| View Larger Image | Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View | Paperbackby Garry Friesen (Author), J. Robin Maxson (Contributor)
| List Price: | $16.99 | | Price: | $11.55 | | You Save: | $5.44 (32%) | | | Available: | Usually ships in 24 hours |
| | Binding: | Paperback | | Publisher: | Multnomah Books | | Page Count: | 528 Pages | | Publication Date: | August 11, 2004 | | Sales Rank: | 19,855th |
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FEATURES | - ISBN13: 9781590522059
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- Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
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EDITORIAL REVIEWS |
Product Description
Does God have a perfect will for each Christian? Can you be absolutely sure you’ve found God’s individual will for your life? Garry Friesen examines the traditional view of God’s will, then sets forth a different view that more accurately reflects biblical teaching. This new edition of Decision Making takes up the practical issues of choosing a mate, picking a career, giving of one’s resources, and areas of disagreement between Christians to give readers a new approach to knowing the will of God. Mr. Friesen also addresses many of the arguments that have surfaced since the original printing of this book over twenty-four years ago.Does God Have a Perfect Will for Your Life? Does God have a perfect will for each Christian? Can you be absolutely certain of God’s specific will for your life? In this expanded twenty-fifth anniversary edition of his highly acclaimed work, Garry Friesen examines the prevalent view on God’s will today and provides a sound biblical alternative to the traditional teaching of how God guides us. This new edition includes these helpful resources: Study guide for small groups Responses to Frequently Asked Questions Guide to painless Scripture memorization Friesen tackles the very practical issues of choosing a mate, picking a career, and giving in this fresh and liberating approach to decision making and the will of God. Story Behind the BookMost Christians have been taught how to find God’s will, yet many are still unsure whether they’ve found it. God does guide His people, but the question is, “How does He guide?” After “putting out a fleece” to decide which college to attend, Garry Friesen began pondering why it was so hard to find God’s will when he had so sincerely sought it. Was he the only one who did not have 100 percent clarity for every decision? Then a new possibility struck—perhaps his understanding of the nature of God’s will was biblically deficient. Maybe there was a better way to understand HOW God guides. |
CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 56 reviews)
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God's Will is in Scripture by E. A. Guerra (Hialeah, FL)  5 Stars
November 04, 2009
After years of searching through books about finding God's will and hearing the "voice" of God, professors Garry Friesen, Ph.D. and J. Robin Maxson, Th.M. have finally answered the question, at least to me, in their second edition of "Decision Making and the Will of God."
Friesen and Maxson make their case by first introducing the "traditional" view through a short narrative, then exposing the faults of the "traditional" view of God's guidance in the Christian's life, then stating their case clearly using Scripture, and then finally applying it to the "big" decisions. Many evangelicals sincerely, but wrongly, believe that God has a plan for their lives that must be followed or else end up in God's "permissive" will. Friesen and Maxson have evaluated this view in light of Scripture, and have found that this method leaves at least some believers wanting. Yet the authors have done so in an irenic manner, not resorting to ad hominem attacks as some Christian authors have done when writing about theology. (One chapter even makes an attempt to "reconcile" these two views by shoring up the defects in the "traditional" view.)
Many will be offended by this book; in fact, many people have been offended. Perhaps the ones who will be most offended are those who sincerely believe that God supernaturally guides them through signs, visions, and impressions. Those who believe that God "speaks" to people today outside of Scripture, of course, exist outside of the Charismatic and Pentecostal circles. Yet Friesen is himself open to "supernatural" guidance; however, he simply believes that it is not the norm today.
Moreover, Friesen does believe that God has a plan and purpose for each believer's life. What he and Maxson argue, however, is that a Christian should not be concerned that what he does is within the will of God unless it is either (a) unbiblical and/or (b) unwise. Being in the will of God, they argue, means being obedient to God's revealed will in Scripture, and being wise in one's decision making. And, as the authors repeatedly affirm, if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who freely gives (see James 1:5-8).
However, I disagree with Friesen's views on deciding whether one should get married or not, although I do feel glad that he refutes the view that God will "tell" someone whether to get married or not. A better treatment would be found in Debbie Maken's "Getting Serious About Getting Married."
I leave my review with one final note. The children of Israel had it right all along when they affirmed: "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy 29:29 NKJV). The Lord does have a plan for our lives: It is found in the Word of God. We will be in God's will if we obey that Word and if we walk in wisdom.
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The best I've read on the topic of God's guidnce. by Luanne Cutchins 5 Stars
July 17, 2009
I have read several books on guidance and the will of God, and Friesen's book is the most complete and biblical I've read. It covers the most popular views on guidance and explains why the wisdom view is biblical and works, and the other views are not biblical and in reality do not work but lead to frustration and guilt. He uses scripture well to support his view. He also gives concrete examples on different guidance problems such as vocation, education, marriage, money, etc.
Garry Feiesen is very qualified to write on this subject. His credentials are excellent. I highly recommend it. Every Christian should read this book.
