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Book Review - "Walking with God" by John Eldredge
- 03/25/08
- 76
If you have been in a Christian bookstore in the past six or seven years, you are undoubtedly family with John Eldredge. Beginning with The Sacred Romance (co-authored with the late Brent Curtis) and continuing with Wild at Heart, Captivating, The Way of the Wild Heart, and others, his books have been constant features on the Christian bestseller lists. His latest effort, Walking with God is poised to be another big seller.
In this book Eldredge seeks to teach Christians what it means to live in intimate relationship with God. To this end, he opens up his journals, using himself and his life as examples of how to do this. He says simply, "This is a series of stories of what it looks like to walk with God over the course of about a year." But even more than a tale of walking with God, this is a book about talking with God. Eldredge wants his readers to enjoy conversational intimacy with God. "Really now, if you knew you had the opportunity to develop a conversational intimacy with the wisest, kindest, most generous and seasoned person in the world, wouldn't it make sense to spend your time with them, as opposed to, say, slogging your way through on your own?" Eldredge offers his own growing ability to hear from God as a guide.
The book follows a unique format in that it does not have traditional chapters. Four broad divisions in the book follow the seasons but there are no chapter divisions. There is also little by way of deliberate teaching or by way of carefully building a case. In fact, this book reads more like a blog than a typical Eldredge book. The "sections" vary in length between a few pages and a few paragraphs and they tend to be written from a very personal perspective. If Eldredge had a blog I suspect it would read much like this book. This format may well appeal to people who are looking for an easy read and one that is directly applicable.
Walking with God is predicated on the assumption that God has a personalized will for each of us and that it is our job to remain in constant communication with Him so He can reveal this will for us. In the very first section, titled "Listening to God," Eldredge shares a story about cutting down a Christmas tree. He and his wife had both felt that God had told them to cut down a tree on Saturday but they went on Friday instead. By ignoring God's voice they put their lives in danger as their car suffered a breakdown and flat tires. The winter temperatures plunged precipitously while they were stranded. It was a serious situation, though thankfully one they escaped unscathed. From this story and many like it, we learn the importance of listening to God, even in the minutiae of life. There is, it seems, a "center of God's will." It seems that God's will must be kind of like a level--there is a little bubble that is continually tipping to the left or to the right. Our task is to be constantly asking God for guidance and listening to Him in order to keep that bubble right in the middle. When it strays to the side, we fall outside God's will and begin to live a life that no longer pleases or honors Him. Hence we must listen carefully and constantly. Only when we do this can we live the life God wants us to live and only then can we experience all of the blessings He has for us.
Knowing that many Christians do not believe that God communicates to us in this way, Eldredge makes a brief attempt to persuade in a section titled "Does God Still Speak?" His argument, it must be admitted even by his supporters, is hardly likely to convince those who have strong convictions on the matter. He primarily looks to the examples of God speaking to people in Scripture and concludes that this proves such communication is normative. Though he does acknowledge Scripture to be the first and foremost means of God's revelation to us, and though he looks often to Scripture, he still insists that all Christians should expect to hear God speak to them personally. Nowhere does he interact with thoughtful objections to such communication. He essentially takes it as a given that God will offer fresh revelation today.
Though there is little formal guidance on how to hear God's voice, Eldredge does suggest a process that goes something like this: Ask simple questions; remain in a posture of quiet surrender; sit quietly before God and repeat the question; try one answer and then the other in your heart and gauge how you feel about each. Carrying over from his previous books is the assumption that the human heart is inherently good and trustworthy. We can listen to our hearts and allow it to discern for us what is good and bad, right and wrong. Though God may speak in an audible voice, primarily we "hear" him in our hearts.
What are we to ask of God? Everything, it seems. Here are just a few of the things Eldredge teaches we should ask God about. "Do you want me to paint the bathroom?" "Do you want us to adopt a puppy?" "Should I stay late at work?" "Should we go to the ranch this weekend?" "What dates should we set aside to go hunting?" "God, where is my watch?" "Jesus, should I go fishing today?" "Jesus, do you want to heal Scout?" He also suggests that we ask God what Scripture passage He would have us read each day. We are to involve God's direct guidance in every area of life.
