Instructions for Televangelists: Open Mouth, then Insert Foot

Instructions for Televangelists

Open Mouth, then Insert Foot

By David Ryser

Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.  (Seen on a church sign)

I appreciate televangelists.  Really.  I do.  In the circus called the Church, televangelists are the clowns.  And I like clowns.  I find them amusing.  The antics of clowns are entertaining and great fun.

But we must never take clowns seriously.

Likewise, I find the buffoonery of televangelists to be wildly entertaining.  I am constantly amazed by the silliness that pours out of their mouths.  They are the comic relief of North American Christianity.  And I greatly enjoy their antics…as long as I remind myself that they are clowns.

But when I take them seriously, I become alarmed.

For example, I found myself shaking my head in disbelief a few years ago over comments made by a televangelist who is noted for shooting off his mouth and blowing off his spiritual foot in the process.  He was commenting on the devastation in New Orleans following hurricane Katrina.  He stated that this natural disaster was the result of that city’s wickedness, citing the examples of Sodom and Gomorrah…and their destruction by God.

As I said, these clowns can be wildly entertaining.

Because I read.  I read news stories.  And I read the Bible.  And both help me put the ravings of these spiritual buffoons into perspective.  And that’s an important part of enabling me to enjoy the religious circus.

Shortly after the hurricane-induced tragedy in New Orleans, I ran across a news story that quoted comments made by a Muslim imam.  This imam stated that God had punished New Orleans with the hurricane because of its wickedness.

Does this sound familiar?

This imam’s words were virtually identical to those spoken by the televangelist.  Although these two religious spokesmen worship a different God (I hope), they had come to the same conclusion.

I especially enjoy the part of the clown act where the clowns whack each other with plastic mallets.  Don’t you?

And while the Bible does speak of God’s judgment upon people, cities, and nations; it also has a lot to say about what our attitude as God’s people should be in these matters.  In Luke 9:54, James and John ask Jesus if He wants them to call fire down from heaven upon some Samaritans who rejected His ministry.  We think of John as the apostle of love, but we forget that Jesus had named him and his brother the “Sons of Thunder.”

Somehow, I am disinclined to think this moniker was the result of their quiet and gentle demeanor.

Their offer to turn the enemies of Jesus into crispy critters earned the Thunder-stick Twins a sharp rebuke from Jesus.  Among other things, He stated that they did not know what kind of spirit was motivating their request (Luke 9:55, 56).

I suspect it was not the Spirit of Jesus.  And I also suspect that it is not the Spirit of God motivating us when we gleefully announce (or pronounce) God’s judgment on “those wicked people.”

Were the people of New Orleans more wicked than other people and thus more deserving of God’s judgment?  I doubt it.  Jesus’ comments on the news stories of His day seem to indicate He doubted it also.  Referring to a mass execution (Luke 13:2) and a tower collapse (Luke 13:4), Jesus clearly states these tragedies did not occur because those suffering them were worse sinners than anyone else (Luke 13:3, 5).

When asked whether a man who had been born blind was being punished because of his sin or the sin of his parents (a hot theological topic of that day), Jesus responded that his malady was caused by neither…and then healed him (John 9:1-7).

And let us not forget that one reason Israel rejected the warning of the prophets concerning the coming judgment of God upon their nation was because the prophets predicted God would judge Israel by a nation that was even more wicked than they were.

Unthinkable!

So did hurricane Katrina devastate New Orleans because the people there were more wicked than those in, say, Las Vegas?  Or San Francisco?  Or your favorite bastion of ungodliness?

Maybe….

Or it could be that people decided to build a city below sea level.  In hurricane territory.  And then they opted to neglect their levees and allow them to deteriorate.  And then the state and local authorities responded to the disaster with incompetence and ineptitude on a truly staggering scale.

Why do religious people insist upon interpreting the stupidity of man as the judgment of God?

And why do Christians take as gospel the comments of a televangelist that are identical to those made by a Muslim imam?  It truly boggles the mind.

But that’s the circus, after all.  It is larger-than-life entertainment that captures our attention on a grand scale.  Including the clowns.  Their antics are an over-the-top caricature of life that tickles our funny bone with their pure outrageousness.

I don’t know about you; but when the clown gets his pants set on fire and attempts to put it out by rubbing his butt on the ground, I find that absolutely hysterical.

