Signposts

 "As the people stood in the distance, Moses approached the dark cloud where God was." Exodus 20:21....."No heresy has been more sin inspired than belief in formulas. 'Experts' provided formulas. God gives signposts....pointing into the fog." Larry Crabb "Jesus doesn't give recipes that show the way to God. He is the way." Karl Barth

We who profess to be followers of Christ seem to prefer to follow Him by way of a "manual," a printed guide that gives us "steps" in how we are to follow Him and results that will be very pleasing to our flesh. The proof of this can be seen in the many "How to" books that are constantly offered and marketed. How to have a better life, marriage, more success, more happiness, more of what we want. How to grow our church, how to be a more effective leader, how to be everything you've ever wanted to be, and for and with Jesus. One of the first things I noticed upon becoming a pastor was how often my denomination brought successful pastors into pastoral gatherings with the purpose of telling us "how they did it." The hope was that if we did what they did, we'd have those results as well. Back in the 80's I remember a set of guidebooks coming out that detailed the activities of pastors who led churches of 100, 200, and so on. The thought was that if we copied what they did, we could lead our fellowships into the size they currently pastored. None of this was new, and none of it has ceased. It hasn't ceased because at root, we would rather have a system to follow than a Christ who leads us.....and who often doesn't tell us anything about where we're going, or what the results will be.

When I came across Larry Crabb's above quote, it resonated with my heart. I'm one who has many times bought into the formula process. I once went to a conference led by one of the most successful pastors in the nation. There were some good things to glean there, there always is, but one thing offered was a prayer guide, a prayer guide that offered a range of prayers that would bring me the kind of results that this pastor and his church had experienced. I bought the booklet, and set to praying, so much so that I eventually wore it out and had to get a new one. I prayed much, but I never really connected with Him in it. I was following a "manual," not Him. I wanted a marked out pathway, and He doesn't offer that. His call to me was to follow the "signposts" that He would leave, and that required my listening, seeing when I could, trusting when I couldn't, and obeying in all of it. My following was to be centered on listening for His voice, looking to His Word, and going where He led, being still when I waited upon Him, and trusting at all times in His goodness. Jesus has no use for "How to" manuals.

I'm not saying that we can't glean from others sharing what they have learned and experienced in their walk with Him. The problem is that we have come to depend far more on what they are saying than what He does. We listen to their words and then ask God to bless us as we act upon them. We just assume that the goals we're moving towards are exactly what He wants for us. That really is a heresy, but one we've become very comfortable with. Jesus had specific plans for His disciples, almost none of them revealed to them. When Peter inquired as to where those plans would lead as concerns the disciple John, Jesus rebuked him and said, "What is that to you? You follow Me." That's His word to us. We're not to follow in anyone's footsteps but His.

We fear the mystery and unknown that will always be involved in following Him. Moses entered the thick darkness. The unknown darkness. The darkness where God was. All the people stood back. Our flesh will always seek the way of standing back. His call is to enter into the unknown with the expectation that we will come to know Him in ever deeper ways there. Crabb talks of the signposts pointing to the fog. We can't see what's in the fog, but He wants us to trust that He's there, and He will lead us through. Darkness and fog can be extremely intimidating, but if we will dare to follow Him into it, we will discover layers of intimacy in Him we never thought possible.

There is one last thing to speak of in this. Our demand for a formula or recipe to follow reveals that at root, we're trying to manipulate Him into giving us what we want. If we do the steps, He is obligated to respond as we wish. To believe in such a relationship with Him really is heresy. There is only one way to follow Him; with all our heart, trusting with all our heart, and obeying with all our will. If we will, we'll find that the darkness isn't darkness to Him, and the fog always clears in His Light. There's no other way to journey with Him, and we deprive ourselves of the wonder of His Presence and Life if we should seek one.

Blessings,

Pastor O