Impressions vs. Providence

Several years ago (and several churches ago), Pam and I sat through a ‘discipleship’ class called ‘Experiencing God – Knowing and Doing the Will of God’, by Henry Blackaby. What we were being told sounded good at the time, but I would like to think that we can chalk that up to just not knowing any better (boy, ignorance sure was bliss back then! How do you say that without sounding arrogant?). Fast-forward a few years to another curriculum presented to me by a fellow SS teacher titled ‘Decision Making and the Will of God’ by Gregory Koukl with Stand to Reason. Wow! What a difference in substance between the two teachings. One teaches God’s will can be found by being attuned to and seeing how God is working all around you, and the other teaches that God’s will is found within the pages of Scripture. This graphic from Blackaby is the visual model that supposedly shows the seven realities of experiencing God (included in reality #4 is the teaching that God speaks – not just through the Bible – but also through prayer, circumstances, and the church).

That model – though not a biblical or wise one – is probably very similar to what most professing Christians employ when trying to make decisions and determine what they think is God’s will for them. I would guess that most people agree that God speaks to us, not only through the Bible, but also through prayer, circumstances and the church as taught by this program (I hope to share some more thoughts on this later, because – for one – I do not believe God speaks to us when we pray…did that grab your attention?).

 

Compare Blackaby’s model to Koukl’s biblical findings concerning decision making and God’s will, and you will see some stark differences. For example, Greg states that there are FIVE things the Bible does not teach concerning signs, leadings, etc.

The Bible does not teach that we get guidance from:

1. a feeling (“I feel led”)
2. inner peace
3. open and closed doors
4. fleeces or providential signs
5. confirmations

Now, I know that may rub many the wrong way, but I challenge those who would disagree to prove it wrong – not by emotion or feelings – but with the Word of God (and in proper context, mind you). Anyway…I said all of that to direct you to a post by Dan Phillips over at Team Pyro on this very subject. The article by Dan is great, but Phil Johnson posted a comment wherein he said, “I am convinced this confusion (about whether God regularly sends people spiritual IMs in order to supplement his written Word and make his will clear to us) stems from a deficient understanding of Providence.”

That is a very interesting statement on people’s understanding of God’s Providence in light of decision making, and I hope it is one both he and Dan will write about in the near future.