Customer Reviews

Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

You've heard it all before. You want to ask a girl out, but you don't know whether God wants you to ask that girl out. A friend wants to spend his summer on a mission trip, but after praying to know God's will in the situation he has received no clear response, so he lets the deadline for application pass. Another friend doesn't know whether God would have him go to university or Bible college. Conventional Christian wisdom says that God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life; the secret to the victorious Christian life, you think, is discovering what God's ideal is for you and following it.

Think again.

At least, that is the message of Garry Friesen's Decision Making and the Will of God. This wonderf ul book is a critique of what Friesen calls the "traditional" view of decision making: that God has an "individual will" for each life, a sort of agenda. To be within the will of God is to discover (through, prayer, inner peace, seeking mature counsel, laying out "fleeces," and so forth) what that agenda is, and stick to it. Missing out on God's agenda isn't necessarily living in sin, but it is settling for God's second best.

Friesen points out many of the serious deficiencies in this model. First, it is not to be found in the Bible. The proof-texts given by traditional-view proponents to defend God's individual will are often better interpreted as referring to God's moral will - that is, right and wrong. While the traditional view is stressed for the "biggie" decisions, such as marriage or vocation, it is ignored for the regular decisions we make every day, such as what to eat or wear. When faced with otherwise equal choices, the traditional view insists only one of them is God's will, causing indecision. Since subjective impressions are self-justifying, there is no basis for disputing an immature believer's impression of God's will for his life, even if that decision seems foolhardy. And subjective impressions are just that, subjective - the traditional view cannot allow for conflicting impressions amongst equally sincere believers.

Instead, Friesen provides an alternative model for decision making that he calls "the way of wisdom." Truly, however, this is only an "alternative" because the "traditional" view is taken for granted. The way of wisdom goes like this: Apart from the circumstances of any individual decisions, all the tools needed to make those decisions are to be found in the Scriptures, which reflect the moral will of God. The Bible encourages believers to pursue certain values and attitudes, and to avoid others. Beyond these regulations, choices may be freely made. God does not micro-manage the life-paths of each believer, but like our earthly fathers do, he expects his children to mature and to learn to make wise decisions for themselves. The Bible admonishes its readers to seek not God's individual will, but the wisdom to make good decisions. Consequently the apostles rarely made any decision based on supernatural revelation or subjective "leading"; rather, they decided based on the good, wisdom, expediency, or available opportunities.

In one amusing section, Friesen points out how the "fleeces" we set out to help make God's will known are really wisdom in disguise! This part of the book hit home because I had been using exactly this sort of method not long before to decide whether I should ask out a certain girl or not! I do not doubt that Providence played some part in the decision, but Friesen helped me to see my "fleece" for what it really was. Rather than seek an unusual or miraculous sign as confirmation of God's will, I had simply become more observant about the circumstances and drawn a logical conclusion from what I observed. When I read the book for the first time a week later, I saw myself in it. (While I have changed my attitude about the means I used to make this decision, I have no regrets about the choice I did make - to keep silent.)

The final section of the book is a practical application of the way of wisdom. Friesen covers all the "biggies": marriage, ministry, missions, and vocation. In each case he provides the Biblical passages that guide these decisions. For example, 1 Corinthians 7 would regulate whether to marry, why one should or should not marry, and whom one may or may not marry. Proverbs 31 outlines the qualities of an excellent wife. Beyond these guidelines (and a few others), however, the Bible says nothing; Within these guidelines, the believer has the freedom to do what he wishes based on wisdom. The well thought-out, final few chapters on decision making as it pertains to Christian liberty and our relationships with other believers are an added bonus.

Decision Making and the Will of God is a rarity, a truly excellent and thoughtful book on a difficult subject. Garry Friesen engages the traditional view directly, solidly, and Biblically without being needlessly confrontational. Rather than merely finding fault, he presents a comprehensive, sound alternative and demonstrates its practicality. Additionally, the book, though scholarly, is very accessible without being glib. Finally, I tend to judge the excellence of a book by the time it takes me to get through it, and this is only the fourth non-fiction work I have ever read through in a single sitting - at 400+ pages, no easy feat!

Dr. Friesen has done Christendom a service with this book. While many decisions are not easy ones to make, the frustration and indecision often felt when God appears to be silent doesn't need to happen. Pray for wisdom (James 1:5), which God generously grants to those who ask for it without doubting.