As the book goes on and as the seasons pass the tales begin to grow just a little bit stranger. "God has been speaking to me through hawks," says Eldredge at one point. He then describes watching a hawk through a telescope. "There was a moment when he looked straight down at me, and his eyes almost seemed as if they were the eyes of God. God looking down on me. I asked him what it meant. My love [replied God]." The story of the death of Scout, the family dog, while sad, is also quite unexpected. Eldredge spends a couple of paragraphs applying the promises of Romans 4 to his dog and then, when Scout actually dies, writes, "I heard him bark. Not in my memory, not in the past, but in that moment. In the kingdom of God." He then asked Jesus what dogs do in the kingdom and God replied that They run. "And then I saw Scout, with the eyes of my heart, running with a whole pack of very happy dogs, near the feet of Jesus." Meanwhile his son heard Jesus say, "He won't give me the ball." "To hear that from Jesus was more precious to us than I can say."
A secondary theme of this book, which comes to the surface as we watch Eldredge live his life, is spiritual warfare. Eldredge has adopted the understanding that Satan and his evil spirits operate in domains and that as Christians we are tasked with protecting the domains God has assigned to us. He teaches that we are to be constantly binding the spirits that come against us, naming them and casting them out in the name of Jesus. He often models prayers like this one: "I bring the kingdom of God and the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ over my home, my bedroom, my sleeping, all through the hours of this night and the new day. I bring the full work of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home tonight--the atmosphere in every room, over every object and furnishing, all media, throughout the ceilings, walls, and floors and all places in them, from the land beneath to the roof above and to the borders of my domain." An Appendix shares "A Daily Prayer" which, at several pages, is too long to describe, but which continues at great length with exactly this type of prayer.
And so it goes. As a glimpse into the life of John Eldredge this book may have some appeal. But as a guide to hearing from God, it has little value. What the author teaches is fraught with peril. Feeling that we need to hear direct and fresh revelation from God in every matter is a prescription for paralysis. Though such a discussion is beyond the scope of this short review, it is far better and far more consistent with Scripture to see that there is no such thing as the center of God's will. God gives us the Bible to guide us to what He expressly commands and forbids. Beyond those black and white commands, He gives us great freedom to live our lives. He does not expect or demand that we will stop to demand answers from a "still small voice" for every situation we face. Instead, we fill our minds with Scripture, we study His commands, and we live life in the freedom He offers. Walking with God offers confusion rather than clarity. Take a pass on this one.
If you are interested in the subject of divine guidance, here are a handful of recommendations:
- Decisions, Decisions by Dave Swavely
- Decision Making and the Will of God by Gary Friesen
- Finding the Will of God: A Pagan Notion? by Bruce Waltke
- Guard Us, Guide Us by J.I. Packer
I am a follower of Jesus Christ, a husband to Aileen and a father to three young children. I worship and serve as a pastor at 
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Comments (76)
Tim:
Thanks for plodding through an Eldridge book for the good of those of us who don’t have the patience!
I appreciate and notice the fact that good doctrine, which you have, will always serve us when we discern good from bad, better from best.
Brian
Yikes. My eyes got wider and wider as I read.
Now, my question with Eldredge has always been, is this guy pernicious or just sloppy? Honestly, a lot of what he says sounds like what I grew up hearing from folks in my church, the “hedge of protection” and the “God told me” business more than anything. But I don’t necessarily consider those people to be evil false teachers leading people astray, just folks who engage their emotions rather than their brains a little too often. I’d be interested to hear, Tim, if you think Eldredge’s teachings are a result of lazy or sloppy theology, or if he’s actually implying a false gospel.
Thanks for the review, Tim. I just finished reading your book, and this review is definitely consistent with the patient, scriptural discernment you promote in your book. I thought the charge in your book to be wary of immersion in “the other side” applies to this situation for me. I’ll take a pass on this book. Many thanks for your continued hard work for the kingdom.
Thanks for the review. You’re a true servant of the Lord to read such books and then warn the Body of Christ.
This book seems even sillier than his previous books. That voice he is most likely hearing is his own.I used to live like this. But I never had a hawk look at me, and then God tell me it was Him looking upon me with love. Silly.I have learned from the Scriptures that they are a treasure to us, God’s children. And that His abiding presence, through the Holy Spirit, shall never leave us, and His sovereign grace and love keep us from all harm, as we trust and obey His Word by faith.
Surely Jesus does speak to us through all things, and His omnipresence, and omniscience are to be great comfort to the child of God.
Thanks again.
An old friend of mine from uni, a Christian medic who worked tirelessly for a Lord she loved, started down this track a few years ago. She was confident, expressive and infectiously enthusiastic about her faith.