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God dwells in us---by faith by M. Meeker  1 Stars
May 26, 2009
decision making and the will of God by Gary Friesen
(My Comment) I would have expected a better book from a practicing Bible professor at the collegiate level. Sadly I was wrong. I've included some random comments on Chapter 18, Practicing the Presence. If this chapter is typical of the rest of the book, then I would not expect this book to be of much use to the believer in understanding God's silence in this age of Grace.
(G.F)Hands-On Guidance Section (p. 271 - 274)
"God's refusal to tell us what to do in every situation is actually for our benefit." (p. 276)
(My Comment) My problem with this type of "spin" is that it tries to make a deficiency seem like an asset. It's not. And it is not a case of desiring God to answer in every situation. The Bible says that our only way we can "know" that God dwells in us is by faith (Ephesians 4). God has never promised to make Himself known audibly, visually, through dreams or visions or in any other form I haven't mentioned. Deficiencies are just that--deficiencies. Yet he will argue "Less is More p. 275." Thus he explains the lack of God as being a positive. By his reasoning, I suppose Jesus should have told Mary to go join Martha if having "less" of Him is "more."
(G.F) My contention is that equating our inner impressions with the voice of God is a misinterpretation of our experience. (p. 270) ... Second, it ought to be clear by now that the way of wisdom requires to let go of the idea that inner impressions equal the authoritative voice of God (p. 272). Then I "heard" the words of Jesus: "What is that to you? You follow Me." (p. 281) ... Now this may sound like I'm describing the same "inner impression" or "inner voice" ... but there is an important difference. (p. 281) ... [t]he message was verbatim ... as they were originally applied to Peter. ... And while the delay was ... frustrating, hindsight has demonstrated that my earlier rejection proved to be spiritually valuable .... That encounter with Jesus ... gave me confidence that He was ... working out His purposes in my life.
(M.C) As is typical of someone speaking out of both sides of his mouth he asserts his view on page 270, gives guidance on page 272, and then promptly negates both of them on page 281. That his experience was "verbatim" in no way mitigates the fact that what he "heard" is just as much an inner impression as anyone else's experiences are. Nor am I a real big fan of using hindsight to explain what happened as evidence of "God steering the ship." It would have helped if had answered the question at the time of the decision. Also believers tend to view events through the prism of their beliefs. Thus he now maintains that an "encounter with Jesus" did occur. Who's to argue with him? And what did he get out of all of this? He now has confidence that He is working out His purposes in my life. But I should remind Mr. Friesen confidence is not proof. I accept Philippians 2:12 and 13 too--by faith.
(G.F) The problem, then, is not that God is not personally involved in decision making.
(M.C)No the problem is that you've laid no groundwork proving that God has offered to enter into the decision-making process with you or anyone else. How is it that if you gain an answer from even the Lord you are still walking in faith--and not by sight? Romans 8:28 can be cited but I still take that by faith. I have no proof it's true.
(G.F) He has revealed His moral will in totality.
(M.C)To this I say "So what?" If you live in Kansas and you have interviews for similar jobs on both coasts and--so far as you can tell--neither job runs afoul of God's moral will, how does that help you make "the right decision." (He points out in an earlier chapter that in equal opportunities, the role of wisdom allows the believer to be thankful to God for more than one opportunity and frees the believer to pick either option. But this is surely a simplistic explanation and a flawed one too. Your decision to take either position "all things being equal" is a false construct. Living on either coast cannot yield or be exactly the same opportunity. Whether the differences in the cost of living, crime rates, environmental factors, or just the differences in the groups of people you will end up working with, there is no doubt that one of these two places is the "better" opportunity. And that is exactly why you need Him to "dot" the one you should pick. You'll note I started this paragraph with the idea of similar jobs and thus implied similar opportunities--not equal opportunities.
(G.F) He has given us a new nature that makes obedience to His moral will possible.
(M.C)To this again I say, "So what?" In fact this "further" statement is but an extension of the statement above and the decision as to which job to take makes this assertion of his as irrelevant as the one he gave on concerning God's "revealed moral will." And so far as being a new creature is concerned, again this is an article of faith. I can't prove it--at least using this book's arguments--and neither can he. Even if I am now enabled and totally wiling to be obedient to any of His "wills," none of that matters if I don't know clearly what decision I should make.
(G.F)So every single act of obedience is proof of God's personal involvement in our lives.
(M.C)To this I can only say huh? This is one of the most weakly-connected and un-supportable arguments I have ever read.
And so goes much of the five points of his section in Hands-On Guidance pp. 271-272. Assertions mostly with no proof. He closes out this section by saying:
(G.F)If we are to properly interpret the details of our lives ...
(M.C)Does anyone else see the flaw in this summary statement? "Hands-On guidance" doesn't need interpretation. Abraham didn't need to interpret the command to "leave his kinfolk" or Noah to build an ark or Lazarus to "come forth." People making decisions aren't looking for interpretations--they're looking for answers. His "careful exegesis" has not helped his case here.
