Dear Church Family,
As I peruse Terry Johnson’s chapter on “Guidance” in “When Grace Comes Home,” it reminds me of what R. C. Sproul warned about when making ethical decision. He noted that many people use “Jiminy Cricket Theology” as they subscribe to the motto, “Always let your conscience be your guide.” Sproul goes on to add, “For the Christian, the conscience is not the court of highest appeals for conduct. The conscience is important , but not normative. It is capable of distortion and misguidance.”
I have no doubt Terry would agree with Sproul. Terry writes, “It seems clear enough that God leads and guides and instructs us the way we should choose.” In the beloved Psalm 23 David rejoices that God “guides me in paths of righteousness.” In Psalm 25:8-9, 12 God “instructs sinners in His ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way…He will instruct him in the way chosen for Him.” The Bible often states that God will guide His people in how they are to live. How?
Terry gives three ways of guidance. First, “God guides us through Scripture. Psalm 119 tells us this over and over again. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 is the classic text showing that the Bible “is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” Therefore, “The Bible is the primary means by which God leads His people. More than any other factor, it determines the kind of life we are going to lead….Nothing illegal, immoral, selfish, or unloving can even be considered.” Simply put, we do what the Bible commands and do not do what it forbids.
Second, “God guides us through prayer.” James 1:5 makes a great point, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” Terry further notes, “When we pray, we slow down (finally) and listen. When we pray we are not pumping our minds full of news, music, conversation, entertainment, and so God has an opportunity to speak to us.” This echoes Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Third, “God guides us through godly counsel. Each step of the way in the decision making process ought to include the advice and counsel of the wise.” The Proverbs reflect this often with 11:14 just one example, “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure.” Since grace teaches all are sinners, the thinking and decision making abilities of all people are flawed from birth. Therefore, all of God’s people must rely on guidance “given by the Holy Spirit, not through impulses, voices, or dreams, all of which are too subjective for sin-prone hearts, but through the objective criteria of Scripture, prayer and godly counsel.”
No doubt we can all look back in our lives and see multiple times when we have failed to get Biblical guidance. The mistakes have caused us and others great pain. Worse they have taken glory from God. May we all allow our Good Shepherd to guide us “in paths of righteousness.”
With great hope in His grace,
Pastor Gillikin