Driven or Led?

  • Tim Challies
  • 01/06/04
  • 5

As you know, I spent 40 days blogging my way through The Purpose Driven Life. I finished the book a couple of weeks ago and since then have been forming my thoughts so I can write a review of it. A couple of days ago my thoughts turned to the word "driven" and its implications. I began to look for the word in the Bible and found quite a few references to it. Interestingly, the word driven generally has negative connotations in Scripture. It most often denotes an active force pushing and controlling a passive subject. For example, a ship is driven by the wind and the enemies of the Israelites were driven out of the land.

My thoughts then turned to the alternative to being driven. This, of course, is being led. The Bible has many references to the word led, and they most often speak of a believer choosing to follow God's ways through knowing Him better. For instance the Israelites were led by a pillar of cloud which they chose to follow and Jesus taught us to ask "do not lead us into temptation."

And so I wonder, does God call us to be driven or led? Does He call us to be driven by a purpose or led by His Spirit? Or can the two be one in the same? Can a determination of our purpose make us more willing to submit to the Spirit's leading? Initially I must say that I am more comfortable with the concept of being led by the Spirit, who dwells within me, than being driven by a purpose. But this will require some more thought.

I hope to have my review of The Purpose Driven Life completed in the next day or two.

Comments (5)

1
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Scott • 01/07 @ 3:32am

Tim

I think that we naturally drift away from the spirit’s leading and must drive ourselves to be submissive to the spirit. While the fruits of the spirit is not something that we create in ourselves, I think that we are naturally distracted to the trivial and away from God. We must continue to stay on guard, stand firm in the faith, do everything in love. In today’s society of limitless distractions we must let God’s purpose drive our life.I think that is the major debatable question. Is our life “God’s purpose” driven or “our purpose” driven. If it an our purpose driven, then the title and concept of the book is faulty. If it is God’s then it is dead on.

2
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Charlie • 01/08 @ 2:40am
› visit my web site.

Interesting.Driven or led.I am searching for employment.Should I be driven by the need for income?Led by the spirit to th proper job?Both?You got me to a’thinkin.Keep up the good work.Charlie

3
Anonymous's picture
a comment from THE SILENT ONE • 01/09 @ 3:54pm

Hmm… you have confused my brain…I now have to really think about that one. I shall look in anticipation for your review. I think it’s a bit of both.

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Anonymous's picture
a comment from Andrew • 02/01 @ 6:00pm

Jesus is the shepherd. We are sheep (well, the sheep sheep are sheep, the rest are knee deep in …). The shepherd leads his sheep with his voice. He uses his staff to keep us on the path of righteousness when we wander and his rod to fend off enemies.

In the Middle east, sheep actually recognize the voice of their shepherd and follow him to still waters and green pastures.

In the West, sheep are driven by ranchers and dogs.

If I had a concluding sentence, it would go here.

5
Anonymous's picture
a comment from Tom Haddox • 02/06 @ 12:26pm

I have been reading your blog with great interest. The point you make about driven vs being led is a very valid point. Having come from Texas with a grandfather who was a rancher, I can tell you that cattle can be very stubborn and indepentent creatures, and paradoxically, they are creatures of the herd. They seem to lose their independence in the herd. Hence, they have to be herded to move them anywhere. This, to me, seems to capture a part of the problem with the Rick Warren “Purpose Driven” stuff … it takes independent creatures and makes them a herd where they lose their independence (without even knowing or realizing it many times) and allow themselves to unthinkingly be herded where ever the driver wants to take them … which puts a whole lot of trust in a driver who I believe is not completely interested in their well being.