I think discovering God's will is one of the most difficult tasks any Christian must experience, and there are always doubts whether or not we are in the "center" of this "nailing jello to the wall" will. This book might just change the way you view the way we can follow God in a godly manner. Friesen takes a view that God sometimes gives freedom in decisions. We might be given several possibilities, both of which God can work in our lives. He does not force the issue, but through circumstances and other criteria, we can make wise, biblical decisions and realize that we have made godly decisions.

This book has been a great help in my life, as I am a Type A personality who too often tries to figure out every nuance of God and the way He works. Forget it, it just can't be done. By changing my persepective, it has helped me to be more free so that I can experience God completely and have the abundant life as so promised by Christ Himself. If nothing else, the book will make you think through your preconceived notions.

This book is most relevant for all Christians who believe that the Bible truly is an accurate account of communication from the true and living God to all of humanity. The topic is quite important and very relevant in day-to-day living.

It is difficult to give this book too high of a recommendation. I believe that it is the very best book, by far, written on the topic of "the will of God". The author, Garry Friesen, has written the entire book with an irenic spirit regarding those people who have a differing view. The book is lengthy, but that is a result of a detailed analysis of all of the relevant issues and passages of Scripture. I had read the original edition over 20 years ago. Although that book was excellent, this one is even better.

As a young adult and a new Christian, I was taught the so-called "perfect or individual will of God" theory. Through the years, I have constantly read accounts and heard people use words and make decisions based on this (false) belief. All of the books and magazine articles which I've read, and sermons that I've heard, which advocate the "perfect or individual will of God" theory have all begun by assuming this view to be true, and then proceed to give directions about how to actually find God's will. None of them have ever begun with a detailed analysis of Scripture in an attempt to justify the original theory. In direct contrast, Friesen does begin with a careful analysis of the relevant passages of Scripture, and then bases his general principles upon them. He gives a detailed, clear and thorough refutation of the "perfect or individual will of God" theory and also briefly states that the theory is relatively new, not having been advocated or taught by anyone prior to around the year 1875.

A very useful 45-page appendix gives book reviews of 15 books written on this topic, and more reviews are available from Friesen's internet website. One of the books reviewed is the very popular "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby. Almost ten years ago I read and studied that book, and I was dismayed by the very bad methodology used in it. The "critiques" given by Friesen further added to my strong conviction that the principles taught in Blackaby's book are bad and wrong, that is, they are simply not drawn from a careful analysis of Scripture.

Throughout "Decision Making and the Will of God", there are various charts and diagrams which are quite helpful to remember the basic principles. The beneficial footnotes, which give further information of detailed discussions, exemplify the depth and breadth of the author's analysis of this topic. There is a lengthy Scripture index provided. A study guide gives helpful insights about how to use this book as the basis for a group study.

Apart from the Word of God itself, no other book has been more beneficial to me in my Christian life. As I previously said, the book is long. However, for every Christian who sincerely desires to lead a life that is pleasing to God, this book the very best one to use in order to learn the principles about how to make wise decisions.

Having Dr. Friesen (Th.D and Ph.D) as a professor has, perhaps, made me biased to him. But if I am biased to him at all, it is because of his experience, wisdom, and scholarly acumen through which I have been persuaded to his position.

The essential premise of Dr. Friesen's proposal is linked to an analysis of a triple-distinction of God's will: Sovereign (a hidden, absolute decree that ensures all events are ultimately finding their telos in God) Moral (God's will as outlined in the narratives of scripture) and God's individual will (that is, God's specific plan for each individual.) Dr. Friezen agrees with the first two while rejecting the third. This does not mean that God does not factor in individual life, have special responsibilities for individuals, or that the actions of individuals have no consequence. Rather he outlines several basic principles: Where God commands we obey, Where there is no command there is freedom, In all things wisdom should be applied.

Essentially what Dr. Friezen is trying to refute is the notion that direct, apocalyptic or epiphanous revelation needs to occur for all specific decisions, e.g, "Should I go to this college...", or "Shall I eat toast?" In the traditional view (described as a dot at the center of God's moral, revealed will by Dr. Friezen) there is a singular, perfect action a person could take in any situation, one which needs to be discovered through (more thoroughly spoken of in the book) prayer, inner feelings, council, "open doors," etc...

The problem with this method is that it breeds indecision and frustration. I myself have never received a theophany with divine commands pouring through tongues of fire, nor, indeed, have I ever received an unambiguous, direct response to a request for guidance by God. Friezen attributes this to the excessively subjective nature of the traditional methodology.

