The myth of God’s permissive will

I like the word myth, because as a word, it is designed to separate between truth and fable. Yet when it comes to the Bible, it is mere conjecture to say that it contains myths. However, one thing is very certain, and that is when it comes to biblical interpretation, myths abound. Paul makes this very clear in II Timothy 4:4 when he says, “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

One of the most pervasive myths of our time concerns what has come to be known as God’s permissive will. When it first began I cannot tell you, but there is little doubt in my mind that it began on the premise that it is impossible to be sinless though saved. I have met a few who claimed to be, but even their rude behavior showed this to be a myth.

That this is a noble premise is without a doubt, but this clearly has no relation to the context from which the teaching arises. Romans 12:1-2 says this: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

It is an idea built from the society in which we live. We know very well that when it comes to quality, you have Wal-Mart, then there is Nordstrom’s, then there is where the RNC shops to clothe its’ candidates. We say it like this: Good/Better/Best. And since there seems to be a “perfect” will of God, and it is impossible to be sinless, it follows that God must also have a set of lower expectations by which Christians may live.

While this may make good preaching, this is simply not the case. What this has led to is a largely mediocre Christianity, which is why it would make good preaching:

It is a message people could listen to over and over again because of how comfortable it would make them feel. And it is sure to pack the pews and keep the coffers full, but it is just a myth.

The truth is that God has but one will for the Christian, and that will is good, and it is acceptable, and it is perfect. This can readily be discerned by the biblical definition of the word “good.” In Matthew 19:17 we find Jesus saying, “…there is none good but one, that is, God….” In other words, there is no bettering the word “good.”

Does it surprise you that our modern day usage of the word “good” has been corrupted such that it no longer follows the Bible? Do you think this is by accident? Do the scriptures say that we have an adversary, the devil, in vain?

And does it surprise you that we produce no better biblical scholarship than that which is designed to keep the congregation sedated and the coffers full? Can you imagine what Christianity would be like if preachers weren’t afraid of preaching truth? Why, it would transform the church.

Furthermore, that there is only one “will of God” can also be discerned by the word “acceptable.” The context of verse one is that of sacrifice, which throws us back to the Old Testament sacrificial system. While the sacrificial law has been fulfilled through Jesus Christ, its standard is what is important to us here: Without spot of blemish.

God demanded of ancient Israel perfect sacrifices because they were a type of the sinless sacrifice that their Messiah would become. Anything less was simply unacceptable to God, as was brought out in Malachi chapter one.

In terms of practicality, what this means is that God is not obligated to accept whatever behavior even a Christian is pleased to offer. In fact, this is why Paul says that it is “reasonable” for Christians to be “acceptable unto God”; a very high price has been paid for the salvation of our souls. And the truth is that we have no right to tell God what we will or will not do, just an obligation to live according to the word of God.

Folks, some day every Christian will stand before Christ to give an account for everything that they’ve done here on this earth….. It will be a little late to find out that there is no such thing as some mythical “permissive will.”

Ron Hamman is pastor for Independent Baptist Church of Wasilla. Contact him at 357-4229.