Last Sunday, we discussed the subjective modern concept of "being called of God." There is a legitimate biblical usage. All Christians have been called by the gospel to obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus. Prophets and apostles were called to serve as God directed. But today, religious people use the term loosely, in an ambiguous way. It is subjective. The danger of such modern usage is that people falsely claim special authority from God by being called. We have a right to demand proof of such a calling. When and how did God call you? What specifically did God say to you? Does this modern revelation agree with the Scriptures?

There are many such ambiguous, nebulous things believed among religious people that often go unchallenged. These things, as a group, could be compared to "folk religion." That is, the concepts originated and are used widely among the common people. There are folk religious sects among all major religions, including Christianity.

Jesus lives in my heart. Even a songwriter expresses this subjectivism concerning the resurrection of Jesus. "You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart." ("He Lives," Alfred Ackley, 1933.) This, of course, does not prove that Jesus arose from the dead. Followers of Joseph Smith or Muhammed could say that their prophets live within their hearts.

We know that Jesus arose from the dead because of the reports of eyewitnesses. Peter preached at Cornelius’ house, "Him God raised up the third day and showed him openly. Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he arose from the dead." (Acts 10:40-41.) Paul explained, "After that he was buried and that he arose again the third day according to the Scriptures. He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve, after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James, then of all the apostles. And last of all, he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time." (1 Cor. 15:3-8.)

Paul wrote, "When He shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. . . ." (2 Thess. 1:10.) Faith is confidence in the reports of the eyewitnesses. A serious mistake in Bible study is made when we do not make a difference between the work of eye and ear-witnesses in the Bible with Christians today. They (the early apostles and prophets) laid the foundation for the church and the Gospel. We respond to that message, either accepting or rejecting it. We need not duplicate their work. Jesus need not appear to us today. The primary, foundational passages and examples in Scripture should be separated from my life experiences. No one today will have such foundational experiences as Paul, Peter, James, Matthew and others had. We must believe and respond to their testimony. We have no testimony to the Deity of Jesus to offer.

Specific time to die. Another example of such an idea that has sprung up among the people in society is the idea that God has a specific time for you to die. It is not taught anywhere in the Bible, but it is a popular folk concept. If the concept is true, why do these same parents tell their children to watch both ways before walking across the street? Why do they tell their teenagers to be careful while driving? If it is not their time to die, they won’t! If it is, being watchful will not change it! I do not believe that God has appointed a specific hour for us to die. However, the Bible does say that God has appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment. (Heb. 9:27.)

This idea of God having a specific time for us to die may be connected to a strong view of the sovereignty of God. Some taught that God so controls everything that nothing good or evil can happen without God doing it or approving of it. Such a view greatly limits the freedom of the will of man to act righteously or wickedly. The Bible teaches both the sovereignty of God and the free will of man. We must make room for both. Sovereignty is often used to reduce free will and to remove incidents of a fallen world.

Many of these concepts are linked to what some call an "individual plan for every life."

The source of many of these ambiguous, subjective ideas is the traditional doctrine that God has a detailed plan for everyone’s life from birth until death. Many religious teachers say that you must seek to discover and understand God’s will for your life. (For an excellent discussion of this concept see Garry Friesen’s Decision Making And The Will of God, 1980.)

The traditional view is that God’s will can be divided into three areas: His sovereign will, moral will, and individual will. God’s sovereign will is simply that God is the Almighty Ruler of the universe. He is creator; there is none else like Him. There is no other God but Jehovah. He designed and planned the universe, and all that exists therein. He is Lord and God. His moral will is expressed in commands and instructions concerning how we should live our lives. God has a strong interest in man’s conduct. He is not "a disinterested or permissive parent." Due to God’s love for man, He has planned our eternal redemption in Jesus Christ. But in addition to these two wills, many envision a third will concerning each human life. Since God is Creator and Lord, He surely has a plan for us in our lives.

The individual will of God is inclusive and specific. It covers every detail of one’s life. It is that ideal, detailed life-plan which God has supposedly, uniquely designed for each believer. Just as we have sought to understand the sovereign and moral will for our lives, so, they say, we should seek to know God’s will for our individual lives as his followers. It is obvious that this individual plan is not detailed in Scripture. It is not written in any other book from God. How do we go about determining this specific plan for our lives?

This belief that such a detailed plan exists sets many off on a most frustrating journey. Every decision becomes something that is momentous and eternal. God is not only concerned about you becoming a Christian, but He wants to reveal to you personally his will for your life. Where should I go to school? Work? Who should I marry? Where should we live? Should I accept this new job offer? Trying to determine God’s will for every decision opens the door to the most subjective, ambiguous, nebulous ideas ever promoted by religious people.