It’s sort of like watching Christian television.

Responses to this article are welcomed.  You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com

A Tale of Two Churches: Living Life in the Temple of Mithras

By David Ryser

Religion is the shell that is left after the real thing has disappeared.  (Doug Bannister)

If I were to write a novel about my recent church experiences, it might begin with the words:  “It was the best of churches.  And it was the worst of churches.”  I’ve been in both kinds of traditional church services over the past few weeks.  And I’m struck more by their similarities than by their differences.

I should probably begin by explaining what I mean when I use the term “traditional church service.”

I define a traditional church service as any church meeting where the congregants sit in rows staring at the back of the head of the person in front of them.  They focus their attention on a raised platform/stage where the main event takes place, officiated by professional clergy.  Typically this consists of a ritualized program or a Christian concert/sing-along followed by a Christian motivational speech.

And when I use the term “traditional” to describe a modern church service, I am not referring to the biblical tradition.

Because the traditional church service bears no resemblance whatsoever to the meetings of the early Christian church.  It does not originate in the teachings of the Bible, the teachings of the apostles, or the practice of the earliest believers.

As best as I can tell, our church service in the modern traditional North American church--including how we lay out our buildings and arrange the so-called “sanctuary”--has its origins in the Cult of Mithras and the Roman Imperial Court.

I cannot help but conclude that our traditional church service is non-biblical, unbiblical, and…worse…anti-biblical.

And we need to ask ourselves just how it is that we expect to have a biblical experience with God in a corporate setting when our methodology for doing church meetings is (at best) secular and (at worst) pagan.

So for some time I have avoided traditional church meetings in favor of smaller gatherings in more intimate settings where each believer is encouraged to participate actively in the corporate worship experience.  Until now.

The last few weeks I have felt led by God to attend traditional church services.  The two churches I have visited appear to be polar opposites.  At first glance, they appear to have nothing in common.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered they are twins.

The first church is a small old-fashioned classical revivalist church located in a rural community.  Walking into this service is like being caught up in a time-warp.  The song service consists of singing the old revival songs written in the 1930’s (the newer songs, at least) from a hymn book.  The singing is lackluster and passionless.  No doubt God breathed on these songs once…but it was a very long time ago.  The preaching is shallow and contains the standard revivalist platitudes and allusions to the usual scriptures typical of the movement.  Both the preacher and the congregants want very much to be stirred by the whole thing, but their hearts just aren’t in it.

In defense of this church, the majority of the members are in their 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s.  Their church is dead.  Within a few years, the people will be dead, too.  They are in trouble as a church, and they know it.

But they don’t know what to do about it.

The second church is a high-powered non-denominational church located in the city.  The congregation numbers in the hundreds.  The median age of the members is probably in the early-to-mid 30’s.  The worship service is upbeat, loud, and animated.  The platform/stage is a professional set made for television.  The lighting and acoustics are of the highest quality.  They may even have a smoke-generating machine.

How cool!

Who needs the Shekinah glory of God when you have a smoke machine?

And herein lays the irony.  This church, like the first, was rebirthed/renewed by a genuine and powerful move of God.  Similarly, both became caught up in what God was doing to the point that they continued to do what they had done while God was present long after He had moved on to something else.

Aren’t you grateful we have religion to pick up when God leaves?

And yet, God is touching people’s lives in both churches.  Especially in the city church, those who have experienced God’s touch give glowing testimonies of what God has done in their lives.  I have noticed, however, that their testimonies are about what God has done rather than about who He is.  And I also noticed that those testifying tend to measure God’s blessing in dollars and cents.

I’m always a bit saddened when people settle for just the touch of God’s hands when they could also behold His face.

And suddenly I realized that these churches are the same church, but at different points in their lifespan.  Both were powerfully touched by God.  Both were passionate for God.  Both have experienced His life-changing miraculous power.  And both have people who want very much to connect with God in a more personal and intimate way.  But they don’t know how.

And if, at the end of it all, both churches end up in the same place…does it really matter how they got there?

Both have put God’s new wine/move into an old religious wineskin/system.  They thought God’s blessing was the same as His approval.  They forgot that God blessed the Israelite monarchy when it was ruled by righteous kings, but He never approved of it.  The monarchial system eventually destroyed the nation (just as God had predicted).

