I spend a lot of time talking with parents about raising kids who are “fun to be with.” Some days I find myself in a similar position as a pastor’s wife trying to help “adult” children learn this art.
I love what I do. However, there are those moments where I find myself shaking my head and wishing I didn’t have to be so tactful.
I’ve been a follower of Christ now for over twenty years. But I must confess that I feel as though my journey to know God and enjoy Him is still just beginning. I am deeply humbled by the depths of His character and person.
So I occasionally find myself irritated when people flippantly walk around proclaiming those things “God told me.” Maybe it’s because we now live in a nation of know-it-all’s. Perhaps we are all growing weary of the opinions of others. With so much information at our fingertips, everyone feels like an expert. My heart goes out to the doctors and other professionals who must deal with us.
Now I believe God speaks. First, He speaks through His Word. So there are some things I can understand with certainty that come clearly and directly from His Word. I know He wants me to love my neighbor even when it is difficult -especially when it is difficult! I know He wants me to choose keep my heart and mind pure from those things that enslave me-even when I may feel some of its deceptive pleasure. I know He expects that I speak the truth lovingly-even when it might hurt your feelings.
The prophetic word is also a wonderful way God edifies and refreshes the church. The problem occurs when people try to rationalize their opinions, rebelliousness, or disobedience. It is easy to start throwing around “God told me” as a club.
One thing I know about my heart is that unless I frequently hold it up to the mirror of His Word, the accountability of others, and time in His presence, I can easily deceive myself. The heart of humanity without Christ is desperately self-indulgent. So when I hear people insist they “know” God is leading them in a disobedient or rebellious direction, I cringe.
For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? Rom. 11:34
For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” 1 Corinthians 2:16
One of the most humbling things I do is teach people about God. I find it a very weighty responsibility. Perhaps that is the rub for me. Our presumption and flippancy at throwing around God’s opinion for Him like some tidbit we found on Google provokes a sense of injustice in me.
I have met with individuals determined to have their way. It saddens me when I realize that they are not interested in doing what is right. Rather, they are determined to BE right and use God as their authority. Oswald Chambers said, “The fact that we insist on proving we are right is almost always a clear indication that we have some point of disobedience.” (My Utmost For His Highest, June 30th)
Do we realize that God does not sit around in heaven picking sides? WE are the ones who must pick the correct side-or not. Will we choose to be on HIS side? He is on the side of truth. He is on the side of WHAT is right. Not WHO is right. If we understood this, we would walk around a bit more humble when it comes to speaking for Him. We would also treat others as the highly-valued image bearers they are.
When the “God told me” card is thrown down in the dialogue, you are put in a lose-lose. If you argue, you must not be as spiritual as they are. If you agree with them, you are now party to their foolishness. It just makes them not fun to be with.
But truthfully, THEY are really in the lose-lose situation.
You see, a refusal to listen to truth and choosing to head down a path of foolish destruction has its own discipline. A life of chaos, dysfunction, and ultimately, bad fruit. When we sow to our flesh, we will reap destructive fruit. God always gets the last word on whether it was truly His voice we heard, or just our own selfish heart. “May my vindication come from you…” the Psalmist declares. Life will tell our story and ultimately, tell it with no secrets in the end. Jesus says it best, “Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.”
Stand on the side of truth. Don’t waver for one minute when it comes to the truth of His Word. But please handle with care those opinions, ideas, and rationalizations that can so often deceive our hearts and sidetrack us from doing WHAT is right. The proof is in the pudding…and sometimes it can make us not really fun to be with.