I want to depart from the SBC Controversy for a minute, and talk about something a little more nuts and bolts, hands and feet. As you may or may not know, I am in some transition that wasn’t necessarily when or how I would have made it, and that has result in a little discomfort. There are two concepts at war within me. The first is my responsibility to provide,to move forward, to take care of things. The other side is trusting God and letting Him have control. How does this work?
I am not going into all the nuts and bolts of my situation, I want to deal with the larger issue, because I think it effects us in our churches, families, homes, jobs, every place. At what point do we need to lead and be responsible and at what point do we need to trust God with our future.
The question I think leads to who we are trusting. I have seen far too many leaders who have plans and vision and direction and purpose. It makes me ask the question, where should we be getting our plans and vision and direction? Does a pastor get them from the Spirit, or are they taught in classes and leadership training and through experience?
If a Pastor is spirit led, does he need all the leadership qualifications and experience? If a pastor has all the leadership training and experience, does he really allow himself to be led by the Holy Spirit? Where does our responsibility end and His work begin?
I think it comes down to the results. Too often we expect results to come from our work and our effort, and we worry about them. We spend time worrying and striving for results. Our job is to do what we are called. We are called to be faithful in what we are doing. We are called to do what God calls us to do.
Sometimes our calling will grow the church. Sometimes it will cause those who are just “playing church” to leave. Are we willing for both of those realities? Are we willing to do the things that keep us from being popular? Are we willing to risk job security?
I am still wrestling with it, trying to be responsible, yet give God the room to work and make sure He gets all the glory. I will strive to be responsible, but leave the results to Him.