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36 CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX “To will one thing”: Section 17

“Our own words”

All of that said, there are unquestionable things that aren’t in the creeds—Paul lists some as “Acts of the Flesh” just before he lists the “Fruit of the Spirit.” For instance, I don’t think anyone can make a case that being hateful, jealous, or envious toward anyone is consistent with the commandments to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. Or that sexual promiscuity is God’s will for us (even if it seems the norm—as discussed in another chapter, this seems a good example of how following the law really is for our own good.) Or that gluttony, hubris, or sewing discord should be applauded. “Discernment” that condones or ignores these things must be seen as our “own words and not the word of God.” Being saved does not mean we are free to do whatever we want—as mentioned throughout, it actually means we seek to replace our will with his. And again, the fruits of the spirit provide evidence of our progress in that.

I saw a billboard by the side of the road that said “God doesn’t exclude.” That is true, but he allows us to separate ourselves from him if we choose to. Again, C.S. Lewis wrote in The Great Divorce,

There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, “Thy will be done,” and those to whom God says, in the end, “Thy will be done.” All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find. Those who knock it is opened.

We choose

We are responsible for making our own choices. If your leader/ mentor leads you to a wrong interpretation or path, are you responsible if you follow them? I would say yes—that you are responsible for your own words and deeds and that they reflect how you are being led by the Spirit. That is what Jesus, and then Peter and the others did when being told to do or say or not say something they thought was at odds with God’s plan as they understood it from the Spirit in them: “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4: 19-20 NIV). So you cannot rely solely on the interpretation of the church at any given point in time, but need to reason and be guided by the Spirit in discernment for yourself. Casting Crowns song The Voice of Truth is about discerning which voice to listen to.


Sections in this chapter:

  • The heart of faith
  • The core message and goal for your life
  • Seeking to trust God and become more like Jesus
  • Knowing your role—and God’s
  • Fruit of the Spirit
  • Managing our priorities and our praise
  • Identity, the creeds, and unity
  • The struggle of finding and holding faith
  • Faith must be our own
  • Levels and types of faith
  • Faith vs. knowledge
  • Faith and the Law and Works
  • Free Will and The Fall
  • Seeking to understand the Bible and life through discernment
  • The challenge of discernment
  • Handling different discernments
  • "Our own words"
  • Exploring challenging passages and ideas
  • The importance of prayer
  • Personal reflections
  • The importance of living the life
  • It’s not too late

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