Posted on 02/15/2014 9:08:02 AM PST by EscondidoSurfer
Many groups—including Christians—take the phrase “Let go and let God” to heart. The idea of getting out of the way and letting God take over is appealing and has a spiritual sound to it.
Those who seek to overcome compulsive behavior are often exposed to this thinking. For example, imbedded in the 12 steps in the form that most recovery groups follow are the powerful assertions that one who is overcome by sin is “powerless” and needs to “turn their will and lives” over to God. This letting go allows God to “restore their sanity” and “remove their defects in character.”
Does the Bible teach “Let go and let God”? Not exactly—look for yourself.
(Excerpt) Read more at overcoming-lust.com ...
“Praise God and pass the ammo” is more popular...
God gives us the grace we need to reform from bad habits.
But He does not take away our free will and drive us like robots.
If we consciously give up our free will, quit trying to force our will and our way on life and ask God to lead us with His grace....He does.
Pray for a good harvest, and then hoe like Hell.
In my early Christian life I, like so many others, struggled with the correct interpretation of Romans Chapters 6, 7, & 8. It is Paul’s description of how a Christian is to live the sanctified life. There were clearly highly divergent opinions within the Protestant church as expressed by the books available and the writers with their varying opinions all seemed to make at least some sense. My grappling with the issue occurred around 1980. I finally just put my books on the shelf and put it aside.
In 2010 “LET GO AND LET GOD? - A Survey and Analysis of Keswick Theology” by ANDREW DAVID NASELLI was published. It was available through my Logos Bible software and I purchased and read it.
Naselli contends that the phrase “Let go and let God” was popularized and injected into Protestant theology by the Keswick movement. He describes the movement and gives a detailed pedigree of the different proponents of this position. No matter what your viewpoint, the book is great in that it puts all the differing views on sanctification from the Protestant perspective in one place and explains them.
Naselli also contends that the positions are not heretical in that they do not deny the divinity of Christ or the necessity for His atoning grace in order to pay the penalty of our sins. Thus, we should embrace all the different adherents (the ones Naselli deals with) as brothers in Christ. On the other hand, Naselli correctly points out that having an incorrect view of “sanctification” is like attempting to navigate a city unknown to you by using the WRONG MAP! Thus, a flawed view of sanctification will cripple your personal spiritual growth.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get a correct view of sanctification. Even if you don’t subscribe to Naselli’s tenets you will get a very good assessment of opposing positions.
What do you mean by “free will” and can you support your position biblically? Where does the bible teach man’s will is free?
I will check out Naselli’s work. thanks
“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
Does this help you? Or do I need to get the crayons out? Jagoff.
There are right choices and wrong choices, but God leaves man free to accept His grace or to reject it. The story of Adam and Eve makes that pretty clear.
Or the choice that God sets before the Israelites in Deuteronomy 30:
15 See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.
17 But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
I asked a serious question and you call me names? Are you twelve?
And no that doesn’t come close to a defense of the proposition that man’s will is free.
The 12 steps are a simple and practical process of repentance mostly derived from the book of James. ‘Let go and let God’ refers to our will (ego) - which if you have completed step work you will seek His will always. ‘Self will run riot’ is used in the 12 step literature as what we are trying to avoid.
Today I had a situation that was troubling to me. I sat quietly and Prayed for God’s resolution. Resolution came in an hour with no more effort on my part. I thanked God for this perfect outcome.
I am a follower of Jesus and participate weekly in the Celebrate Recovery Program.
Just another piece of Evangelical lingo that sounds good, but isn’t really scriptural.
Adam and Eve knew God. By nature there offspring don't. Man in his natural state cannot accept anything spiritual from God, he is an enemy of God, as scripture teaches. In Deuteronomy, the Israelites knew God.
1 Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
I can’t get through the lead in between your ears.
I asked a very clear and simple question and you call me names and insult me. It’s not lost on me that so far you haven’t defined what you meant, let alone defended your belief from the Bible. Instead you resorted to churlish and childish behavior.
See, when people make claims supposedly based on the Word of God I know that I am to compare that claim to Scripture to see if it is true (see Acts 17). I rather doubt this claim of man’s free will, but I asked you to explain yourself to see what that phrase means to you. Perhaps I actually agree with your understanding.
Thank you for being cordial. I totally disagree that’s what Scripture teaches, but I appreciate your attitude. Maybe I will have time later to explain my position.
You are very long winded.
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