And the traditional religious system will always eventually kill a move of God.

So I’m looking at two churches whose congregants and leadership are good people caught up in a bad system.  They very much want to experience God, serve God, and advance His kingdom.  Instead, they end up serving a religious system that ultimately…and always…chokes out the spiritual life of a church.

Ironically, there’s more hope for the little church than for the big one.  This small congregation knows something must change or they will close the church soon.  The big “successful” church doesn’t see what’s coming.

Can anyone say Laodicea?

I don’t know why God wants me to watch this drama unfold.  But I will.  Because I’ve learned He always has a purpose behind what He asks of me.  So I’ll watch.

Even though I would really rather not.

Responses to this article are welcomed.  You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com

God's Thief: Stealing in the Kingdom of God

By David Ryser

Reality is what exists in spite of what we believe.  (Patricia Hickman)

The vast majority of Christians would agree that thieves will not enter the Kingdom of God.  Stealing is wrong.  Stealing is immoral.  Stealing is wicked.  Stealing is evil.  Stealing is depraved.  Stealing is degenerate.  Stealing is perverted.  Stealing is corrupt.  Stealing is reprobate.  Stealing is a sin.

Is it?  Really?  Always?

Stealing is okay in baseball….  When a player steals a base in baseball, the runner is awarded the advance of position without penalty.  He is not called out for stealing the base.  He is not arrested and thrown into jail for stealing the base.  He is not consigned to a fiery hell for eternity as punishment for stealing the base.

Why?  Because stealing is allowed in baseball.

But stealing a base in a baseball game must be done according to the rules.  A runner is not allowed to steal a base during a time out.  A runner is not allowed to steal first base.  A runner is not allowed to steal a base that is already occupied by another player.  A runner is not allowed to advance to the next base on a fly ball until after the ball is caught.

There are rules that govern stealing in baseball.  The penalty for violating those rules varies with the infraction.  A player must steal according to the rules.

Stealing is allowed in the Kingdom of God.  But it also must be done according to the rules.  Examples abound in scripture.  But for the sake of brevity, we will consider only two of these.

The first is found in Luke 8:40-48.  Jesus is approached by a synagogue official by the name of Jairus.  The man’s daughter is seriously ill, and he begs Jesus to come and heal her.  Jesus agrees, and goes with Jairus toward his house.  Along the way, a woman who is suffering from continuous bleeding comes up to Jesus and touches one of the tassels on His prayer shawl.  When she does, she is instantly healed.

Jesus did not intend to heal this woman.  He had not agreed to heal her.  The Father had not authorized this healing.  Jesus didn’t even know the woman was in the crowd, or that she had touched Him with the result of being healed, until He felt the power of God flowing out of Him.

The woman stole a physical healing.  The power of God to perform a healing was operating in Jesus, as far as He knew, for the benefit of Jairus’ daughter.  This woman’s faith and desperation tapped into that power with miraculous results.

But the power that healed her was not intended for her.  She stole it.

In Matthew 15:21-28, Jesus is approached by a Canaanite woman who asks Him to heal her daughter.  He refuses, saying that He is sent only to the people of Israel.  When she continues to beg Him to heal her daughter, Jesus responds by insulting her.  He calls her a dog (albeit a puppy).  Undeterred, she responds humbly to Jesus’ insult and receives the healing she had requested for daughter.

That healing did not belong to her.  She stole it.

I was ministering in a series of meetings at a church.  At the first evening service, I was under strict orders from God not to perform a lot of "spiritual tricks" for the amusement of the crowd.  Since I play to an audience of One, I obeyed and ministered God’s power only to the person He pointed out to me.  After the service I was visiting with one of the young men at the back of the church and greeting the people as they were leaving the building.  One of the ladies of the congregation came by.  As I took her hand, the power of God fell on her, and she did a face-plant onto the floor.  I’m telling you, God blew her up!

And I thought, “You stinker!  You stole that!  Good for you!”

You see, when I was an instructor at a school of ministry a number of years ago, I taught the students how to steal.  I told them what to look for during the church service so they would recognize an opportunity to steal God’s power and blessing when the person for whom it was intended didn’t want it and refused to receive it.  I taught them how to steal when God didn’t intend to give them anything.

The key is desperation, persistence, and faith.