One teacher gave seven road signs by which one could determine God’s individual will. The first road sign is the Word of God. In Scripture we can see how God dealt with others on an individual basis. We then can look for signs that God is dealing with us like He did with others. Someone joked, Maybe we should keep a donkey in our backyards just in case God wants to talk to us the way He did to Balaam! Does the crowing of a rooster mean something like it did to Peter??

The second road sign is circumstances. Since nothing happens by chance, we should pay attention to open and closed doors. Paul prayed that God would open doors of opportunity for him to preach. (Col. 4:3.) But what if we are trying to do good and we are opposed by evil people? What if the door looks closed? Did God close the door or someone else? A friend told me and Norma that they were having a difficult time raising money for doing mission work. They assumed that God had closed the door for them. Satan may have been opposing their efforts to preach the Gospel. How can you know for sure? This is the uncertain, ambiguous nature of man trying to speak about what God is or is not doing.

The third road sign is the inner witness of the Holy Spirit. One wrote, It is a somewhat delicate task to describe exactly how the Spirit speaks within the heart of the believer. But such guidance is called "the voice of the Spirit," "the inner voice," "the small still voice," and "inner impression." From all these expressions, the teachers conclude that the inner witness of the Holy Spirit is "that ministry of the Spirit in which He guides the believer through personal impressions and inner peace within the heart to reveal God’s individual will."

The fourth road sign is mature counsel from other believers. A Bible counselor can help you to discover God’s will for your life. But there is a difficulty. "As helpful as counselors are, this source of guidance does have definite limitations which makes it less reliable than some of the other signs already described. For instance, different counselors may give conflicting advice. Unfortunately, all fellow Christians are fallible, since they are human. One must remember that the Holy Spirit is our final Counselor in all leading, though He often uses human counselors along the way."

The fifth road sign is personal desires. The problem here is that the human heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. (Jeremiah 17:9.) Can even a believer trust his own heart? Is it safe to think that what I desire, God desires? That is what Henry VIII thought. Ann Bolin correctly said, This could be used just as an excuse for doing what you want to do. It is a dangerous thing whenever we have people who think that their thoughts are the thoughts of God. This kind of ego can be found in every religious body. We have "brotherhood watchdogs" and "local chaperones" who apparently think that way.

The sixth road sign is common sense. God created man with the ability to reason and to understand the world about him. But how can I use my common sense to determine God’s specific plan for my life? Did Noah build the ark relying upon common sense? Did Abraham start to offer Isaac on an altar through common sense? Our thoughts are not God’s thoughts, said Isaiah. (55:8-9.)

The seventh road sign is special supernatural guidance through an audible voice, an angel, a vision, a trance, a dream, a prophecy, or a miracle. Obviously, these things occurred in Scripture. For the majority of believers, God has not dealt with them that way. But some argue that we should not limit God. "Thus we conclude that special supernatural guidance is neither normal or necessary to find God’s individual will for you . . . but if an angel should tap you on the shoulder, listen real good." (Friesen, 56.)

God could design a plan for every life if he so desired. The Bible does not indicate that he has made such a plan for every believer. Such a plan is not included in Scripture itself; therefore, a believer would have to search for it elsewhere (within himself, others, circumstances, the Holy Spirit).

This individual plan can become more important than God’s moral will and spiritual plan for man’s redemption. We exalt ourselves when we think that God is doing something unique and special with just me. Men often use that to exert themselves over others, in spiritual dominance, and manipulation.

We must emphasize the difference between God’s primary work in laying the foundation for the church and man’s redemption with events today. God is not using anyone like he once used the prophets and apostles. My life experiences should not be equated to those of the prophets and apostles. God is not going to speak directly to me or through an angel. Why would an angel speak to us today? To reveal truth? No, see Galatians 1:6-8. To reveal God’s individual plan for my life? No. To make a decision for me? No.

There is also a false sense of spirituality involved. A believer can be filled with spiritual pride because he thinks that God is dealing with him in some special, direct way. Multitudes are basing their assurance of salvation, not upon Scripture, but upon what God is supposedly doing with and through them. Their personal experiences are proof of their salvation.

Who are we to say that someone has not received so special sign from the Lord? We just nod in silence, giving our accent to something that is not true. The traditional view of God’s individual plan is believed by so many. It is the gospel according to many spiritual leaders. If you do not agree, you will be judged lacking in spirituality and close communion with the Lord. We need to expose this subjective thinking for what it is. It is not the gospel. It is not a part of the sovereign or moral will of God.