Unfortunately, we have allowed the same mindset to creep
into our ideas about accomplishing the Great Commission. Whether in the areas of church growth, church
planting, discipleship or evangelism, we have largely become a people who are
looking for a quick and easy list of how to do it. We are obsessed with methodology. When God blesses a ministry with
fruitfulness, the immediate reaction is to write a book on how it was done. Sure,
we get spiritual in our titles—“How God Grew Our Church Plant from 3 to 3000 in
3 Weeks”—but the implication is, read our book to find out how you can make it
happen for you too.
The more I read the Bible, the more I realize God doesn’t
honor methodology. In fact, God
purposely chooses to accomplish His purposes through different methodologies. Take Moses for example. Had Moses lived today, I can imagine
publishers lining up at his tent with book proposals. “Four Easy Steps to Stop
Your People from Complaining” would be a best seller. Two sections—first, tell the story of how the
people were griping and complaining about water. Second section—four chapters to tell what he
did about it (and of course how we can do the same). Talk to God. Take the Rod. Find a Rock. Hit It
and Get It. There you have it—a four
part methodology. The book would sell
millions of copies to those around the world who are looking for water. The implication is unmistakable—all you have
to do is follow those four steps and you’ll have water too.
The only problem is, it wasn’t about the methodology. Forty
years later, God taught Moses that lesson.
The people were griping about being thirsty, so Moses pulled out the
trusty “How-to” book he wrote years before. Let’s see… Talk to God… check. Take
the Rod… check. Find a Rock… check. Hit
It (twice for good measure) and Get It… check.
The water came out and the people temporarily quit complaining, so the
methodology worked, right? Wrong.
God doesn’t operate from how-to lists, formulae or
methodologies. He desires that we
develop plans and methods, but at the same time, He calls us to trust Him—not our
plans. Horses and chariots, battle plans
and training are great. But as David
wrote in Psalm 20:7, “Some take pride in a chariot and others in horses, but we
take pride in the name of the Lord our God.”
The temptation is to trust our lists and plans. We desire for our church to grow or our
church plant to flourish, so we seek out the plans and methods of others. Sometimes the Lord will use those. Sometimes water will flow for a season. But when we trust in our plans and our
methods (or those of others) we fail to do what we are above all else called to
do. We are called to trust God and show
His holiness to all people (Numbers 20:12).
We can only do that by trusting Him above all else—including our
cherished methodologies and how-to lists.
Dear Brother Jim,
Could not agree with you more.
Outstanding post.
C.J.