Thus, our feelings are functionally authoritative. Instead, our peace is simply our feelings. Perhaps our peace is not God’s will at all. I wonder if sometimes we use our “peace about it” as a self-issued cosmic fortune cookie for our idolatrous pursuits. I am placing myself in authority over God, while ensuring that others cannot question me because of my supposed “peace” or “prayer.”
#SCRIPTURES FOR MAKING HARD DECISIONS LICENSE#
I may “have a peace” and “have prayed about” a decision, but if my decision is in contrary to the word of God, then my peace or prayer is likely a self-permitted license of self. Overall, the “I-have-a-peace-about-it” approach to life can be dangerous. Our “peace” could be putting ourselves in the place of God.I can operate with a hermeneutic of happiness: since I should be joyful always, I will make whatever decision helps me to maintain feelings of joy.īottom line: the “I-have-a-peace-about-it” method of decision-making denies the sufficiency of Scripture. Bible verses can be ripped out of context. Thus, to use “I have a peace about it” as the determinative factor says, “Though the sovereign God of the universe has spoken in his word, God has simply failed to provide humanity with what we need for life and godliness.”Īnd, leaning on feelings of peace and the Bible also may deny the sufficiency of Scripture. Leaning on feelings of peace, in effect, says, “No.” Though Bible verses may be consulted, what tilts the decision scale is subjective to the individual what is subjectively comfortable. Is the Bible alone sufficient to guide me in decision-making with matters pertaining to life and godliness? Has God adequately outfitted humanity to know and do his will? Much of this issue boils down to the sufficiency of Scripture. Scripture alone is God’s means of communicating his will for us.Īll Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim.Here are a few thoughts to consider before we use our personal peace as determinative of God’s will. God is calling me to _.” And I go through with the decision. Thus, since I presume that God wants me to be at peace, I conclude that my feeling of peace is God assuring me, “This is the decision you should make.” Finally, I declare, “I have a peace about making this decision. Therefore, since I experience feelings of increasing pleasure, I conclude that I am at peace. I perceive a feeling of personal peace as I meditate on my pre-desired decision and the consequent ease it will bring in my life. I run across some verses which discuss personal peace. Since it does not seem joyful to make the more difficult decision, I am further established in my own way. I run across some friends and verses which assure me that God wants me to feel happy and joyful about what I do. This fuels my existing idolatrous pursuit. I find a few verses (which I do not rigorously study with a proper hermeneutic and help from church leadership) that, though taken out of context, seem to support what I already want. I subsequently feel more drawn towards my decision. I likely run into counsel either from godly friends, leadership, or Scripture which hinders getting my way. I may pray about it, look up a few verses, and ask a few friends, but I am hoping to discover some Christian key to unlock my wants. I have some desire for God to weigh in on the decision. Instead of an objective approach to the decision, I have a subjective bent towards getting my own way. However, I approach the decision with a pre-existing bent towards my own comfort. I am facing a difficult issue in my life, requiring some wise decision-making. That process of making the decision usually goes something like this. “I have prayed about it, so it’s God’s will.” Or, “I have a peace about it, so God is calling me to…” Those words are often-assumed gateways to what God wants me to do in the throes of life. But, is my “peace” God’s enthusiastic permission slip for my “it”? Is my prayer and peace heaven’s approval for whatever “it” may be in my life? “I have a peace about it.” Sometimes it takes on a different form. So, they went through with the divorce on the grounds that both they and their close Christian friends “had a peace about it.”
The marriage did not bring feelings of peace and comfort. Though no biblical grounds for divorce, it came to the point where they could not see how God would want them to be unhappy in marriage. Some opened Scripture, some didn’t, and some prayed. They sought counsel from other Christians. It came to the point where they felt as if they could not take it anymore. A professing Christian was in a rough marriage for many years.
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