(M.C)Further he asserts that it is "invalid to conclude that ... He has withdrawn from our lives or that His involvement with us is any sense less personal." This is just one more of his many unsupported assertions.
(G.F)A Personal Relationship Section (p. 274)
(M.C)In trying to explain the phrase "personal relationship" he gives us 8 points to consider. I'll go along.
(G.F) 1. Because God is a person, I can know Him personally.
(M.C) This assertion is patently false. He just explained that God is invisible; that seeing Him is "denied us in this life," and then quotes John 1:18, 1 John 3:2, 1 Cor. 13:12, and 2 Cor 5:7. So far so good. But then he cites 2 Tim 1:12. Paul knew whom he believed. So what? But then again Paul got that personal interview of a millennium with God on the road to Damascus--an interview I would bet money no other person since the time of Paul has ever enjoyed. It's not a question of whether you can know Him. It's that you don't get the opportunity to know Him in any "meaningfully personal" way while you're walking by faith--not by sight; while we're "in this life."
(G.F) 2. Because I am a person, I can know God personally (1 Cor. 13:12)
(M.C) This assertion is also patently false and for the exact same reasons assertion one is false. Further, because "we are denied" seeing Him "in this life," to both of these assertions, I say, "so what?" I look forward to that time when I can see him "face to face" but for now He remains occluded darkly and invisible.
(G.F) 3. Knowing about God is indispensable to knowing God.
(M.C) This assertion is absolutely irrelevant to his argument. From my experience--from my testimony--I would also assert that it too is patently false. (Since I can't speak for everyone else's experience, I am more than happy to hope that God has been more demonstrable with others than He has with me.) I remain like Job, one who knows of God "only by report." For whatever else God's revealed will in the Bible is, it is still a revelation "by report." No one should be surprised at Philip's request "to show us the Father." Jesus certainly wasn't willing to be upfront with the Jews (see John 10:24) about who He was, and even after 3 years of being with His disciples, it is not until the last supper that Jesus agrees to stop using proverbs or figures of speech when instructing them (John 16:25). And apparently it worked (John 16:29-30). Of course this didn't happen until ... three years later and in spite of the fact that He was with and teaching them all this time. Even having first-person interaction with Him was not enough to bring God out into the open. But this is consistent with the way the God has always treated mankind--including those who are His own. Even Isaiah was inspired to write, "Truly you are a God who hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Savior (Isaiah 45:15)"
(G.F) 4. The supreme revelation of God is in His Son.
(M.C) To this I say, "so what?" Again this point is irrelevant to his argument. I am grateful Jesus Christ is God's supreme revelation. But you know--that fact has not once--with certainty--ever helped me make the right decision about anything. As he points out, I'm only left to interpret my life's decisions. I have no proof that I've ever made a right decision by His guidance--whether from Him, His Son or His Spirit.
(G.F) 5. The Holy Spirit transforms the objective truth about God into a subjective experience of God that evokes faith and spiritual life.
(M.C) To this I say, "so what?" It is irrelevant to his argument--about having "hands-on guidance" from God. This is perhaps the most outrageous and dangerous assertion this author makes in this discourse on "Personal Relationships." It's also patently false. Truth is truth. It doesn't need to be transformed into anything. I know why this author is painting this as a positive: it is surely a wonderful idea that God would give each of us our own unique experience with Him. In reality though, it is the "subjective nature" of the "inner voice" that he has already asserted that we must not "take to be the authoritative voice of God." He cannot have it both ways.
(G.F) 6. As the Spirit makes me aware of Jesus, I respond to a person.
(M.C) This is just plainly non-sensical. Oh yes it also irrelevant to his argument. This is just one his many feel-good assertions thrown out without a shred of biblical support. I wish it were true. In my experience, God has yet to respond to me in any meaningful way that I as a "person" could relate to.
(G.F) 7. As I respond to what I know of God, He changes me from within.
(M.C) It's tiring to keep pointing out that this item, like the others, is also irrelevant to his argument. The purpose of his book isn't about explaining how God changes people by any method. Whether or not I'm more "God-like" is irrelevant to whether or not He is giving me "Hands-On guidance" or has me or anyone else in "A Personal Relationship" with Him.
(G.F) 8. This knowledge of God can grow during my lifetime on earth.
(M.C) As Charlie Brown would react: Sigh.
(M.C) I would recommend people to read this book with a very critical eye. There probably is much in this book that could profit from the type of analysis I have illustrated above. I'm glad he tried to correct the way most believers are commonly taught about having a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ" but in the end he ends up arguing for a "relationship with Jesus Christ" that is no more obtainable than the one he is criticizing.
Mike Meeker
Schertz Texas.
[...]
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Excellent In Depth Look at the Will of God by Danny J. Wahlquist (Richmond, VA USA) 5 Stars
March 29, 2009
This book provides an excellent in depth look at the Will of God from all perspectives will a stong biblical foundation. Highly recommend.
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Never received book! by Rebecca Walush (Colorado) 1 Stars
March 02, 2009
I ordered this book over a month ago and still have not received it. They have also not answered my emails. Buyer beware.
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