Does God Give Subjective Revelation Today? The Place Of Mysticism In Christian Decision Making -- By: Ken Hornok

Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 20:38 (Spring 2007)
Article: Does God Give Subjective Revelation Today? The Place Of Mysticism In Christian Decision Making
Author: Ken Hornok


Does God Give Subjective Revelation Today? The Place Of Mysticism In Christian Decision Making

Ken Hornok

Pastor, Midvalley Bible Church
Salt Lake City, Utah

I. Introduction

During my 30 years of ministry in the Mormon (LDS) culture, I have observed that LDS people rely on emotions to confirm their beliefs. Mormon missionaries frequently refer to Moroni 10:4 which encourages people to “ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.” That has been done by millions of people who are now fully convinced of the truth of Mormonism. Virtually nothing will change their thinking and perspective, not even proven forged documents of Mark Hoffman or DNA proof that American Indians did not descend from Hebrew immigrants, as the Book of Mormon attests. This is because most Mormons place their experience above Scripture or logic when confronted with facts.

Many Evangelical Christians, perhaps unknowingly, do much the same thing. This is no more obvious than in the area of guidance for life’s decisions. We often hear phrases such as, “I feel like this is what God would have me do” or “I sense that the Holy Spirit is leading me there.” That is fine if things work out as they desire, but what happens when things go sour? It is possible for them to become disappointed and disillusioned with God. My own experience in going to Utah, even though I was raised there, is a case in point. During my seminary days at Dallas Theological Seminary, my wife and I enjoyed a well-received ministry at a church in Fort Worth. Following graduation we moved back to Utah, because I was certain God was leading me in that direction. Ministry in Utah was slow, difficult, discouraging, and often lacked results. After several years I began to wonder if God (or I) had made a

mistake. I reasoned that if God had led me to Utah, surely I would enjoy some level of His blessing through effectiveness in ministry.

About that time I read the book Decision Making and the Will of God by Garry Friesen.1 My spiritual liberation came when I realized that I was in Utah because I had chosen to be there, and that I had not missed God’s “perfect will” for my life. I could serve God in any location I chose and still be in His will as long as I remained faithful to God and maintained a lifestyle of godliness. For a time I had allowed emotional subjectivity to dominate my thinking, causing me to questi...

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