I was quite concerned about the ‘life choices’ that a fellow believer was making, so we had a conversation along these lines:
“Why are you doing this?”
“Because I believe it’s what God wants me to do.”
“Oh… Well, there’s no arguing with that then is there.”
“No.”
Or is there?
I mean, to say that I disagree with them has little authority since they believe that they are simply a part of the body that has a different function to mine.
Maybe they have an Immovable Faith or maybe they have a Foolish and Misguided Pride.
Is there a frightening implication of untamed prophetic belief amongst liberal apostolic Christian movements in that people can, by and large, do what they want in the name of God?
If we are of One Spirit, shouldn’t there be a means by which the Individual Faith and the Corporate Faith collide and align?
[1251:4202]
1 comment:
Arguing rarely changes anyone's mind. Curiosity and personal interest may lead someone to rethink things, even if they are reluctant to admit it. Is it possible for you to assume a Socratic posture, stay present and interested, and ask wise questions? For example: What have you read in the Bible, had someone tell you, or experienced personally that leads you to the conclusion that this is the will of God for you? What leads you to be confident that you have the best conclusion deriving from the data? What other possibilities have you considered? From whom have you sought counsel? What concerns or reservations did you have in considering this and how did you explore and address them? Is your approach with this decision consistent with how you make other big-ticket, high-impact life choises? and so on...
It is even possible, after a lot of listening, to ask, Doesn't this just come down to the fact that this is what you want to do, and calling it God's will gives you a measure of defense from serious reflection? Surely it is possible to care for someone and bless them, even when they are doing something stupid, without affirming the stupid thing. That certainly has been God's posture toward me. Of course, if they reject the relationship, it becomes more difficult. But you don't have to give up.
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