And we had a lot of opportunities to practice.  Unlike the schools I had attended, God would show up in our classes.  His presence would blow into the room, and He would begin to say and do things in our midst.  We would tremble in His presence; it was so strong.  Powerful (and genuine) prophetic words would be given.  People would receive remarkable touches from God.  And, inevitably, one of the students would be left out…the same one…every time.

I felt so sorry for her.

People all around her were receiving powerful ministry from God.  And she would be standing there, her beautiful brown Bambi eyes expressing her hunger for God and desire to experience His touch along with her classmates.  Looking at her as she stood there for several minutes waiting for God to touch her broke my heart, but I could not minister God’s power to her without His approval.

So why did God leave her out?  Did He love her less than the others?  Did He not want to touch her?  No, He was teaching her how to steal.

Because after all of the ministry of God’s power was finished, and the moving of the Spirit began to wane, she would still be standing there.  Everyone else was already back in their seats…or on the floor.  And she would stay right where she was.  This would go on for what seemed like forever.  I had nothing for her, but I felt no release from God to resume class.  Finally God would speak to me.  I would take her hand and say something like, “Take it.”

And God would blow her up.  And she learned to steal.  Because stealing is allowed in the Kingdom of God…if you steal according to the rules.

By the way, I finally did receive a prophetic word for this young lady.  I got it the night before class, and I was so excited!  I couldn’t wait to get to class and give it to her.  When I arrived at the school, I looked for her.

She was absent!

What did I do with that word?  WWJD?  The next time the prophetic anointing of God was flowing in the class, I gave it to her.   Duh….

Responses to this article are welcomed.  You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com

One Woman's Testimony: "Jesus is better than Sex!"

By David Ryser

Forget love.  I’d rather fall in chocolate.  (Author Unknown)

I was preaching in a series of meetings at a church.  This in itself was unusual.  I’m not too popular a choice to preach at a traditional church.  But I’d met the pastor by phone several months previously and gotten to know him, and appreciate his heart for God and his church, over the course of many conversations in the weeks following.  I had finally agreed to come and minister at the church, though it had taken some convincing.

The pastor was very persuasive.  Not through eloquence.  Through persistence.

This church had a habit of regularly inviting guest speakers to come and entertain the people with their teaching, prophesying, and working of signs and wonders.  As a result, this congregation had received good teaching and had seen God move mightily in prophecies, miracles, and healings.

But receiving information and watching someone perform spiritual parlor tricks does not equip…or mature…people in God’s kingdom.

On the first night of meetings, I felt God had placed me on a very short leash.  He’d told me to minister His power to one person, and then stop.  I told the congregation, “You’ve had all kinds of people come and minister the word of God and the power of God to you.  And it hasn’t made one bit of difference either in your church or in your lives.  It doesn’t advance God’s kingdom in your community if I can flow in the Spirit.  Your town will be impacted by God only if what I am carrying gets into you.  Because if it doesn’t, then it will leave with me just like it came with me.  God allowed me to do what I’ve just done to prove I can do it.  But He’s not going to allow me to do another thing here until I can convince you to flow in His power yourselves.”

As I said, I’m not a popular choice as a church speaker.

Then I began to share with the congregation what God wanted them to be and what He wanted them to do as His people in that city.  I explained that while Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12a), so are they (Matthew 5:14a).  I took them to John 3:8, and showed them that this verse is speaking about them (John 3:8b).  Then we went to John 7:37, 38 and showed them that they are called to pour the Spirit of God…and His life, and His love, and His power…from out of their spirits.

Ministering the life, love, and power of God is not rocket science.  We need to drink of Jesus until we are full to overflowing.  Then we go out and leak on somebody.

At the end of the service, one woman was standing in the middle of the church with a look of total wonder on her face.  She kept repeating, over and over, “I’ve got it!  I’ve got it!”  I didn’t know what she’d gotten, but she certainly seemed awed by it.  I decided whatever was going on, it was between her and God.  So I left it alone.

Later, the pastor filled me in on the woman’s story.

It seems that in her earlier life, this lady has been the Mary Magdalene of the community.  In every way, both biblical and traditional.  She had since become a Christian, and was growing in her faith and in her love for Jesus.  Her conversion and subsequent change of lifestyle had gotten the attention of the small town.