I remember a conversation about assurance. She was distressed. God hadn’t spoken to her recently, and so she had to assume that she was somehow operating outside his will. Why was God holding back on the guidance? What had she done? Perhaps she wasn’t saved?
And so this went back and forth, God speaking, then not speaking, and she became more and more uncertain about everything. She would be so nervous about decisions and was always crying out for help. She wasn’t the only one. I knew 3 or 4 men and women who were exactly like that.
(Re Laura’s post above, all those guys heard teaching from the same source - a guy who was genuine, out to help, but was very sloppy indeed. In my opinion, despite his best intentions to help, he was a false teacher - the reason i say that is becuase when challenged, he agreed that his teaching was not clear, and was pastorally unwise, but he continued with it, despite admitting that his wording and teaching material was taking folk places the bible never goes.)
It was and is utterly shattering to see enthusiastic and confident christians crumble before your eyes into nervous, introspective christians, who aren’t even sure if they are christians anymore.
Eldredge, it may be great for you when it works, but what about when it doesn’t? Have you ever made a decision about which drug to give to a dying baby on a neonatal unit? How did your god answer you then? Did his decision lead to another dead baby?
Thanks for the review.
Your review is courageous in a culture that drools over the “Wild at Heart” hero that Eldredge has become. To question him is to draw the wrath of many devoted followers.
One of the things that stood out to me in WAH was the absence of footnotes to explain some of his unorthodox interpretations of Scripture.
It sounds like this habit is repeated in his latest work.
One of the things that stood out to me in WAH was the absence of footnotes to explain some of his unorthodox interpretations of Scripture.
That’s a fair critique. This new book has precisely 0 footnotes. He does refer to Scripture, but rarely to make a case from Scripture.
Last summer I had the unfortunate experience of spending a week at a summer family camp where the main speaker drew exclusively from “Wild at Heart.”
It was, by far, the worst set of sermons (if I dare call them that) that I have ever sat through at a week-long camp. And, I’ve spent a lot of time in my life at such camps.
It was notable that the speaker rarely ever actually cracked open a Bible. Many of his sessions were completely devoid of any scripture at all. But, he did show many film clips from such movies as “Braveheart”.
What really got to me, other than the utter lack of scripture, was the weird psychobabble. Ideas such as:
-Every man desires to be a hero,-Every woman desires to be the “beauty” in the heroic story,-Every man should “slay dragons” and “rescue the beauty”-Every woman should desire to have her beauty rescued by a man.
(Aside: my wife is hardly a feminist, but she was virtually gagging at that last point. As she put it, “what on earth does that philosophy say to single Christian women?”)
Prior to my time in those sessions, I had never heard of Eldredge. Afterward, when we got home, I began to do a bit or research. And, from what I found out, we had just gone through his book cover-to-cover.
If that’s really what this fellow has to offer - and if Tim’s review is accurate (and, judging from what I now know of Eldredge, I assume it’s not too far off) - I’d also suggest not wasting your time with these books.
It sounds like “Eldrudge” is hanging out with C.Peter Wagner and that “apostolic” gang who have a ministry called Global Harvest Ministries in Colorado, and who spawn other such ministries..
I quote a portion of your review.
“He and his wife had both felt that God had told them to cut down a tree on Saturday but they went on Friday instead. By ignoring God’s voice they put their lives in danger as their car suffered a breakdown and flat tires. The winter temperatures plunged precipitously while they were stranded. It was a serious situation, though thankfully one they escaped unscathed. From this story and many like it, we learn the importance of listening to God, even in the minutiae of life.”
This is amazing! The best I can say is that this is juvenile theology. Have not many observed incipient open theism in earlier books by Eldrege? How do the notions he expresses in this episode comport with other notions he has previously written concerning God and providence?
I thought it was funny that Jesus was claimed to say that the dog Scout, “wouldn’t give Him the ball.” I don’t know about you, but isn’t that a sin to disobey Jesus, and if Scout is in his “glorified doggie body” wouldn’t he desire with his whole heart both to will and do His good pleasure and that he is no longer wrestling with the old nature that does not want to give Jesus the ball? “Oh, wretched dog that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?” ;)
“Oh, wretched dog that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?”
I wish I had thought of that! I would have included that in the review! :)
Tim,
Thanks for a thoughtful, considerate, and truthful review!
This author makes me think of Rob Bell’s “theological” treatment of faith: “It’s about asking questions”. Why so many people are willing to buy this kind of weightless drivel is beyond me, but I suspect these same people want signs instead of directions, eh?
