Note: I'm aware that I am taking this verse slightly out of context. However, the principle remains the same and is applicable in other areas of life.
Romans 14:23 "...and everything that does not come from faith is sin."
Your 20's are filled with tons of decisions, some that you expected but feel unprepared to make, and others that you had no idea you would even encounter. My generation (I'm 28) seems to have a particularly hard time making decisions. Maybe that's because we are spoiled, or lazy, or have too many options to choose from. Cases could be made for all of the aforementioned, but I'm beginning to believe that none of those are it.
I think this generation is more socially aware. We recognize hurt and injustice in the world and want to do something about it, but there seems to be a HUGE chasm between where we are and where we want to be. It would appear that the lion's share of indecisiveness comes in discovering a way to bridge that gap without settling in comfortably on the "knowledge without action" side. Which bring us to Romans 11.
When I first read that verse this morning I was bummed. I have huge plans and dreams, and about 75% of the time I fully believe that God will come through because my dreams and visions are from Him. But then 25% of the time I doubt that He will because it all seems so impossible, and according to Romans those doubts are sinful. Just what I needed to start my day, the awareness of yet another habitual sin.
But then I looked at it from the other end. The opposite of sin is God and His will, mercy, love, etc. So then if you're acting in accordance with the Bible and the Spirit, and your actions come through faith, then you are in accordance with God. What at first appeared restrictive is actually really freeing.
The sin isn't that we try something in life even though we're not sure if God is "calling" us to it or not, the sin is actually not having faith that God will get us across the chasm no matter which route we choose to take! It's time to stop waiting for some divine confirmation. Test the scriptures, say Amen, and make a plan!
There is a phrase used in my industry (banking) that says "don't get caught in information constipation".
ReplyDeleteIn context, this is what happens when we are calling our book of business customers to initiate a sale of some kind. We look at their accounts, review their transactions, look up property value online, and essentially spend an excessive amount of time "figuring out" what the customer is all about, instead of actually just calling them.
We try and overcome potential hypothetical road blocks or objections before we're ever even confronted with them, and end up in a stasis of talking ourselves out of calling the customer because we've decided that based on everything we've learned and discovered there is no way to help that customer and they clearly have no needs.
This is information constipation. Were we just given the name and telephone number and not all of the other info about this person, we would have already called them and had a great conversation about their banking needs.
I immediately thought of this when reading your last paragraph. Perhaps we spend too much time waiting for a perfect confirmation from God that the way we are proceeding is right, that we get caught in a "divine inspiration constipation" of sorts and never actually talk to that neighbor, or apply to that seminary, or pursue that woman.
Perhaps the answer is to just do.. to live life for God and know He'll steer us to His plan?
Great post Josh. Very relevant, especially considering our age demographic. Young adults always on the go, living transient lives, constantly discerning the right job, spouse, ministry, etc.
ReplyDeleteI find the decision making discernment process to be very interesting. It is not a one-size-fits-all process for everyone.
But what you said adds value to any discerment process. I love the line "the sin is actually not having faith that God will get us across the chasm no matter which route we choose to take." I believe that often people get caught up over choice A vs. choice B, as if one will lead to God's ultimate will and the other failure. When usually its not a matter of right and wrong, but how much God can do when you allow him into the decision.
We use our best judgement, taking into consideration the Church, scripture, tradition, etc. and then have faith that God will use us, provide, further his kindgdom, in the decision we've made. When we take him into account in our decision making, often He blesses either A or B when we put him at the forefront of that discerment process.
I definitely agree with you guys, this is a good post Josh. I wonder if the decision is not so much choice A or B, but to trust God or not to trust God. Trusting him with the choice itself and the results of that choice.
ReplyDeleteCome to think of it, the choices themselves (as long as they aren't inherently against God's word) seem almost irrelevant. Choice A while not trusting God is the wrong choice, just as choice B would be.
So the new question becomes, what does it look like to trust God with our decisions/futures? I think Josh nailed it... the answer is action. Not undeliberated, "jump the gun", "just do anything", type of action, but prayerful, trusting action, knowing God loves us, and that He will take care of us, and that we're not actually awesome enough to mess Him up kind of action.