For the remainder of the two weeks of meetings, this woman continued to receive powerfully from God.  She was instantly healed from a problem in both of her ears that had severely impaired her hearing.  God regularly moved on her in ways that left her reeling under the weight of His presence.  When God would come into the meetings, she would be a mess.

It was so much fun to watch.

Toward the end of my time in that place, I saw this woman coming into the church before one of our last meetings.  I greeted her by name, gave her a hug, and asked her how she was doing.  She was positively beaming!  She was so excited!  She said, “I was talking to my friend today.  And I told her about Jesus!”  I said, “You did?  What did you tell her?”

I will never forget her answer.

“I told her:  ‘Jesus is better than sex.  Like when you are with a man?  Jesus is better than sex.  He’s all over me.  Would you like to feel Him?’”

I was so struck by her answer, so impacted by the honesty and purity and innocence of her heart, and so refreshed by her genuine expression of joy, that I laughed with pure delight.  I said, “Good for you!” and gave her another big hug.

You see, she had taken the Spirit of God who filled her to overflowing, and then she went out and leaked on somebody.  And she didn’t use religious language.  She spoke the language of the heart into the life of another person in a way she could understand it.  Just thinking about it gives me goose bumps even now, many months later.

So how is this woman doing now?

Well, whatever it was she got way back in that church meeting, she still has it.  She’s grown in her walk with God.  She continues to share Jesus wherever she goes.  When she messes up, she is quick to repent.  Among other traits of her past life, this woman had a terrible temper.  So bad, in fact, that people feared her.  Does she still get angry?  Yes.  But when she does, and when she notices that a person is becoming afraid of her, she will drop down on her knees…in front of the person…in public…and ask God--out loud--to forgive her.

Does that sound like genuine spiritual fruit to you?  It sure does to me.

By the way, is Jesus really better than sex?  Not only is Jesus better than sex, but…at my age…He’s a whole lot more predictable.

Responses to this article are welcomed.  You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com

This Church has Gone to the Dogs: Literally!

By David Ryser

My karma ran over my dogma.  (Another of my all-time favorite bumper stickers)

I am sitting at my desk looking at an article about a man in Vermont who designed, and built, a church for dogs.  I am not kidding!  This church building features a steeple, stained glass windows, and pews for the furry flock.  There is a sign at the entrance to the church that reads:  “Welcome, all creeds, all breeds.  No dogmas allowed.”  I don’t quite know how to feel about all of this.  I’m told that all dogs go to heaven, but this is ridiculous.  Clever, but ridiculous.

Personally, I think the whole thing is a load of Shih Tzu.

And the church even gets visitors, many of whom are people who have lost a pet and seek comfort at the dog church.

I suppose it makes sense, in a way.  For me, attending a traditional church service in a conventional church building is for the birds.  It seems this church has gone to the dogs.

Actually, the whole traditional church scene reminds me of a book I read once.  Now, what was the name of that book?  Oh, I remember!

Animal Farm.

Responses to this article are welcomed.  You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com

God's Courier: Finding My Place in the Kingdom of God

By David Ryser

No man can avoid what he’s meant to do.  At the moment he’s meant to do it.  (Marcus Aurelius)

Alan is my friend.  Alan is a great guy.  I am not one who trusts easily, but I trust Alan without reservation.  I would trust Alan with my life, my wallet, and my wife.  Alan pastors a church.  I have tried, on more than one occasion over the years, to become a part of Alan’s church.  But I just can’t seem to pull it off.

When I go to Alan’s church and sit in the service, it feels like I’ve got my shorts on backwards.  It’s not dangerous…it just feels weird.

So I don’t attend Alan’s church.  But I really like Alan.  We meet once in awhile and fellowship together.  We talk about the things that are dearest to our hearts…our hopes and our dreams.  I’m safe with Alan, and he speaks powerfully into my life.

And I appreciate him, and love him, more than he knows.

I am a courier.  I began working at this job toward the end of my 14 year pastoral misadventure.  The church was small, and didn’t have a lot of money to pay to a pastor, so I needed a job to provide extra income.  A courier’s job entails driving around and making pick-ups and deliveries.  It does not require a great deal of brain power.

This is a good thing, in my case.

