I will Surve...won't I?

Survival verses the will of God. It would appear that Jesus made a definitive statement in the cross. Survival is meaningless emptiness outside the will of God. But what is the will of God? I just finished John Howard Yoder's The Politics of Jesus and he says that the will of God is made known in the life and ministry of Jesus, which both center upon the Kingdom of God. Yoder says all of this is pinnacled in the cross. Therefore, in a long round about to asking, is God's will for us to die so that there may be life?

I want to yes...but what about when that death comes in the form of a church? This scenario seems to be happening more and more these days, and it’s a hard reality to deal with! People, congregations, denominations, and so forth often plant churches in the belief that they are in God's will, or at least acting on behalf of it. Therefore, when churches die, or their doors are closed, people are left asking questions. Did we misread God’s plan? Did we fail to stick to his plan? Did we ever really know God’s will/plan? Did God come up with a better plan and decide to scrap the people, families, and community touched by us, the particular church, for another plan? How could God just let us die?

I attend a church where these similar questions were asked regarding our recent pastor. The board and congregation ultimately decided that it was time to cut off that branch within our history, or the pastor decided…not really sure but either way he is no longer present. I bring this up because at one point the congregation and board believed that this pastor was sent from God to lead our flock. Yet, regardless of who decided to cut ties, things didn’t turn out as one would guess (that is if this pastor was God’s plan/will as orignally thought).

This leads me to ask, how often are questions asked regarding God’s will/plan for the church/pastor/individual asked? Are they ever really dealt with? I know that in my case there was internal questioning (I am guessing) by the pastor, the congregation, and the board. However, was this ever done in a praying community really seeking the will of God? How often should this assessment be taken? Daily? Weekly? Monthly? Quarterly? Yearly? And how would the people respond if the decision came back…"not so well…we are off basis and in order to get right with God we are talking about letting our pastor go or closing the church doors for a while?" I am not in this position, but I am guessing not very well. People would be asking, “Who is this team and how did the access our position? And where does their authority come from?"

As American Christians we have inherited a strong sense of self esteem, individuality, and will to win. We often trust ourselves and fail to question our deepest lying motives. Yet, when it comes to God we are supposed to follow and obey. Our lives are not our own. Therefore, when we address issues on survival verses the will of God we are asking a deeper question. Do we, at our deepest conviction trust God? Do we have the blind unswerving devotion that Christ had when he walked into Jerusalem?

This is the week, if none other, that we should take stalk of our trust in God. We should reflect on the past 40 days of lent. The practice that teaches us to control our desires, passions, and will as Christ did. We learn to model our lives after Christ, who did not believe equality with God was something to be grasped (the control factor) and completely and wholly trusted in God's will...even when it meant death.