In a philly.com article by Ray Henry, Herman Cain said that God convinced him to enter the race for president. Apparently Cain's first response was Mosesesque, "You've got the wrong man, Lord, Are you sure?"
The article goes on to quote Cain, "That's when I prayed and prayed and prayed. I'm a man of faith, I had to do a lot of praying for this one, more praying than I've ever done before in my life." "And when I finally realized that it was God saying that his is what I needed to do, I was like Moses, 'You've got the wrong man, Lord. Are you sure?"
Now first of all, what is the Lord going to say? "Wait a minute Herman, let me check my Decrees and Divine Purpose book." "Yeah, it's right here on page 777, 7th on the right, tell Herman Cain to run for president.'"
Second, setting the theology aside that would demonstrate unequivocally that divine revelation has ceased, why make such a statement at all? I have no problem with Cain being as he calls himself, "a man of faith." I have no problem with a man of faith running for the presidency, but why make such a claim? Cain may very well be a fine, decent, honorable, and upstanding man whom we may need at this hour. (although I am still opposed to 9-9-9)
There is no way to verify the claim. Cain certainly was careful with the words he disclosed, i. e. there is nothing that commits God to making sure he wins the presidency. If he fails to get the nomination or if he gets it and looses to Obama both God and Cain can arise from the ashes as "unscathed."
What has got a burr under my saddle? Why can't we just take responsibility for our decisions and actions? Why do we need to justify our decisions with the caveat, God told me to do it? After all, we poo-poo all those who kill their fellow human beings and then bring God to their defense by stating He told them to do it.
The Scriptures give us no room to state that God tells us to do or not to for that matter anything. However, over and over we are told such things as, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV) "...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7, ESV)
We can go to God in earnest prayer and commit our plans, our goals, our desires, and our ideas to God and then trust God, who knows what is absolutely best for us, to enable us to bring those plans or decisions to fruition or not through circumstances, people, and or finances. God opens doors and closes doors and actually directs the steps of His children in His perfect will. This comes from being sensitive to the events and people around us, not because God "speaks to us" and persuades us verbally to take a course of action.
I would much rather a candidate state that after earnest and devout prayer that he or she has the peace that God provides and is making a run for the White House than to have them say God told me to do it. I have absolute confidence that through a number of circumstances, some favorable and some not so favorable, God led me to Longview to plant a church. He did not tell me to do this, he didn't speak to me verbally. If for some reason this church doesn't succeed or if God opens an existing church in Texas or Tennessee it wasn't because God told me so.
8 comments:
This is what's wrong withe the whole "God told me" approach to begin with. I wrote about that recently and pointed to a great series of articles on the subject by Tim Challies. God does not "speak" in this way. He speaks through His Word, He leads and guides, but to suggest God gave you this command in a direct conversation is ridiculous. And yet, Cain isn't alone. The reason I wrote about this was because I hear it from pastors all the time: God told me, etc. Like we have these audible conversations with God on a regular basis. Wishy washy theology at best.
"Why can't we just take responsibility for our decisions and actions? Why do we need to justify our decisions with the caveat, God told me to do it? "
Excellent! I remember one time a person in church came over and told my wife that God told her to pray for my wife for healing and she just needed to obey. Nothing changed in my wife's health but I imagine the gal felt good that she "obeyed God". Sad that such things pass for spirituality in some circles.
How sad the really is Bob. It put the responsibility and weight on your wife so unfairly. That woman should have just said, "I feel compelled to pray for your healing, may God do as He pleases." I am sorry that you had to bear that.
A great majority of people in the "so called church" beleive exactly the way Herman Cain said it, I don't know if he said it for points or because he beleives that way himself. I don't defend this but he is not the first to say that.
It seems a silly statement to make, but I am not politically minded, our own MPS leaves much to be desired.
Hope all is well.
Yvonne.
God may not have told Herman Cain to run for president but if he ever becomes president it will be because God put him in office and that goes for any other world leader. God is in control!
I agree with Ron:)
Amen Ron.
Post a Comment