Typically a courier has an assigned route that varies very little from day-to-day.  The job becomes routine.  This can be advantageous because the courier is able to do the job and think about something else at the same time.  Or worship.  Or pray.  Imagine having a job where you are paid to hang out with God.

No church I served ever paid me to hang out with God.

I kept the courier job after I left the pastorate.  I had a lot to think about, and the job paid the bills.  I kept the courier job when I taught at a school of ministry.  The flexible schedule, the income, and the opportunity to prepare emotionally and spiritually for the next day in the classroom made it the ideal job for me.  I kept the courier job after I left the school and the church I was attending.  I needed to heal, and God wanted to talk with me.

It’s hard to hide from God, or anyone else, in a motor vehicle.

So I’m driving on my courier route one day, and my cell phone rings.  I see that my friend Alan is calling me.  I answer the call.  Alan is very excited.  He’d heard something from God for me and is anxious to share it with me.  “I know what you are!  I know what you are!”   This was potentially very good news for me because during this season of my life, I didn’t know who or what I was.  If you had asked me what part I was in the Body of Christ, I would have answered, “The appendix.”

 “So what am I?” I asked.

“You’re a courier!”

What???!!!  I’m thinking, “Well, duh! Are you joking?  I’m driving around in a courier vehicle.  On a courier route.  Of course I’m a courier, you dunderhead!”  What I said was, “A courier?”

“Yup.  A courier.”

Alan was absolutely thrilled with this revelation.  Me…not so much.  I thanked him, somewhat insincerely, for sharing this word from God with me.  Missing the sarcasm in my voice, Alan assured me it was his pleasure and ended the call.

A courier….  For crying out loud!

  I continued driving on my route.  About 20 minutes after my conversation with Alan, God spoke clearly to me.  He didn’t say much.  Only three words.

“You’re a courier.”

And revelation exploded in my spirit.  For the next several minutes it was all I could do to capture and process the truth that was being poured into me.  And at the end of that time, I was quite content to be God’s courier from then on.

You see, a courier’s job is to pick up an item from one person and take it to another person.  Typically a courier has several items of various sorts (pouches, envelopes, packages, etc.) in the vehicle.  Each of them needs to go somewhere.  Each of them goes to someone.  And each of them must arrive at a certain time.  It is very important that these items be delivered to the right place, to the right person, and at the right time.

They must not be delivered to the wrong place, or to the wrong person, or at the wrong time.  Or all three.

The items the courier is picking up and delivering do not belong to him at any time.  They were the property of someone else when he received them, and they become the property of someone else when he delivers them.  Although they are in his custody, and he carries them, the items never belong to him.  And the courier very rarely knows exactly what is in the containers he is carrying.

Wow.  (I love the word WOW.  You can say it frontwards:  WOW.  You can say it backwards:  WOW.  You can even say it upside-down:  MOM)

In a sense, we are all God’s couriers.  We are carriers of the life, nature, love, compassion, and power of God.  We have been called to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth.  We have been commissioned to be witnesses (not to do witnessing) of God’s kingdom.  We are anointed to minister God’s life wherever we go.  The anointing God has placed on us does not belong to us.  It has been given into our custody by God to pour out onto someone else.  It is important that we take this gift from God and give it to the right person, at the right place, and at the right time.

And when we speak God’s word to someone, or minister His power to them, we many times do not know the situation in the person’s life we are speaking into or ministering to.  We just make the delivery.

We are couriers.  God’s couriers.

By the way, I recently had the opportunity to thank my friend Alan for speaking this life-changing word from God into my life.  Of course, he does not even remember the conversation.

It figures….

Responses to this article are welcomed.  You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com

Plans? We Don't Need No Stinking Plans!: Living God's Adventure

By David Ryser

If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.  (Sean Bastable)

I’m not a good planner.  Never have been.  I don’t make plans.  I don’t identify short-term and long-term goals with action steps in between to make the achievement of these goals a success.  I pretty much take each day as it comes.

This trait of mine drives my friends and family crazy.  They see this lack of foresight on my part as an invitation to disaster.

As my acquaintances in the insurance business like to say:  “People don’t plan to fail; they simply fail to plan.”  I suspect this catchy little phrase has helped to sell a lot of insurance policies.  And it does have the appearance of wisdom.  I’m just no good at planning.

It seems I prefer adventure.