Thanks Tim! :)
And thanks for all of your excellent reviews!
Kids have great imaginations….doesn’t Eldredge know that? If a child says he heard Jesus say the dog won’t give the ball back, you don’t take that as your theology!
Regarding everything else in the book, on finding “the center of God’s will”, the lack of God’s sovereignty in going into danger because they went to buy a tree on the “wrong day”, and spiritual warfare …I grew up on that stuff, and praise God He brought me out of it.
That comment—“Oh, wretched dog that I am, who will deliver me from this body of death?”—made me laugh SOOOO hard that I almost cracked a rib!!!
Thanks! (wiping away tear…)
Speaking as one who attends a church that seems to be drawn to every pop-evangelical fad, my concern with this book is that, with the previous popularity of Wild at Heart, many of our church people will be purchasing this book - based on the Eldredge name. I fear the undiscerning will flock to this book, and that it will just cater to the “God told me… ” type of subjectivism that pervades my little world. It is just this type of subjectivism which threatens to shortcut the diligent study of the Scriptures.
I pray God might shield our people from books like this one and “The Shack” and “90 Minutes in Heaven” and others you’ve reviewed recently. And I pray that our pulpits would be filled with men who faithfully “Preach the Word.”
Thanks for making us aware of this, Tim!
For many men, the first half of Wild at Heart is enthralling. It reached out and grabbed some of us right where we live. I am a Boy Scout leader that loves to go camping and be outside but I work in a cubicle, far away from windows and the out of doors, every day. Somehow what he said turned something over inside of me.
I then read the rest of the book and was completely befuddled. Somehow, nothing he said there clicked. So, having the proverbial itching ears I read “The Way of the Wild Heart”. That’s when I realized that, like many of us, John can point out the issues but he doesn’t have the solution. It’s not a neat, tight little knot to untie.
My experience with “The Way…” practically threw me into scripture. My heart yearned for something solid. I bought the Chronological Bible with F. La Gard Smith and I’ve been reading through the Bible front to back. It’s been a breath of fresh air.
I think that this is the way that many false prophets get a hold of people. They draw folks in by understanding and restating their problem but they really don’t have a good, biblical solution. They have excellent writing skills and great empathy but their solutions, like TM, Guru worship, New Ageism, etc are empty and useless.
Thanks Tim. I’ve read all of Eldredge other books and like most here, I think he’s off on his theology.
But he does raise some important issues that are oft neglected. I plan to read this one.
dk,I’m glad this stay at home mom can help bring a few laughs!
But he does raise some important issues that are oft neglected. I plan to read this one.
I’d agree that in some of his previous titles he at least raised some important issues (even if I often felt that he didn’t deal with them biblically). I think this book was his least helpful and that there is far less good to mine out of this one than the previous titles…
“Why so many people are willing to buy this kind of weightless drivel is beyond me,”
I think there’s a sentimentality in the human heart that Eldrige has a nack of reaching with his words. It turns me off, but others embrace it. That’s what’s happening today, when the Bible, the truth, is alright, but not revered and treasured as it once was by the Church.
And thinking God is speaking to you, and the thoughts in your mind are emotionally charged, can be unhealthy, and even divisive.And I love emotions, but not without the anchor of God’s truth. His truth is our foundation. Not human wisdom, and feelings.
this breaks my heart that “Christian” publishers are putting books out there that turn people away from the Scriptures and are essentially leading them to be mystics and I believe John Eldredge will be held accountable for not pointing “believers” to the Word of God. This is exactly why I don’t go into Family Christian Stores or Lifeway.
May we fight and pray to run to Scripture instead of trying to read the signs of what God’s will is for us!
I also think that this line of thinking that asks God for guidance on adopting a puppy cripples believers. Our hearts are deceitful, so how can we trust a “peace” in our hearts? I do think God leads us, and it is clear at times. But when it comes to taking one job over another, we should seek Scripture for our answer and at the end of the day make a decision that tries to honor God, but also involves our decision. God’s given us a brain to analyze and make decisions. I know many single men who are basically waiting for God to show them His will concerning a wife for them, and in the end they end up doing nothing.
This is the inevitable fruit when you think that God speaks outside of scripture; if you cannot find the answer you are looking for, you turn elsewhere, and some, who want to maintain some semblance of Christianity, even call it “God speaking”. Remember, they didn’t call the first golden calf or the other golden calves “Baal”, they thought of them as Jehovah.
