THE CHRISTIAN’S GUIDE
TO GUIDANCE
by Jay E. Adams
Timeless Texts, 97 pages, $8.95

The question of guidance and knowing how to make right decisions in life can be a troubling one indeed. How can a believer know what is or what is not God’s will for their life? It is a crucial issue that has given kindling to shepherding and abusive sects. It is also an issue to which a vast amount of misguided counsel has been offered — even from within mainline churches and from otherwise reputable Bible teachers.

Most Christians look to the Bible, prayer, counsel of others, circumstances, reason and peace as the reliable arbitrators for knowing and discerning God’s will. And these six guidelines appear to be wise and safe factors in making Godly decisions in life — after all are we not to pray without ceasing and told in a multitude of counsel there is wisdom? Yet when it comes to the issue of guidance for the Christian, Jay Adams contends that five of the six elements mentioned above are wrong!

Adams demonstrates how Scripture is to be the sole and final source for a Christian’s guidance. He sets forth to show how all of these other factors leads one to look for guidance in “all sorts of wrong places.” Following those avenues which contain a human element, and which as such are undependable, “will land those who do so in more difficulties than they already had.” His, then, is a battle cry similar to the Reformers centuries ago: sola scriptura. He brings the reader back to the understanding that experience is not the judge of the Bible, but the Bible is the judge of experience. Too often, knowingly or unknowingly, Christians get the “cart” (experience) before the “horse” (Scripture).

The book is brief and succinct. It will be, for most readers, a quick read. While Garry Friesen’s definitive work on the subject (Decision Making and the Will of God) may be intimidating to the average Christian, Adams’ publication will not be overwhelming. And, just perhaps, may whet the appetite of some to consider Friesen’s 452-page volume.

Adams deals with the problems and provides the scriptural solutions. He names names and in doing so questions the prescripts of some noted, modern-day celebrities of the Christian faith. This book may unsettle some as it goes against the grain of the traditionally accepted views of guidance, but it’s a call to return to believing that Scripture many learned as a child: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

—MKG

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