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Sometimes, the scope of a crisis
makes inaction just not an option. When our lives are at stake, most of us will
act. In my experience, however, in the face of lesser crises or even just
everyday choices and decisions, many us fail to act. We don't take a stand for
what we believe is really important because we are afraid. We don't make choices
to grow and challenge ourselves. We choose instead a passive response with the
silent hope that maybe I won't really have
to step out this time. We echo in our lives the words of the
contemplative Thomas Merton: Perhaps I am
stronger than I think. Perhaps I am even afraid of my strength and turn it
against myself, thus making myself weak - making myself secure - making myself
guilty. Perhaps I am most afraid of the strength of God in me. Perhaps I would
rather be guilty and weak in myself, than strong in [God] whom I cannot
understand. (Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, Sheldon
Press) For us to survive and
even flourish in the current set of national and global crises, everyone has to
be in. The stakes are too high for any of us to stand on the sidelines out of
fear. All our leaders have to find ways to work together to develop and
implement policies that will work. All our citizens have to work together to
participate and also to support and help each
other. This same spirit of
participation is also essential for life even when we are not responding to
major crises. Many of us spend significant parts of our lives trying to fly
under the radar and avoid tough choices. Many of our churches do the same. I
suspect we are hoping we won't really have to make basic changes in how we
relate to others, see ourselves, and view life. I confess that I have
had this attitude for much of my life. Yes, it would be nice to think of myself
as strong, proud, and accomplished. Sometimes a life crisis challenges me and I
do step up. And when I do, I find that I am changed. I become more the self that I want to be. Far too often,
however, I have tended to shrink back and follow paths of least resistance in
the face of hard choices and even the daily challenge of more mundane choices. I
have sought to play it safe. Maybe you have too? Jesus taught and
exemplified the importance of being all you can be. The new birth he offered is
the image of trusting in the partnership each of us has with God, the source of
all life. The potential for life to be transformed lies in that partnership.
God, in whatever way you envision God, seems to have chosen to trust in human
beings to do a lot of the work of redemption and transformation. It is as we
step up to that work, that we find the power, life, and love of the Spirit
working in us and through us. Such power rarely comes before we make the
commitment of ourselves, but it always follows that commitment. So, are you
in? Thanks for continuing to bless me as
we journey together. Jack F. Price, Senior Pastor
If you haven't read
Jack's book Finding
Faith: Honest Answers about God, the Bible, and the Church Today
order it today: www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com
or directly from
Jack at www.findingfaithnow.com Posted articles
at: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jack_F_Price Jack's sermons (text
or audio) at www.crossroadschurchkc.org, then double-click on worship |
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