How do individual Evangelicals, Catholics, Unitarian Universalists, and individuals of other Christian denominations pursue making decisions?
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Do people who are Evangelicals, Catholics, Unitarian Universalists, and people of other denominations make decisions based on the Bible?
Growing up as an Evangelical, I am familiar with several verses in the Bible that speak to how to make decisions.
For example, James 1 speaks to asking for wisdom:
> James 1:5 (ESV)
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> ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Proverbs 3 speaks to acknowledging God for a straight path:
> Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)
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> ⁵Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Jesus speaks of the greatest commandments to love God and others in the gospels:
> Mark 12:28-34 (ESV)
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> The Great Commandment
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> ²⁸And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” ²⁹Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” ³²And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. ³³And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” ³⁴And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.
There are also verses about prayer:
> Philippians 4:6 (ESV)
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> ⁶do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
> 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
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>¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Are these relevant passages? What other verses in the Bible speak to how to make decisions, and how does each denomination interpret them? Do many kinds of Christians rely on sources other than the Bible for wisdom in decision making? How does each denomination believe God reveals his will for us in how to make choices? What does each denomination believe are the best ways to interpret the verses I shared, as well as other ones that are relevant?
For example, in Proverbs 3:5-6, what does each denomination believe the best way is to determine how to make a decision that "acknowledges God"?
Asked by Ben Underwood
(159 rep)
Mar 16, 2025, 02:12 AM
Last activity: Mar 28, 2025, 12:44 AM
Last activity: Mar 28, 2025, 12:44 AM