Intentional Living?
(The bridge to Nowhere)
Feb 24, 2022
By Dan Li
“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil;
for He gives to His beloved rest.” Psalms 127:1-2 ESV
My family and I left the United States to enter the foreign mission field. We have been gone for nearly 15 years now. Suddenly in the last year or two, I start hearing a new term, a phrase, a philosophical term called “intentional living,” “living intentionally,” “live intentionally,” or some variation of this sentence fragment.
Someone entered the American churches, a whole lot of churches, and began teaching this philosophy to a huge amount of churches and Christians. After having been a Christian for over 4 decades, why am I now hearing about some new widespread concept being bantered about, as if it is a sudden breakthrough in being a Christian that has only now, at the end of the age and in a time of great delusion, being discovered and spoken of … everywhere? I guess all those other Christians throughout the 2 millennia since Jesus died for us and rose again, were all missing this great new thing. I think not.
The Definition Is Varied and Confusing
The problem with this term is that it carries various and shifting definitions of what it means to ‘live intentionally.’ Having missed those seminars and new teachings on the subject in the U.S., I had to do a quick internet search looking for “intentional living + doctrine.” The results showed so many definitions of the term, and there is even a distinct meaning of it in the legal realm. “Intentional,” or, “Intentionally,” is a very distinct legal term. After the search, I have a few possible questions and thoughts:
1) Is it the opposite of reckless or negligent living? – no one would want to be living that way, right?? Or, maybe they do, and if they do… , is that “intentional living,” in the sense of intentionally living recklessly or negligently. There is a bit of circular logic built into this term, “intentional living,” We can’t give a thumbs-up to that kind of “intentional living,” can we?
2) If we claim to be living intentionally, and then if we do something wrong, is that intentionally sinning? What are we arrogantly setting ourselves up for? Who can really live fully “intentionally,” and would you really want to? Since “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” what does “intentional living” do for that?
3) Is “intentional living” any different than just normal everyday living? And if not, is it just a re-wording of ‘walking on eggshells’ in our life? Or maybe just a re-wording of ‘living a self-directed’ life?
4) Is “intentional living” supposed to make you more self-aware as a Christian? One of the search results said that. There is a danger to being even slightly too self-aware as a Christian – you will drown. “Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, … let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us,”[5] is not self-awareness, it is Christ Jesus-awareness that enables us to finish the race. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus while he was walking on the sea towards Jesus, he sank [6]. We need to keep our eyes on Jesus. Also, people do not come to know Jesus through self-awareness exactly either – they come to know Jesus through a revelation made to them by the Holy Spirit that shows them their doom of a self-directed, sinful life, the end result of living without Jesus in your heart as your Lord and Savior. (Matt 11:25-29, John 16:8-10, John 15:25-26, John 14:26, John 10:26-29, John 6:64-66 [7], John 6:44-45 [8].
Self-awareness vs. Revelation by the Holy Spirit
Self-awareness without that revelation by God, is not a true picture, not clear, and does not carry with it the revealed person of Jesus Christ as your Savior, no revelation of God’s grace from God, and results in condemnation, and worldly-grief/sorrow (2 Cor 7). Conviction by the Holy Spirit must never be confused with simple self-awareness. One cannot self-reveal Jesus Christ to themselves- they must be drawn by the Holy Spirit[7][8]. Simple self-awareness, that is the kind that happens apart from God’s revelation (by the Holy Spirit), is dangerous and from the Devil, to cause a person’s eyes to be on themselves, and off from God, to their hurt (2 Cor 7).
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matt 6:33-34
Self-aware and self-directed vs. Christ Jesus focused and led to do the will of God
This is an age when the majority of people, including those who name the name of Christ as Christians, have become lovers of selves (2 Tim 3:2 [4]). “Intentional Living” teaching is appealing to itching ears of today that want a godly/“christian”-sounding way of living a self-directed life that is so prominent in the majority of so-called “Christians” today.
“2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Tim 2:2-4
V.S.
“1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1-2
5) “Intentional Living” is a decidedly self choice-based living, 2nd/3rd degree Arminian in nature. While God does speak of choices, and God certainly holds us responsible for things we do and say, things we don’t do; and we have to make account of those to the Lord: who is sufficient for this before the perfect God? Better trust ourselves to the Lord and His keeping, “Who is able to keep you from falling and present you blameless before Him” on that day (Jude 1:24). I believe “Intentional Living” is an invitation to the pride-of-life sin (1 John 2:16), as well as its child—works-based salvation.
Is “Intentional living” a work of the flesh?
“O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Did ye receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Gal 3:1-3
Is “Intentional Living” our attempt to be made perfect by the flesh, by our works (works of the law), by our own doings? Is there any possibility you could boast in yourself or your work via your “Intentional Living” or its outcomes?– If so, it is of the flesh, not of God, enmity against God, not of faith, not pleasing to God, evil. Who gets the glory for your “Intentional Living,” you or God? May we ever only glory in the Lord.
The “Intentional Living” New Age connection
7) There are similarities between “Intentional Living” teachings and “Purpose Driven Life” teachings of Rick Warren[2]. One similarity is in the ‘of-course’ nomenclature, in the sense that of-course we have a purpose to our life, but yet this teaching is much more involved than that, and drifts into areas of false-teaching. Rick Warren teaches many many aberrant and false teachings[2].
Spiritual Discipline is not “Intentional Living”!