The problem with this also lies in the fact that it’s hardly universally applicable. It’s fine (for the sake of argument anyway) if your big daily problems are lost keys or a dying pet, but what if you are holding your starving child in Sudan or being physically tortured for your beliefs in China. There has to be something more solid than listening to your heart to sustain you in those times. This type of superficial nod to the sovereignty of God really does not hold water when you need anything beyond superficiality.
And a fly fishing trip isn’t the answer either.
I asked God if I should read this book and right at that moment my cat came in the room and shook its head from side to side so I took that as a no. :-)
Similar to Ed, I sat through weekly mind numbing sessions of “Experiencing God” and as I politely but firmly questioned Henry Blackaby and his ‘scripture to fit the section’ (“Jesus is Your way” or “See? Even Jesus had to find out what the Father was doing and join Him in His work.”) I was politely but frimly ejected from the sessions.
You see? It’s the experiential that drives people away from the bible and away from the Gospel of Christ because it’s always about the immediate: Not about doing the hard work to dig in to the word to discover Christ and his purposes (the indicatives) and then how we should respond (the imperatives) with love towards Him because of what He has done for us.
It looks like Eldredge has another “hit” on his hands.
Tim, you say, “[God] gives us great freedom to live our lives. He does not expect or demand that we will stop to demand answers from a “still small voice” for every situation we face. Instead, we fill our minds with Scripture, we study His commands, and we live life in the freedom He offers.”
How does this hold up to a high view of the sovereignty of God? Aren’t good works already planned for us? Does God have a clear will for our lives? Should we not expect God to guide us in all of our decisions? I can hear Eldredge jumping all over your critique.
Couldn’t someone who “lives in freedom” you describe be charged with spiritual laziness? Should we not be prayerful about every decision we make? Should we not expect God’s Spirit to provide prompting in our regenerated hearts?
I am running into Eldredge’s idea’s about “walking with God” all the time, and I am looking for a robust Biblical analysis/critique of the issue that seems to be that…
God is desiring to speak with us all the time, and, if we listen rightly, the Holy Spirit begins to interact with in a more physical nature, i.e. visions, God speaking audibly, etc.
Could anyone point me to some helpful articles?
I work in Guatemala and Mexico and we have to deal with these books all the time. I am not sure if this one is in Spanish. I hope not. Short term mission activities from the States makes my job a little more difficult. I spend many hours explaining that the great white gods do not have all the answers. I just counter it with God centered theology. Jesus will build His Church. I am just a messenger.www.brotherskeepermissions.com
wow. Thank you for that eye-opening review. I’ll pass on this book.
Incidentally, for anybody who is interested, one of DiscerningReader.com’s reviewers has posted a review of J.I. Packer and Carolyn Nystrom’s book “Guard Us, Guide Us”, which does a much better job of approaching the subject of guidance. Packer & Nystrom’s book provides biblical counterpoint for Eldredge’s subjective ideas.
When you’re talking to folks about Eldredge’s stuff, instead of only criticizing Eldredge, it may be more helpful to say to them, “Why don’t you try Packer on this subject…”
Just a thought!
“Feeling that we need to hear direct and fresh revelation from God in every matter is a prescription for paralysis.”
Thank you Tim, for yet another quote that should be stitched on a sampler and hung in the halls of every church— right up there with “bludgeoning with providence”! In this case, I think it could be called “bludgeoning with mysticism”.
I think this is what Mark Dever was referring to when he wrote an excellent piece “The Bondage of Guidance” on the Together for the Gospel blogsite (http://blog.togetherforthegospel.org/2008/02/the-bondage-of.html).
Focus on the Family’s Boundlessline blog referenced Dever’s piece in a discussion of how this mentality creates paralysis in the minds of young people who want to marry (http://www.boundlessline.org/2008/02/making-good-cho.html). In fact, the scriptures never promise any mystical guidance or confirmation when it comes to mate finding. Try and tell that to those who read Don Raunikar’s “Choosing God’s Best” or any other book for Christian singles that has been published over the last few decades!
Between “the bondage of guidance” and “bludgeoning with providence”, we’ve got a lot of work to do, as far as freeing Christian singles from the specious theology that underpins much of the “gift of singleness” genre.
