A searchable, downloadable PDF of the original review appears below. Greg Dallimore is a member of St. Giles Presbyterian Church. The review was updated in a later issue.

Decision-Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View. Gary Friesen and J. Robin Maxson, Portland, Oregon, Multnomah Press.

“It is God’s will that I take that job.” How often have you heard a similar statement? I confess that I have said it myself and yet have felt uncomfortable in firmly attesting to it. If we are truly honest with ourselves, can we, without equivocation, declare we know the individual will of God for our lives?

First, it must be recognized that God has a “sovereign” and “moral” will. The working out of God’s plan for the world and for His people in the world is God’s sovereign will alone, not to be discerned by man. Peter’s address after Christ’s death, “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose . . .” (Acts 2:23) and Paul’s charge to Christ’s followers, “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity to the purpose of his own will…” (Eph. 1:11) are examples of His sovereign will – the whole picture only visible to God. My birth and death, the world’s end-time and the setting of God’s Kingdom are all planned in private, unknown and perfect in their existence.

God’s “hidden” will may be the most difficult concept to deal with, for it begs questions of “Why is there death in the world?”, “Why do people suffer, if we have a loving God?” and on and on. We can take solace, however, in the fact that God “is always with us” and therefore cares for the things He has created. It is important for us to acknowledge that this sovereign will may supersede our plans, as Paul expressed in I Corinthians4:19, “If the Lord wills”. This statement recognizes the power of God to intervene and effect the impossible, the event unforeseen. Ecclesiastes 11:5,6 explains that God’s sovereign will is not for us to know, but that we are to be alert and wise in the decisions made.

God’s “moral” will is that which He has revealed through the Bible and by which man is to believe and live. His moral will is a body of principles and commands given to all believers, intended to smooth the path for Christ’s chosen people. Some of these commands and principles are:

  1. – not to marry a non-Christian mate (II Cor. 6:14),
  2. – to be pure and not to engage in immoral behaviour (I Thess. 4:3):
  3. – to be employed, where this is possible (II Thess. 3:10-12);
  4. – not to be involved in foolish arguments and Phariseeisms (Titus 3:9-11).

These are principles that are spelled out clearly in the Bible and require the believer only to read and apply the principles. To kill someone is obviously forbidden by God’s command and to do so would violate God’s will. It is still possible, however, to read and understand God’s moral will and decide to violate it – this is sin. Paul wrote that we should be “equipped for every good work.” Therefore, God’s moral will is not only appropriate for moral issue decisions, but also for decisions that do not require moral application. Thus we are expected to be wise in our purchases, to make sure there is enough money for missions and so on. God’s moral will touches every aspect of our life.

Having outlined the moral and sovereign wills of God, I would like to explore what some people call God’s “individual” will for the believer. You have met people for whom God has consistently mapped out their lives. God told them the next job they would take, who they would marry and how much to give to the church. However, it is often the case that these “impressions” do not work out and then the person has to change the impression in retrospect. I have known people to search (and search) for God’s individual will (or be in the “centre” of God’s will), put off a decision for weeks and then make a decision, quite uncertain of the outcome. Let me suggest that this cannot be “God’s will”. There are specific times, in the Bible and today, when God communicates directly with His people. This may be in the form of a vision, an audible voice or a dream. Paul’s conversion is an example, although somewhat dramatic, of God’s direct communication. However, I believe this is not His most frequent means of communication. The “blueprint” belief, that everyone’s path is laid out for the believer to see, must only reside in God’s sovereign will. Most instances of God’s individual plans are made for very specific, extraordinary situations.

God has given us the use of a decision-making tool, namely freedom of choice. Paul, in his missionary voyages, often says, “I decided to . . ” or “We chose to . .indicating that it was a decision based on sound judgement, weighing all the factors. Paul, having a Christian mind, was able to make major decisions based on God’s moral framework. Likewise, as Christians, having researched and followed God’s revealed word, we should strike out in faith and make decisions, knowing that we are in harmony with our Father. The question, “Who should I marry?” is an excellent example. In the “individual” will, a person would search until God told that person who was the right mate. It might take weeks, months or years of search and then you might never be sure. However, the Christian who understands the command of not marrying a non-believer, who understands that God must be central in their relationship and who is willing to work jointly on the relationship and who is willing to work jointly on the relationship, is free to marry a person with whom that person is in love. Can you see the pressure and guilt that is relieved by framing our decisions in God’s moral and sovereign will?

By now you are thinking, “Well, what about prayer?”. Although the Christian is free to make decisions using his God-given resources, he or she must also rely on prayer. James 1:5,6 indicates that we should be asking God for wisdom, believing it will be given. How often we ask God for His wisdom and then go into the situation without that guidance! James is not saying that you will be given instant answers – wisdom assumes that all the forces of God’s resources need to be activated: Bible verses, fellow Christians, the Holy Spirit. The Bible constantly speaks of “walking with wise men” and of not being foolish, for decision-making requires a “fit” mind, not bogged down by unnecessary burdens. Prayer is essential for answering the questions faced by Christians today.

It is impossible to explore all the ramifications of the will of God in such a short space. I am suggesting one way of approaching the will of God, doubtless there are other aspects and opinions contrary to this argument. It has helped me understand, in a more complete way, the guidance of God which incorporates earthly resources, spiritual wisdom and personal choice. I would commend to you the book Decision-Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View as a valuable resource for a more in-depth look at God’s will. In conclusion, Paul is commenting on not criticizing our fellow Christians, and states that “Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” Paul is suggesting that decision-making, after all the planning and prayer is done, should be entered into on solid ground, and entered into with resolve.