Asking Different Questions

A buddy and I have been having a long distance theological discussion...one that I thought I would share a little bit about with you all here on Radically Altered.

There is a question that comes up quite frequently in the circles that I run in. The basis of the question regards what God's will is for each of our lives. It comes to me in many different forms from what am I supposed to be doing with my life to what if I get it wrong. These questions often revolve around what we are (or are doing), where we are at or going, when we are supposed to this or that, or why this or that is or is not occurring in our lives.

It seems to me that we get wrapped up in determining and micromanaging the details and outcomes before we even give ourselves an opportunity to take the journey. I propose that the solution to this is to ask different questions. Instead of asking the what, when, where, and why type of questions that seem to permeate the pull ourselves up by the boot straps/do it ourselves mentality, perhaps we should begin by asking the who and the how questions first.

The who questions are all about who we are. It is not about the fact that I am a male in my late 30's of anglo descent. It is not about being an American or a Texan or anything else. At the heart of the who question is the realization that I am God's. It involves a regrounding of my identity not in worldly or cultural things, but rather it involves a firm grounding of my identity in God (the one who created me). The who I am questions can only be authentically answered in a community of sojourners seeking to understand, receive, and reflect the grace of God that forms their very identity (and we must remember that God is a member of that sojourning community). Deeply understanding who we are as sons and daughters, co-heirs of the kingdom of God (co-laborers too), brothers and sisters, a royal priesthood, a body, etc will radically alter the way that we perceive ourselves and others...and if we allow it to, it can dramatically open us to the person that God has called us to be. In this sacred space our priorities can be reordered and our wills can be brought into line with God's will.

The how questions have to do with the very core of our being. Having discovered who we are (our identities in Christ), how we are speaks to our spiritual fitness. These are the questions that ask about our relationship with God and with each other. They are tough questions. They are the places in my experience where the Holy Spirit shines a light and says, "Russell, let's take a look over here." They are places of work and transformation. These are the places where God has promised to meet us, but they are also the places that God refuses to leave us.

Another aspect of both of these lines of questions, a fruit from endeavoring down these paths, is that while these questions are about us, they are about us in relation to God and to others. As such, a journey down these paths requires that we develop skills of listening that are often under developed. If you are like me, then perhaps you have approached God and said in some way that this is who I am and this is how I see things and this is what I would like to do. It is so easy for us to think that we know ourselves and what's best for us and to just ask God to bless our efforts. It is much more difficult to travel the roads that these questions may take us down, to actually listen for and to God, and to move where God is moving in our lives rather than where we think we should be moving.

Additionally, to attempt to discern answers to the other questions (where, what, why, when) without first having answered these questions is kind of like putting the cart before the horse. When we realize that we are God's and our relationships with God and with others have been transformed, we begin to find that as long as these are maintained, the rest is relative and seems to have less of a choke hold on our lives. Does it matter if I am a teacher or a waiter? Does it matter if I make a lot of money or a little? Does it matter if I am known by many or by a few? I think that if we get these two lines of questioning right, then the rest is of little consequence. If we fully understand whose we are and how we are to be with one another and God, then we can be who we are and how we are supposed to be in any context.

This last thought does something dramatic...it takes God out of the either/or box. So many times we think that God either wants us to do one thing or the other. It is like God has placed his will for our lives in one hand and left the other hand empty. If we pick the correct hand, then we are living in God's will. This seems to limit God to an either/or entity. Really, I believe that with God, there are many times (but not all) when God is more likely both/and (otherwise, what's the point of free will---ah, but that's another post). We can be who we are and how we are called to be in any career (teacher, factory worker, accountant, public official, etc), any economic context, any situation whatsoever. At the end of our time here, I believe God is going to be more interested in who we were and how we were. If we live lives that reflect who we are called to be and how we are called to be, the choices we make about the what, when, where, and why will reflect our identities and our heart, no matter what those choices were. So in the end the what, when, where, why are of lesser significance than the who and the how.

When seeking God's will, it seems to me that Scripture makes some valuable statements about what the will of God might entail. Micah reminds us that "He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? (6:8)." When asked about the greatest commandment Jesus says, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matt 22:37-40)" In the end, who we are and how we are shapes what we do, when we do it, where we do it and why we do it. To attempt to answer these latter questions without the foundation of who and how we are called to be, seems to risk making choices and acting in ways that are inconsistent with the will of God.

So in the end, I think it is about asking different questions in our journey towards God. If we are capable of asking better questions, perhaps we will be able to better discern what God wills for our lives.

I think that this covers one of our conversations in a nutshell (all be it a rather large nut shell!). I would be interested in continuing this dialog with you...please leave a comment and let us know your thoughts about aligning our wills with the will of God.