There is intentionalness to worshiping God with our whole being, time reading our Bibles and in prayer, pursuing holiness and peace with all men, loving God with all our heart, faith and obedience, and to pursing God’s glory not our own – these are done purposefully, on purpose. Have you ever made a New Year’s resolution and kept it very well, as a matter of life? Very likely not. ‘Intention Living’ is similar, yet on a more grandiose scale- your whole life. But Spiritual discipline is based on obedience to God, that is enabled by the Holy Ghost living in us, not by good intentions. Spiritual discipline is taught to us by the Lord, at a heart level, not only of the mind (eg Bible reading, prayer, going to church, doing what the Lord would have you do when you don’t feeel like doing it, etc). However, I suspect this new teaching/philosophy of “Living Intentionally” is more about planning your own life, a self-directed life, making it count towards what you think is valuable. Jesus spoke of this concept when He said,
“And He said to them all, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for My sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?”” Luke 9:23-25
The Destructive ‘Un-awares’ Entry
There has been an ‘un-awares’ entry into churches and Christianity as a whole, of ‘christianized’ secular business and leadership modeling, or psychology. Churches don’t need anything the secular world has to offer – their sufficiency is in Christ Jesus and in His Word. Jesus gave us leadership models when He washed the disciples feet, when He went to the cross, the way He spent time with the Father in prayer, His love for the Father, when He fed the 4,000+ and the 5,000+ people, when He told them the truth and taught them, in the book of Acts as a model, and in 1&2 Corinthians, etc. Why do we now desire secular business leadership models, and why do we turn pastors into CEO’s or psychologists pimping out psychological methods and concepts (world’s doctrines) instead of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ? What have we done?! Why have we turned to the likes of the well-intentioned, yet secular (wrong) ‘christianized’ business and leadership model of John Maxwell and others like him? These ‘christianized’ secular ideas and models look so “smart”, so “wise”, smarter than past generations of Christians and churches. Many don’t seem to know the difference between the wisdom of this world (worldly-wisdom) and wisdom from God. Beware of philosophies of man creeping in (Col 2:8). Churches full of true believers are salt and light in this world. Yet if the churches bring in other ingredients into the churches, we can become the salt that has lost its saltiness. The churches were never supposed to operate like the world, but rather different from it. What have we done?!
“Intentional Living” may be the same or similar to “Mindfulness.”
8) I also discovered, during my quick search, that to many, “Intentional Living” is an analog to “Mindfulness,” which is a Buddhist, Hindu, and Sufi teaching[1], demonic, not of the Lord. Christians do not practice being mindful of situations, things, happenings, etc., they practice instead keeping their eyes on Jesus/God alone, nothing else. What fellowship does light have with darkness? Intentional Living is humanistic (something of which one could boast in accomplishing by self/man, demonic) in nature, but focus on God is Biblical in nature.
Conclusion:
We should beware of the ‘new’ stuff that is entering into the churches, into its doctrines and teachings. True Christianity has not changed, has been the same since the time of the Apostles, by the Apostles about 2000 years ago. Whoever preaches a different gospel than that which was delivered then to the saints (Gal 1:8-9), let him be accursed! Let us hold fast to Jesus, His Gospel, unchanged. What makes things fresh and new to the Christian is not ‘new’ stuff, new teachings, new philosophies, but rather it is the Holy Ghost that reveals Christ Jesus correctly to you, freshly. Not new doctrines, but the freshness, the renewing by the Holy Ghost. The reality of the Gospel preached the same since 2000 years ago becomes fresh and new to you, yet is unchanged. This is impossible without the indwelling and new birth by the Holy Ghost. Whoever has not the Spirit, is none of His:
“But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Rom 8:9
“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the Power that works in us, 21 Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Eph 3:16-21
God’s Spirit brings the freshness, the reality of God, the life that Christians always need, that refreshing in Christ Jesus – not some new philosophy, ‘new’ teaching, ‘new’ doctrine. Those who bring these do so because they do not have that freshness, that life, that refreshing from the Holy Ghost. Those seeking new things do so because they don’t have satisfaction in their heart, continually learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, and the truth is in Him, Christ Jesus our Lord who indwells us by the Holy Ghost.
“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the Truth. 5 For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Tim 2:3-6
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the Power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with diverse lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” 2 Tim 3:5-8
Prayer:
Lord, help us to acknowledge You in all our ways, so that we can get our direction from You and not from our own imaginations and fleshly desires. Help us Lord to love you with every part of ourselves and seek Your mind, seeking Your will in all we do. Lord, keep us from a self-directed, sinful life. Keep us from pride that is so common in our day and age, we are trusting in You. Help us Lord to keep our eyes on You, so we can walk with you by faith, by the Spirit and not by the flesh. Lord, help us to know the difference between the flesh and the Spirit. Help us Lord not to be focused on ourselves/our choices but rather to trust You to guide us, and to live through us, because, “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ who lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Amen.
References:
[1] https://cslportland.org/self-study/intentional-living/
[2] https://bereanresearch.org/rick-warren/
Some Scripture References:
[4] 2 Tim 3:1-7 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”
[5] Heb 12:1-4 “Therefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”
[6] Matt 14:25-32 “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. 29 And He said, “Come.” And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, and said unto him, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?” 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth Thou art the Son of God.”
[7] John 6:63-66 “”It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:64 “But there are some of you that believe not.“ For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And He said, “Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.” 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”
[8] John 6:44-45 “”No man can come to Me, except the Father which has sent Me draws him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” 45 “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall be all taught of God’. Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes unto Me.“”
