A Biblical Examination of Individualized Guidance (among other things)

This is a long one folks. I had a comment left on my last post that I decided to make into another post because I would love everyone’s thoughts on the issues he's brought up.
Here’s the comment:

“When in the bible does it say we are to only have one wife? When did the practice of poligamy go from being ok to sin?IF it was (old testament) ok to have multiple wives (as many of the patriarchs did), how can there be just one "the one"? Or did that change too? And Luke, I think God can issue a blanket rule (thou shalt not kill) and then order one specific servant (or group of servants) to act contrary to that blanket rule. After all, did not God order the Israeli army to kill ALL of their enemies multiple times?Ok, having said that, and if the above is correct, and it may very well not be, then I think one has to admit that there may be circumstances where God wants (tells) me to do something he specifically told you not to do. So, its not just interpreting the scripture correctly, but also what God tells us as individuals. Or am I wrong and it is only Genesis to the Book of Revelations?Oh, one more thing. “For whatsoever is not of Faith is sin. If you don't know if it's right or wrong...and you do it anyway...it's wrong.”Can you sin from a lack of action? If so, then if you are uncertain as to what you should do, maybe by not doing it your committing a sin? Or not? And I am sure that you’re about ready to ban me, but I do like to challenge a line a thought. The responses are helpful for me to attain a deeper understanding of God’s will. Luke, I admit you’re more knowledgeable (and wise) then I am, and I am very interested to read your reactions to the above. I am enjoying this conversation immensely.”

The only reason I'm going to ban you is if you keep saying I'm wiser than you. :) When you feel like praising, praise God, not me. I don't share your sentiment about me being wiser than anyone.

Polygamy:
God has never been please with polygamy as far as I can tell. The Bible says that God’s original intention was for one man to be married to only one woman, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh” (Gen 2:24). Mankind quickly perverted the concept of marriage to allow for multiple wives (Gen 4:19). The Bible does not specifically condemn the practice of polygamy until the New Testament (1Tim 3:2), but that does not mean God approved of polygamy before.

We see in Deuteronomy 17:14-20, that the kings were not supposed to have multiple wives. Ultimately the case can be made from Genesis 2:23-24, I Timothy 3:2 & 12 and Titus 3:12 that nobody should have multiple wives. Although the New Testament passages relate to elders and deacons we can apply it to all Christians men because these are worthy standards for all men and we should all seek to be Holy as God is Holy (I Peter 1:16), and if these standards are holy for elders and deacons then they are holy for all. Is that a fair conclusion to draw? We should strive to live just as holy of lives as our leaders right? God doesn't have different standards for some than others. We are all called to be holy.

Extra-Biblical Guidance:
As far as God issuing a blanket rule (anything in His Word) and then telling some of us to act contrary to it...I don't agree with that at all. God will NEVER ask us to act in a manner contrary to His written word...EVER. Your example of God saying "Thou shalt not kill" and then ordering the Israelites to war, I'll agree is a tough issue, and I don't have a great answer as to why God would order people killed. One difference that comes to mind is that in the Old Testament the Israelites were God's chosen people. God never commanded one Israelite to kill another. The law was written for the Israelites. When Christ died on the cross and the Jews were not accepting, God opened the door for all men. We all became grafted into the children of Israel.

Another thought on God revealing things that are outside of the Word. I do believe God can reveal things to people. If God could specifically talk to people in the Bible He still can today. However, I feel that the concept of individual guidance and revelation is grossly overused in the Christian church today. I think we can learn some things about personal individual guidance or revelation that’s extra-Biblical. The Bible has many examples of this, but even in the context of the Bible this instances were rare considering the Bible covers a history of about 4,000 years. The cases are exceptional. There is no hint that day-to-day decisions—big or small—were made by getting special directions from God. God’s specialized directives in Acts, for example, are limited to only 14 from
the time of Pentecost. Remember: A handful of incidents do not constitute a model. You can’t build a biblical model of anything by citing irregular and exceptional events as support. It’s a mistake to take the exception and make a rule out of it.

Secondly, personalized guidance in the Bible is an intrusion. It is not being sought after. There is no evidence the Apostles were “waiting on the Lord” seeking special guidance. Instead, God surprised them with it. We’re not told to seek specialized, supernatural guidance from God. If this is the way we’re supposed to make decisions, then why doesn’t the Bible explicitly teach us this important skill?

Thirdly, personalized guidance in the Bible is supernatural and, therefore, clear. In Acts, the majority (five) were visions, three were from an angel, four times the Spirit spoke, one seems to have been a prophecy, one was the voice of Jesus. Why is it clear? God expects it to be obeyed, and you can’t obey a command that’s not clear.

• 1 Corinthians 14:8: “If the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?”


• Paul blinded on Damascus road: “Rueben, I’m not sure, but I think God may be trying to tell me something.”

There is no evidence that these were inner urges and intuitions. Personalized guidance generally goes against wisdom (not against the Word), that’s why there needs to be a special intrusion. Personalized guidance becomes God’s moral will, a command that must be obeyed by the person to whom it was revealed. What about Acts 6:6-7? “And they passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.” There’s no doubt that God gave special direction in this case, as He occasionally did. However, there’s nothing about this passage that implies it’s an exception to the pattern I’ve described. We simply don’t know the manner God communicated this prohibition, but it must have been clear (see above) and therefore probably verbal “having been forbidden.”

In sum, the biblical characteristics of special guidance are that they are rare, intrusive
(unsought), supernatural in character, and clear.

A lot of this is from
“Decision Making and the Will of God” ©2000 Gregory Koukl

And Finally!! (told you this was long didn’t I?)

The Sin of Inaction:
I think Sarah hit the nail on the head on this one in the following comment. She said, “One more thought “can you sin from lack of action?” Yes. “To him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17”
I also think of Ephesians 5:15-16 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Let’s not be lethargic in our Christian walk! Let walk circumspectly (diligently), while we strive for the mark!