Hey, aside from dishing out dangerous theology which can cripple the church on hearing God, Eldredge is flat-out hypocritical. I am not being mean-spirited, but, dude - wanting to be ‘wild at heart’ and touting that fluffy dead dog scene is worlds apart. That guy oughta hush up or man up… :)
“God has been speaking to me through hawks,” says Eldredge at one point. He then describes watching a hawk through a telescope. “There was a moment when he looked straight down at me, and his eyes almost seemed as if they were the eyes of God. God looking down on me. I asked him what it meant. My love [replied God].”
First of all, if Eldredge knows anything about hawks, he would know that the hawk is scoping him out for a possible food source, or Eldredge is close to his nest, or he is just curious, or the fact that Eldredge is watching the hawk through a telescope, means that the hawk’s eyes are in an altogether different place and Eldredge has a problem with anthropomorphism.
Like Warrick, I find certain of your critiques of Eldredge somewhat exaggerated, though I understand that a blog is insufficient for the presentation of a fully supported critique. On the whole, I agree that the theology in his books is not sound, particularly from a reformed perspective, and I would recommend that readers of Eldredge approach his theological statements (or implications) with a critical eye. Never the less, I have appreciated “The Sacred Romance,” “Waking the Dead,” and “Captivating.” I find your blog unnecessarily critical of myth, mysticism, and God’s interest and involvement in the believer’s daily life. Though I would not say prayer about bathroom painting is necessary, I see no reason why it is not healthy to speak to God about everything in general. It is one thing to ask and another to demand answers. I believe it was the review of “Captivating” which criticized the view of God as Lover. Can I cite the entirety of the Song of Songs? And even the appeals to myth, while certainly not trustworthy as scripture alone may be trusted to reveal God’s will, need not be discounted as complete folly. These myths reveal desires at the heart of the human condition- the condition of sinners in the need of the (mercy and) love of God. I value the writings of Eldredge because of their insight into human desires. And there is always value in individual testimonies, particularly as encouragement. Once again, in the end I reaffirm the need to read ALL secondary sources with a critical eye, this blog included!
The whole “God told me thing” has troubled me for years, really as long as I can remember.
It seems to be a way to (1) put God on the hook for what the person has decided to do and (2) end all discussion and/or persuasion to the contrary, since nobody could/should argue with God.
I’m never a fan of “God spoke” to me or “God told me” unless there’s chapter and verse and even then I don’t like it because it states more than what may have really happened.
The Spirit certainly could have led the person to a particular passage at a particular point in time, but the person could have just as easily stumbled onto something (that he/she will subsequently take out of context).
Why not just say, “I read this in the Bible and think it applies to my situation”? Why the need to obligate God?
Though I would not say prayer about bathroom painting is necessary, I see no reason why it is not healthy to speak to God about everything in general.
I quite agree that we should be in ongoing communication with God. We are to live lives of prayer. But I don’t see from Scripture that we should ask God about every single decision we make and expect that He will communicate His will to us. This is primarily a misunderstanding of the will of God.
Well, I was really wrestling with whether I should buy this book or not. I mean, one minute I thought “Yes!” and the next minute I thought “No!” But then I heard a still, small voice say, “Consult Tim Challies’ blog!” Now I know not to waste my money. Thanks for the review.
I think part of the issue, Tim, is expecting that God will use “supernatural” means to communicate his will to us, rather than expecting that he will use ordinary means — his word, the church, our Spirit-controlled minds — to guide us.
Does God use those forms of communication (strong feelings, words in your head, seeming coincidences)? I certainly think so. But is this his ordinary method? I think not. And you are spot on about paralysis!! If you have to wait for the proverbial handwriting on the wall to make the most insignificant decision (blue car or white car? puppy or kitten? lipstick or lip gloss?), what happens if there is no voice from heaven or impression in your spirit?
As a gal who has discipled me in recent months often says, “God is renewing your mind. Use it.”
This book sounds cooky.
An excellent read on this topic is ‘Guidance and the Voice of God’ by Phillip Jensen and Tony Payne, Matthias Media.Soundly Biblical, very wise, practical. Highly recommend!!
“But I don’t see from Scripture that we should ask God about every single decision we make and expect that He will communicate His will to us. This is primarily a misunderstanding of the will of God.”
I expect to hear from God every day, and I see nothing unbiblical about it. What I see is that the scriptures encourage me to desire and to expect to hear from God. My expectation stands upon the Word both written and incarnate.
As I have been learning to live a life of prayer I am finding that God has so much more to say than I could ever have. I ask God about a lot of decisions that I make—not because I lack a knowledge of scripture—but simply because He is my Father.