Namely that council, even wise council, is subjective. Inner impressions, peace "from," the "Holy Spirit?" Subjective, and, under the scrutiny of an honest appraisal, "inner impressions," lead as often to failure as success.

"Open doors?"...Subjective, and indeed, there is the question on perception of the so called door (what if there are two mutually viable options? What if this metaphorical door is only "half" open? Should we open it more? Close it? What if the perception of the "door," is really a "hallucination," by an immature Christian? What about instances of Paul rejecting what he saw as an open door because he saw other opportunity...)

Nor indeed, (again, referenced from the book,) can we simply "add up," or cluster these so called "signposts," to see if they point in the same direction, for if the individual samples of a population set are subjective, the whole itself will be subjective. Moreover, we cannot take instances of direct divine command and persuasion in the bible as prescriptive or normative for today. Indeed, one of the basic mutilations Christians bring over the Biblical text is that every is somehow a command or description of life-alteration for them, rather than narrative constructions that allow us to see ourselves in a part of the Divine economy. Friezen's explanation of this is far more erudite than I might manage in this review, so I will name only a couple bullet points:

1.) The examples are not sufficient to warrant a normative example of them. Indeed, he says, "...many of the events recorded in the bible were recorded because they were unique occurances, or, at least, highly unusual." So for example, context must dictate whether we follow it or not. Friezen asks, "Should we (Christians) practice a holy kiss (1 Cor. 16:20) Or should one expect a holy light and voice from heaven to accompany a call to the ministry?" No, rather, the number of recorder cases of theophanic or christophanic directives are not sufficient to warrant the conlcusion of a normative function, "...within the framework of his (Paul's) ministry relatively few of his decisions were formed on the basis of such leading."

2.) The second weakness is that most of the recipients were so because they were at a special, specific places in the outworking of God's total program. It would be a logical fallacy to argue from this specific case to a general inference because it would ignore the totality from which the instance was drawn. More so, though, is that it would seem that if we are to be honest with this type of transfer, if we are to receive a specific will or command, than we should also expect ourselves to be key figures in worldwide propogation of the gospel, which certainly isnt the case for most of us (indeed, that would be quite a burden).

3.) The examples are not sufficiently comprehensive to argue from them to a specific individual will for all beleivers. Again these are unique examples recorded for their uniqueness.

4.) Finally (most importantly,) the examples themselves indicate that this type of communication of Divine command is always supernatural, and always clear. This is a far cry from the "small voice," that leads us, or the "inner impression," that a command or opportunity is from God.

Rather, Dr. Friezen recommends a system of wisdom (a "Way" of wisdom) whereby we constantly search the scriptures to know, apply, and so learn the revealed will of God. Where there is no specific command, there, as said above, is freedom. However this freedom should not be misconstrued as mere caprice, but rather the impetus for our freedom of decision in moral areas where no specific command is given is intrinsically linked to boundaries. So, e.g., while the Bible gives no specific mention regarding abortion, there are certain conclusions one may draw from other, clearer, more specific areas of the text. Or regarding what college I should go to, the bible doesn't mention, but again, there are wisdom principles that may be derived: Is it a wholesome atmosphere? Will I improve academically?... The way of wisdom is a practical application of Christian maturity derived from "constantly searching the scriptures, to see if these things were so."

This is a life-altering book (which so many academic books are not) and quite frankly a huge step forward in understanding what it means to be a Christian and to glorify God without having to bear the unnecessary burden of attaining a chimeric "perfect will." Highly, highly recommended.

Growing up I was indoctrinated with year after year of "listen to the still small voice" and "God has a plan for your life". Of course there was also the "seek God's will" for any decision. As the writer so clearly lays out, this constant search for God's will when making any and all decisions leads to tremendous frustration and even eventual apathy. That is why this book is so essential for Christians to read. It lays out a framework for not only understanding the elements of God's will but how to use it to make decisions. The concepts presented are almost scary to some christians - they will challenge you to review scriptures and concepts that you learned long ago and now take for granted. If you read it with an open mind, your concept of decision making within the context of God's will will be forever changed. The freedom and release from anxiety are the real benefits from digesting this material.

