Comments on: Amen and Amen

By: Tim Reed

Tim Reed — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 15:17:58 +0000

I saw the look on your face when I asked what you were studying. I was betting on philosophy ;) .

But yes, its interesting how many of those who have made a huge impact within Christianity were men of will. Guys who won’t lay down and die, guys who, come hell or highwater were getting up and pursuing their passionate embrace of whatever it is that they were passionately embracing.

There’s a reason that scripture speaks so much, and so strongly about wisdom, and that’s because we are expected to make decisions about what we do given the information we have at the time.

By: Tim Reed

Tim Reed — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 04:08:39 +0000

An excellent cribbing. How much can we separate our own desires from God when He is the creator of every fiber of our being? What I had in mind when quoting this was more along the lines of people who are waiting for some sort of divine spotlight to land on the college application of the ordained institute of higher education they’re supposed to go to.

It was excellent meeting you as well. This is so odd, I’ve already listened to that message and have been reading Noel’s blog for some time now. I wish I could take back my initial reaction to your course of study (I believe it was something like “YOU KNOW BLOG THINGIES!!!! LOL”) and instead reasponded with “digital rhetoric? That’s my favorite kind!”.

By: Valerie

Valerie — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 03:30:23 +0000

Hummm. I am thinking that this all falls under free will. We are free to choose. Can it be that simple? I don’t think that God cares whether I am a teacher, a waitress, or a nurse. He cares whether I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. He cares that I will be with Him for eternity when my life on earth is done.

By: Tim Reed

Tim Reed — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 13:22:41 +0000

That’s a horrible example Steve, and does far more for my POV than yours. Paul desires for the way to be opened and is praying to God that it will be opened. Why? Because he wants it to be opened. He isn’t praying for guidance as to what God’s will is, he’s praying for something he desires to happen. Christ Himself teaches this view with the parable of the unjust judge.

Of course the role of the Father is more than just giving a gift on Christmas morning. But it is a useful metaphor for a single facet of God’s relationship to humanity.

By: Tim Reed

Tim Reed — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 21:30:19 +0000

Steve,

We have something pretty close to a systematic theologyy in the book of Romans, yet we’re left without a directive on this issue. Any example at all of this would be good. Both Moses and Jonah were prophets, they had instructive encounters with God.

Where’s the relationship with a father who gives his child legos on Christmas morning? Does that sound like a deadbeat dad?

Tim

By: Mandy

Mandy — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 04:53:05 +0000

Yeah, I read that Ravi thing to Tim too - I agree with Ravi.

By: Tim Reed

Tim Reed — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 03:22:50 +0000

First, while I rarely disagree with Ravi, I do in this case. I don’t think there is such a thing as a call. Other than the obvious audible/visual encounters ala Paul I don’t see any scriptural support for that view.

Secondly, both Taylor and Livingstone were driven by their love for the respective cultures they were ministering to. In other words, they desired to do what they were doing. If that desire was not there would they have been required by God to do it anyway? I think not.

By: steve

steve — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 01:27:58 +0000

I think you’re oversimplifying the question. There are more options available than either “God has one path and will hate me if I mess up” or “God doesn’t care or lead me unless a) an audible voice is heard b) i’m sinning”. Divine preference/beckoning works infuses our natural build, experiences, spiritual gifting, etc. The existence of one doesn’t disprove the other. Ravi says much of the same in this article- The paragraph beginning with,
“Absolutely. And I don’t use that word lightly. Yesterday, as I was driving my wife to the airport (she was going to see her father who is not well), I said to her, “You know, if it weren’t for the call of God, this is not what I would do.” It demands a type of mental mindset, especially the travel side of it. It takes its toll physically and emotionally. I’ve never wanted to be away from my wife and kids for any period of time, and yet that’s what I have to do in my itinerant world. I think to know that you are called is a seal within your heart.”

Secondly, if the issue is as simple as that, I think we can deduce Hudson Taylor and David Livingstone were both sadistic and insane.