“But I don’t see from Scripture that we should ask God about every single decision we make and expect that He will communicate His will to us.”
And I am not sure that I see from Scripture where it says that we shouldn’t ask God about every single decision we make. What the Scripture does say “is that if any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him.”
Now I don’t ask God about “every” decision in my life and I highly doubt Eldredge does also, but there is no crime in becoming like a child and asking God to communicate his purposes, plans, and will for our everyday life.
I can have every page of the Bible memorized and have no guidance for my everyday life. What I need (what I think we all need) is not tons of information but revelation. Holy Spirit takes the information and breaths it onto our hearts as revelation, thus creating the possiblity for transformation. We can fill our minds with scripture all we want, but not until Holy Spirit breaths it upon our hearts will we know what to believe and how we should live.
Hi Tim:
Inspired by your review, especially your examination of what Eldredge teaches on finding the will of God via an “experiential” approach, I put together an article titled How Do We Know the Will of God: “Experientially” or through Scripture?. In it, I talk about my present understanding about this important subject, as one who has read tons of books on finding God’s will over the years, and has been a Baptist, then a Charismatic, and now is a Reformed Baptist (still undecided about some of the spiritual gifts that are said by some to be for today). Anyway, for me coming to see the truths of the “doctrines of grace” in recent years has been a very helpful influence, helping me to soundly reject the mystical approach to God’s will that I was dabbling in and found appealing in some ways. I hope you or your readers may find the article interesting, especially because I have put together at the end of it links to excellent teaching resources on this topic, by men such as Garry Freisen, M. Blaine Smith, John Piper, Sinclair Ferguson and others.
Hi I think the link to the article in my comment above doesn’t work, so I’ll try again:
How Do We Know the Will of God: “Experientially” or through Scripture?
Also I mis-spelled Garry Friesen’s last name. It’s Friesen, not Freisen.
Blessings,
Alex
“He and his wife had both felt that God had told them to cut down a tree on Saturday but they went on Friday instead. By ignoring God’s voice they put their lives in danger “. I spent years in a belief system like this - one in which you have to make sure every step you take is the perfect will of God for you or else you will have stepped out from under his “umbrella of protection”. What may not be obviously apparent is the terrible fear-based legalism that eventually results, particularly when things start going “wrong”. Though I’m a reformed believer now, and no longer believe this is what it means to be “led the the Spirit”, long years of exposure still come back and bite me from time to time, usually when some major decision needs to be made. I’m still periodically paralyzed by the fear that I’ve made a wrong decision (mind you, I’m not talking about decisions in disobedience to God’s Word) and have now forfeited God’s “perfect” will for my life, will no longer be able to glorify Him, and will spend the rest of my days without the favor of God. I’ve wasted weeks, maybe even months, of my life as a believer in a miasma of fear and second-guessing, either unable to take a step forward in faith for fear I’ll make a horrible mistake and will no longer know what it is to have God’s blessing on my life, or frozen in terror after the decision is made because I may have just made the fateful decision that will be my final undoing. That’s the devastating fear.
Then there’s the legalism. The Scripture lists a variety of behaviors and attitudes which are inconsistent with a profession of faith in Christ. I’ve read the Bible cover to cover and then some, and am quite convinced that purchasing a Christmas tree on Friday is not one of them. So, according to this belief system, God is continually adding new restrictions to believer’s lives, and not listening carefully enough to find out what they are, or misinterpreting them, can be deadly. Each of life’s decisions must be made according to unclear, and often newly revealed guidelines. In this theology, God seldom speaks clearly, but mainly with vague feelings and/or impressions, “I feel like I heard God say…”. It is up to the Christian to learn the trick of hearing and interpreting these impressions. What’s more, this all important, and apparently life-saving skill is not taught in Scripture, but it is still required learning nonetheless. It’s up to us. If a person really believes that he must hear from God in order to make any decision,and then moves forward without such guidance it becomes sin to him, because whatever is not done from faith is sin.
This is not the system to be a part of when things start falling apart. This is a system that points fingers of blame at the sufferer. This is the belief system of Job’s comforters. A flat tire in the freezing cold is what you get when you haven’t bothered to cultivate the ability to hear the voice of God outside of Scripture, or don’t obey a funny feeling you had about Christmas tree shopping on Friday.
(Conversely, when things go well, it really isn’t a gracious merciful God who gets the glory, it’s the very spiritual person who did everything right and is merely receiving the hard earned benefits. People really like to think that things are going well because they did everything right.)