I wish I would have know about this book a year before I read it for the first time. I used to believe God lead through inner impressions. I was always told prior to reading this book that the Bible taught we should NEVER make a decision on the basis of what our hearts desire, (even if on the surface the options were not unbiblical or unwise) but always "seek the leading [still small voice] of the Lord". God (under this system) was always testing our faith by asking us to give up our hearts desire. When searching for a mate in the early 80's I thought God was ordering me to give up one of the best christian girls I've ever known (she had everything I wanted a christian girl to have- godliness, brains, a sense of humor, the right personality and demeaner, same interests and ,yes, good looks too). I did give her up. At the same time I thought God was ordering me to marry (through "the leading of the still small voice") a girl I had no interest in. I was in absolute misery. By the time I read Friesen's book the girl I had desired to marry was already engaged to someone else. The one girl I didn't want to marry I thought God was ordering me to marry later confessed to being an unbeliever. She was even thinking of joining a cult. I'm still single today. The doctrine of "following inner impression" has cost me dearly. It shows that even "spiritual sounding" doctrines can have a devastating impact when not in conformity to true doctrine. Reading Friesen's book has saved me from further heartaches. The Word of God really teaches freedom. If God gives us liberty we should enjoy his blessing. The "still small voice/ inner impressions" view of decision making makes non-sinful decisions into sinful ones in the mind of the believer, because one one always has in the back of his mind that God will always ask him to give up the things which bring the believer happiness (on a human level). Biblical freedom as taught in Friesen's book (properly understood) never gives a license to sin or to ignore the needs of a brother, but allows the christian to make full use and ENJOYMENT of the blessings God which has alloted to each. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK! (Especially before you make a decision on who to marry!)

This book has helped many people to have the courage to use their sanctified common sense, trusting that God is guiding them.

A number of reviewers have said that the book teaches that God doesn't have a plan for your life. He does ... but he's not about to tell you what it is! You *can* discover God's plan for your life, but only afterwards! It is wonderful to look back and see God's hand. [I don't think what I am saying here detracts from what the authors are saying.]

This is an important book, but it is rather tedious to read. I think that the same material could have been presented in 200 pages, without leaving out any of the important points being made. It is a great book to have read!

I recommend the book, with the above proviso.

Another excellent book on Guidance is Jensen and Payne: Guidance and the Voice of God. The authors of both books are in substantial agreement.

This twenty-fifth anniversary edition is a thorough revision of the original. Friesen responds to objections to his "Way of Wisdom" view, answers frequently asked questions, discusses some Scripture passages that weren't covered in the previous edition, and reviews a number of books on knowing God's will that have come out since DECISION MAKING was first published in 1980. Well worth the investment.

Anybody who has attended Multnomah Bible College and taken "Dr. G" for Pentateuch loves him. Because I got this book for free, and because I love him, I decided to make an effort to read it.

It took me about a year. I kept starting it, getting stuck, and staying stuck. There is a lot of material in this book.

But once I got through the first few chapters, I was hooked on the rest of the book. I did finish it, and I did enjoy it and learn from it.

I'd like to recommend that you don't read this like a textbook (like I did). I read every word, even the sections that didn't interest me, even when I got bored or didn't understand. Now I wish that I had skipped those sections or gone back to them later, because the material that gripped me and made me learn something was the material that was interesting to me (surprise!) Of course, my dear Dr. G is a good writer anyway.

I came away from this book feeling relieved, and feeling like I had the ability to relieve friends who worry about making decisions "without receiving confirmation" or who aren't sure if God "wants" them to be doing what they are doing.

See other reviews for more descriptions of content.

I had been taught in church the view that God had a perfect will for me, and it was my responsibility to find out what that was. Since every church I attended taught that, and all my Christian friends believed it, I never questioned it. It seemed so right.

But over time I began to resent God. It seemed that Adam and Eve were the only ones who had freedom of will. If God had a "calling" and a "mate" and a "geographic location" in mind for me, I would be disobedient and miserable outside his will. Who wants second best? I was also peeved because no matter how often I sought his will, he just wasn't talking! Here I'm supposed to follow his will but he won't bother telling me what it is. I began to see God as a despot demanding I live the life HE wants me to live--and yet not bothering to tell me what that life should look like.

After a long discussion with a Christian who didn't believe this view, I pulled this book off my shelf (where it had sat two years) and read it. The biblical references are superb and the logic is flawless. I think I quit two-thirds the way through, because that was really enough.

I now no longer resent God; I don't listen ever so closely to a voice that doesn't speak; I feel freedom to choose my own path; and God is a Father and not a puppeteer. I am very grateful to have found this book.