Now, the Bible does have much to say about prudence and the benefits of exercising wisdom.  God certainly does not place a premium on foolishness or stupidity.   But the Bible also has a lot to say about making plans...and about the pitfalls of relying upon man-made plans.

Too bad, because I could really use a good plan right about now.

You see, I’m at a crossroads in my life.  I need to make a change…a major change.  What I decide to do will alter the course of my life from now on.  And if I don’t make a decision fairly soon, life for me could become very difficult.  I think having a good plan would be a wonderful thing.

Would it?  What does the Bible say about plans?

Actually, although the Bible is high on wisdom, it seems to take a remarkably dim view of planning.  Appears to downright disapprove of it.  In at least one place, the scriptures teach that all human planning is boastful, arrogant, and evil (James 4:13-17).

But I need a plan!  What am I supposed to do?

Actually I have lots of plans.  Too many of them, in fact.  There’s nothing like a good dose of fear concerning the loss of financial or personal security to get the creative juices flowing in my mind.  When I feel threatened, my fight-or-flight instinct kicks in with a vengeance, and I come up with all sorts of plans for my deliverance.  This is biblical (Proverbs 19:21a), but it is a trap.  Because as long as I consider only my own plans, I will be operating in my own wisdom.  And what I really need is the counsel of God (Proverbs 19:21b).

If I want to make the decision that will most positively impact my future, I suppose it might be best to seek and obtain counsel from the One who knows the future.

The Bible tells me that God has thoughts toward, and plans for, His people.  Plans for good and not for evil (Jeremiah 29:11).  It assures me that even as I make my plans, God is directing my steps (Proverbs 16:9; Psalm 37:23).  This is a great comfort to me.

Because I don’t know what’s best for me.

I’m a lot like a three-year-old child in this regard.  I know very much what I want.  And I know how badly I want it.  And I know when I want it…I want it now!  But I don’t know what’s good for me.  Every loving parent and devoted older sibling knows what it is like to struggle with a small child who greatly wants to run out into traffic.  The child will make it’s desires known in no uncertain terms by crying, screaming, squirming to break free from the restraining grasp, and by other such means as we routinely employ to get our way with God and others…even as adults.

Love prevents the child from running into harm…without regard for the feelings of the child.  And so it is with God.

And I think I’m beginning to catch onto this.  Unfortunately, I’m not catching on just because I’m becoming more spiritual.  It’s because I have gotten what I wanted only to find out I wished I hadn’t gotten it.  And I’ve not gotten what I wanted and been thankful that I’d not gotten it.

And both have happened often enough so that I now realize that I don’t know what is good/best for me.  So I should defer to the counsel of the One who knows the future and who loves me like no other.

And this can be an adventure.

Because parents do not always, or even normally, explain their decisions to a three-year-old.  They shouldn’t have to.  And the child most likely wouldn’t understand the decision anyhow.  Whether the child responds positively to the instructions and actions of the parent is not usually dependent upon the child having more information...it is more often a matter of the child having a loving and trusting relationship with the parent.

And so it is with me and God.

So what should I do now?  I still need to make a decision.  My situation is not improving through my failure to address it.  Fortunately for me, Jesus has told me how to walk through this situation and every other that will ever come into my life.  In Matthew 6:24-34 (cf. Luke 12:22-31), Jesus tells me that I cannot serve two masters.  I cannot simultaneously serve both God and earthly money/riches/provision.  He tells me not to be anxious about anything that I need, especially those things that I think I will need in the future.  He counsels me that the answer to my concerns and fears is to seek God’s kingdom and His righteousness.

It is in relationship with God that we find provision for all of our needs.

That means I don’t have to worry.  I don’t have to live in fear.  I don’t need to scheme my own deliverance.  I don’t need to plan…which is good news for me because, as I’ve previously stated, I stink at planning.

So what am I going to do?  I’m going to go on an adventure with God.

I’m going to take God’s hand and walk with Him through this situation.  I will explore opportunities as I come across them, and I will ask God what He thinks of them.  I will pursue the possibilities that present themselves and trust Him that it’s best when I don’t get what I want, when I want it.  I will not put God, or His decisions, on trial.  Because I cannot say that I love God, or even know Him, if I don’t trust Him.

 I will joyfully accept whatever He supplies, or denies, to me.

And everything will be fine.

Responses to this article are welcomed.  You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com