This system is the reason the doctrine of the sovereignty of God is so precious to me now. God does lead me, through His word as His Spirit enlightens my mind to understand it, through the wisdom He gives me, and through His Providence by which He works all things together for good for me, even when I forget to check the tire pressures on my car and get a flat, or accidentally get my elderly mother’s medications mixed up yet everything turns out fine, or let go of my health insurance because it’s too expensive then get cancer, or buy a newer used car because it’s cheaper then fixing the old one and the newer one breaks down, or buy a house instead of rent and then have to give it up because the economy turned sour, or bring home a rescued dog of a breed everyone says should be wiped off the face of the planet and have it turn out to be the best and most gentle dog I’ve ever owned.
The Holy Spirit leads us to put to death the deeds of the flesh. This is what it means to be led by the Spirit of God. When we see this fruit in our lives, we can know we are being led of Him.
Would I not give that men and women would turn from this fluff and delve into the writings of Johnathan Edwards or Luther,Spurgeon ,Llyod-Jones ,Owen ,Calvin and the puritans who had the depth of understanding , its not about me , its about Jesus Christ.I tried to read Wild at Heart when that first came out but gave up after it became clear that the author is more enamored with himself then Christ. This whole navel gazing Christianity that seems to be flourishing today is perfect for the “me” generation. Its all about experience and feelings and my heart . Which I do not trust one second . Years ago I was in a church were a lady would pray like Eldridge concerning everything , except perhaps putting her socks on. She was always looking or wanting to feel the Spirit lead her . When She was challenged to realize that the Holy Spirit leads through the word read and preached , not by some form of native mysticism , she left the church saying the Spirit was being grieved and wasn`t present. I think Pastor MacArthur in some of his writings concerning the will of God hits the nail on the head , the will of God is not some abstract thing we can`t know , its clear in scripture . When I buy something I don`t pray before I enter Walmart for guidance , I know that God wants me to be a good steward with my money so that guides my spending or use of credit etc.. I think the thing I love about the reformers like Luther and Calvin is that they allow us to see the extraordinary in the ordinary without all the mystical mumba , jumbo.
About six years ago I was on staff at a church which used WAH as the basis of their men’s ministry. At the time I thought it was kind of weird in some respects, and maybe not entirely based on scripture, but I was okay with it. Frankly, it smelled funny but I just didn’t think enough about it.
Thankfully, my theology has grown considerably since. I now consider the kind of teaching Eldridge engages in to be quite dangerous.
This review thew into stark contrast the teachings of Eldridge et al. with those of my current pastor and church. Last Sunday, which was Easter, my pastor gave one of the greatest sermons I’ve ever heard.
He knew our sanctuary would be full of the usual holiday visitors (and it was). So he used Jude 3 as a launch pad for his sermon - “to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints”. He laid out the historic fundamentals of the Christian faith, majoring on the gospel. He pulled no punches in flatly stating that a Christian must believe in creation; the fall of man; the actual, physical death and resurrection of Christ; the atonement; the Trinity; the virgin birth; and about a dozen other fundamentals — many of which are weakened, side-stepped, or outright denied by many churches, teachers and writers today in favor of something which tickles the ears of the masses.
His language was unapologetic, uncompromising, plain and simple. The gist of his message was something like, “If you are a Christian, this is the foundation of what you believe: God is good, sin is bad, Hell is hot, but Jesus saves.” In fact that’s pretty much what he closed the sermon with, followed by a direct call for everyone to make a choice: turn from sin and follow Christ, or bear the guilt of our sin for eternity. I wanted to jump to my feet and cheer.
Today I’m very glad to be under sound Biblical teaching. I’m praying for the millions being led astray into an emotional, fearful, self-centered, pseudo - psycho - religious void via books such as this. May they open their Bibles, read, pray, and may God grant them true spiritual knowledge and wisdom from above.
I can have every page of the Bible memorized and have no guidance for my everyday life. What I need (what I think we all need) is not tons of information but revelation.
Wesley,
This is truly a sad statement on your view of Scripture, which is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
I pray you will come to know this glorious truth, and soon.
typical American Christianity… miles and miles long, an inch deep. We are reading & SELLING garbage that tells us that we need something more than SCRIPTURE to know God. Books like this will continue to sell at enormous levels. If my conscious would allow me… i would write these same types of books knowing full well I would sell millions to those who fall prey to cookie-cutter theology. Sad, but true.