Can we be brutally honest with God?

Don't answer that too quickly. 

And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole." (Numbers 21:8)

Logically speaking, of course we can be brutally honest with God since he knows what we're thinking anyway. 

But there are passages in Scripture that seem to discourage it.

When the Israelites are brutally honest and complain about their conditions in the wilderness, God responds with deadly judgment. 

It would seem, in reading these kinds of passages, that we can't be brutally honest with God, God doesn't tolerate complaints, and we ought instead to count our blessings.  

And other Scripture seems to confirm this conclusion. 

Do all things without grumbling.... (Philippians 2:14)

We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. (1 Corinthians 10:9-11)

The case with the serpents is the one we're looking at this weekend. 

I'll tell you right up front, I do believe we can be brutally honest with God and still experience his pleasure. For one thing, God's prayer book for his people is filled with brutally honest prayers of complaint. And complaining to him can even be a gateway to a deeper, closer relationship with him. 

The Bible never suggests we be anything but honest with God in our prayers. 

But brutal honesty before God is not a virtue in and of itself.

It does matter what we're honest about.

And it does matter how we are brutally honest.

It matters a lot. 

Find out why this weekend at Five Oaks. Bring a friend, especially someone who you know to be brutally honest. 

The Most Neglected Element in Making Big Decisions

Every decision has a corresponding consequence that is long lasting. Sometimes the greatest impact on our lives is felt by a continuing series of small decisions in the right or wrong direction. 

But there are big, one-time decisions we make that impact the trajectory of our lives in huge ways.

What kind of decisions? Decisions that move our family to another state. Taking a new job with a different company. Choosing a university. Making our closest friends. Deciding on the mode of educating our kids (home, public, or private). Whether to get married, or who to marry.  

What is needed to make a good decision in these circumstances? Information. Prayer. Wisdom to sort through the options. Discernment. Good, godly advice.

But I think there is one element we frequently forget we need.

The Israelites lacked it as they looked over the river at the Promised Land and saw the obstacles and dangers of choosing to follow God into the land. The results were disastrous. An entire generation lived with the consequences of their decision. 

This weekend we're looking at the decision making element they lacked and we often neglect to consider as we look at Number 13-14. We can learn from their mistakes. And we can learn to live with the mistakes we've made along the way. 

Invite a friend who is facing a big decision, and join us for the worship service.