" that comes our way in hopes of a better peek at the "blueprint", rather it is a matter of loving God and depending on that relationship to guide us.
The wisdom school advocates the internal absorption of the principles of Scripture so that through wisdom we understand how to choose wisely. While on the surface this approach appears to be "wise", it can tend to produce Christians whose confidence in decision making is grounded in their own wisdom, albiet appropriated from Scripture. Smith advances a good critique of this approach in that individuals cannot fail to have their wisdom influenced by things other than Scripture, i.e. our emotions and upbringing. I concur with him on this and would further suggest that our absorption of the wisdom of Scripture is through the fault-prone vehicle of human understanding and thus needs something additional for true discernment in the haze of our weaknesses.
Smith argues for a third approach that does not depend on signs nor does it depend solely on the wisdom we have been able to absorb, but rather upon the relationship we have with God within the community of the Church. He calls it our friendship with God and it involves the meeting of two free wills. It is also not a sporadic, only-in-a-crisis relationship that achieves true discernment (although God is gracious), rather it is the practice of a life of discernment that is most effective. And in this life of discernment the key is the inner witness of God. If we build foundations of clear commitment to Christ with continuing transformation then we are opening ourselves to that "still, small voice" in which the Lord can make known His will through direct communion with our spirit. It is this which the wisdom and blueprint school have passed over. Born out of a relationship with God is a life into which God breathes and directs through the Word AND the Spirit. Both are needful for proper discernment and both within the Church community. It is within a community that is encouraging, helpful, other-serving and above all honest that we can safely seek for discernment. Much of the book is devoted to exploring how the witness of the Spirit operates, how and in what type of life it flourishes and suggests different ways in which we can begin living a life of discernment.
I do have to take issue with one statement the author makes. On page 47 he writes, "There is no new revelation by the Spirit in the scriptural or apostolic sense." Although I agree that Scripture is complete and cannot be added to nor diminished, I wonder what he means by using the word apostolic. I believe that through the Spirit, individual Christians can, even today, receive revelations for themselves, for their community, and perhaps even for the world. I also believe they can take the form of prophetic revelation. Of course, any prophetic revelation is subject to Scripture and obviously should not be elevated to the level of Scripture, but we need to be careful about conveying the idea that God does not reveal Himself anymore to humanity. Hopefully, that is not the author's intention with this statement. I also found his comment that "there are few things so presumptuous as a pastoral candidate's statement that he believes he is called to a particular church" as a bit strong. Not being in the ministry myself I cannot identify with the calling to pastor, but I would hope that ministerial candidates only apply IF they feel called. Now granted, it may be a bit presumptuous to emphatically declare this to a congregation, but certainly a candidate should feel called.
More positively, Ignatius' third insight shared on pg. 54, "never make a decision or change a course of action when you are in desolation" spoke volumes to me. I wonder how many ill-choices are made from a poor vantage point. When we are in despair, when we are discouraged, it is then we are often tempted to make a change but paradoxically it is likely the worst time to make a change. Another point that was personally meaningful concerned false peace. False peace can arrive in the form of "comfortable" decisions that lead to mediocrity and it can be generated by busyness. We often hide anxiety through busyness and when that fails we often choose the most comfortable path which only serves to disguise the danger inherent in the "broad way".
There are many other beneficial insights disclosed in this book and I would definitely recommend it for anyone looking to increase their understanding of spiritual discernment.
posted by Tony | 8:17 PM
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