The other day someone asked me what my plans were now I was back around in Hastings, so I explained to them as much as I could about Life Matters.
Their response was less then keen: "It all sounds a bit... touchy-feely."
Now, scripture tells us that the fool hates instruction and as this person is someone over me in the Lord I wanted to give what they said due thought and prayer. Because they might be right, and its not only true that with many advisors plans succeed but also that the concerns of someone for you are important to heed. He is a good godly man, and shared his thoughts out of an attitude of wanting me to prosper and succeed.
My friends concerns centered around how I'd made my decision - based on subjective feelings and leadings that I've attributed to God speaking to me. He felt that this wasn't a strong enough basis to make such important decisions, and was therefore concerned I was making a mistake.
I spoke to God about this a lot - unsurprisingly this is not a decision I had taken lightly or prayerlessly. As I came back to God to bring my friends concerns to him to see if he was right, I felt God speak me out of the Bible. He drew me to the passage in Romans that tells us the sons of God are led by the Spirit of God. He then led me to the passage in 1 Corinthians that tells us he who knows the thoughts of God is the Spirit of God.
This got me thinking about my "touchy-feely" faith. Different places in the Bible tell us about God putting his Spirit into us and changing and leading us. For example Ezekiel 11:19-20. The scripture in Romans pinpoints the heart of the book of Acts, especially Pentecost. And Jesus himself said that it was better for him to go so he could send the Holy Spirit to us.
These verses all tell us about the internal witness of the Holy Spirit. Sometimes we call it 'illumination' - which describes those times when something in the Bible just comes alive in a new, fresh way. Or we call it 'being Spirit-led' when something just won't leave us, and we know we need to respond to it.
Its all "touchy-feely" and I suspect my friend was looking for something that wasn't so. Perhaps a Bible verse or something clearly objective. But as i thought about it, surely that is just as "touchy-feely" as believing we are being 'Spirit-led?'
How do I know the Bible is the word of God? Faith. No matter what logic or arguments are put forward to convince me that the Bible is true, it still comes down to me believing that in faith. "Touchy feely" faith. This is true for any belief in Christianity. Jesus died and rose again? Faith. That my sins are forgiven? Faith. That I go to heaven when i die? Faith. "Touchy feely" faith.
And you know what? It's meant to be this way. We're told without faith its impossible to please God so our touchy-feely faith is important to him. Why? Our faith must be based on who God says he is. When he keeps his promises, or comes through for us, or does what he says, our faith grows.
Our touchy-feely faith grows through our experiences, not our knowledge!
The bible shows us God's promises and character to inform our faith, but ultimately its still "touchy-feely" to trust that God does what he says he will. This is why our "touchy-feely" faith must not be based on how we feel, but on who we believe God is, and is why the Bible is so key for us as Christians.
That's always been the way for all the heroes of faith. Abraham left Ur for somewhere he didn't know on a "touchy-feely" leading. How did he know it was God? Yet he is the prime example of faith held up for us in the New Testament. The same is true for Moses going back to Egypt, David before Goliath, Elijah at Mount Carmel amongst others... read Hebrews 11 and tell me that I'm wrong!
I value my friends advice but I'm not sure I agree with him on this one. How do I know it is God who has spoken to me? We'll see! Yes, its scary - but that is real biblical faith! Faith takes us to the end of ourselves so we have to depend on God. That's the only way we grow in faith.
It is touchy-feely. But so is everything about knowing God. I'm just thrilled that I have a God who wants to touch me with his Spirit, and by the same Spirit wants me to feel his leading.
Touchy-feely indeed.
