Praying Backwards: Transform Your Prayer Life by Beginning in Jesus' Name

by Bryan Chapell

We do not have the right to stamp choices as evil or good when the Bible does not. We cannot assume greater authority than God’s Word without giving ourselves the status of God. Christians usurp the Bible’s authority when they force varying moral values onto legitimate options the Lord provides. The mistake may occur in a conscientious attempt to obey God. A person may reason, “I do not know what to do. I have these two options, but I can pick only one. Since only one of the options can be God’s will, the other must be wrong.” Then the person resolves to pray for God to reveal the “right” option with the assumption the wrong alternative will put him outside the will of God. But assigning moral status to matters not condemned or approved in Scripture creates more spiritual problems. The first problem with labeling right or wrong that which the Bible does not is the creation of choice paralysis. The fear that some choice might be wrong leads some people never to make a choice.