Making Godly Plans
Discerning the Way Forward When the Future is Uncertain
In the clip at the bottom of this page, Jack (played by Nicolas Cage) has been offered a life-changing opportunity. (He is actually dreaming, but that is too much to explain here. For our purposes, just pretend that this is all happening). The opportunity he has been given would increase his income exponentially, and his professional life will be far more rewarding, both financially and otherwise. On paper, the choice is obvious.
Have you ever been faced with a decision that had the potential to alter the trajectory of your life? Have you ever found yourself hesitating to move in a direction that looked good on paper, great in fact, but something inside of you whispered “Not everything is what it seems”? Or have you ever been in a position in which other people were looking to you to make a decision — one that would not only shape your personal future, but also the futures of those who were counting on you? Have you ever been tempted to refuse to make a decision only to realize that refusing to make a decision is a decision in itself? If the above scenarios are hauntingly familiar, do you remember how you moved forward (or not) given the gravity of a decision you had to make. When you look back at your decisions, are there instances in which you wish you had an opportunity to make a different choice? And if so, beyond the mere outcome that turned out to be a mistake, did you learn something that shed light on your decision-making process that would have yielded a different decision?
In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, he makes an interesting, even mysterious statement:
“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit that is from God, so that we may understand the gifts bestowed on us by God. And we speak of these things in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual. Those who are unspiritual do not receive the gifts of God’s Spirit, for they are foolishness to them, and they are unable to understand them because they are discerned spiritually. Those who are spiritual discern all things, and they are themselves subject to no one else’s scrutiny.”
(1 Corinthians 2:12-15)
What does Paul mean by “discernment’? How is it that we discern the things of God? How are we taught by the Spirit? And if discernment is a gift, is there anything we can do other than receive the gift? Is a spiritual gift something than can be cultivated? If so, how?
Now let’s take it a step further. What happens when we cannot make decisions unilaterally? What if we must make decisions in community with other people — be it a family decision, a business decision, or a decision that affects the future of the church? How do we make decisions when we have shared responsibility for the decisions we make, especially when the decisions we make together in community will shape the future of not just our community, but the lives others — even the lives of those who have not yet even been born?
This discussion this week is of unique importance. God has called each one of us to be part of the Community Church. And like the vast majority of mainline and interdenominational churches, we are navigating unchartered territory. Some suggest that the shift taking happening now is comparable to the Reformation that took place in the 16th century (five hundred years ago!). During this liminal (in-between) period, we are certain about two things: (1) We cannot return to old and familiar ways of being the Church and, (2) we are certain that we are uncertain. That is, we know that we do not yet know what is next. With all of the knowledge, data, and analysis at our fingertips, and with all of the technological and communication advancements, our human minds simply cannot figure it out. This is a time of discernment. And discernment is a gift from God.
Perhaps it is God’s way of reminding us of our place in the universe. Or perhaps we should embrace this moment as an opportunity to draw closer to God and one another — welcoming new life, passion, and a spirit of adventure as we walk together into the yet unknown future with the confidence that God walks with us.
I hope you are discerning the importance of this moment. I hope also that you are discerning the importance of your presence and participation. “For where two or more are gathered. . .”
I am thrilled to be gathering with you this week!
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