Articles From Our Bulletins
"I Don't Have to Decide...."
If you’ve ever been in an administrative position- in business or the church, or if you been a parent, you understand the pressure of decision making. This is especially true when the decision is largely up to you. And of course, the pressure ramps up the more people will be affected by your decision, and the more resources are required to implement it. Having been, at least to some degree, in all of these decision-making positions (managing a tractor/equipment business, serving as an Elder in the church, and certainly as a parent), I am well acquainted with the pressures of making “the decision(s).” While an elder and full-time preacher for a previous congregation, I was often asked what it was like to take on the additional responsibility of shepherding. My initial response to this question was always the same, “You get less sleep!”
Given these things, I have learned to be grateful for the decisions I do not have make. In fact, as Christians, we should ALL be grateful for the decisions we don’t have to make. Like….
What’s right and wrong. For those who reject God and His word for atheism- in either its practical or theoretical forms, the burden of deciding “right” and “wrong” about EVERYTHING must be tremendous! Though it is sometimes difficult to have sympathy for the plight of those who “suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18), I do pity them because of the pressure that ensues as a result of their rejection of God and His word. Those that at least strive for some measure of conscientiousness are left with no standard of right and wrong outside of themselves. Every moral decision must be weighed through a complex system of subjective decision-making. It must be tremendously burdensome to even attempt to decide issues of importance such as abortion, capital punishment, homosexuality and trans-genderism, and the like with only their own subjective reasoning instead of a divine objective standard! The results of such pressures speak for themselves when decisions of how to label public restrooms creates a national crisis, and a teenage boy is allowed to compete and win all the events at girls track and field competitions because he “represents” himself as female. But for those of us who believe in God and trust in His word, “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether,” Psalm 19:9. (See also Genesis 1:27-28.)
Who’s saved and lost eternally. I am extremely grateful that my responsibility regarding the eternity of others ends at presenting the truth of God’s word concerning these matters to them, and encouraging their obedience to it. I don’t have to decide who will be saved or lost- in fact, not only is such beyond my purview, it is beyond my ability. The God of the Universe is tremendously more righteous and just, infinitely more loving, and exceptionally more gracious and merciful than any mortal could hope to be! Additionally, His omniscience allows Him to see and know that which man cannot, “for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,” 1Samuel 16:7. Therefore, you nor I have to concern ourselves with who will be lost or saved, we just have “learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:10), then “practice righteousness” as He prescribes (1John 3:10), and then “proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1Peter 2:9). So, let’s learn, practice, and teach God’s word, and leave the eternal judgments of souls to Him who is eminently qualified to make them… and be thankful we don’t have to decide such matters! (See also 2Corinthians 5:10-11.)
Whether or not to attend worship/bible class. Even among those who consider themselves “Christians,” many are plagued with the weekly (or more) decision of whether or not to attend worship services and bible classes. I’m thankful that the weight such deliberations and decisions have never been a problem for me. From as far back as I can remember if you weren’t bleeding uncontrollably, puking up your toenails (sorry for that image!), or running a measurable temperature, you went to services every time they occurred. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it- you went. Of course, there were many times that I did not “want” to go, but thankfully, that decision wasn’t left up to me until I had the knowledge and maturity to make it (I often did not want to go to school, take a bath, or brush my teeth either- but that lack of desire didn’t change those outcomes either, and for the same reasons!). By that time, I understood the value of worshipping God, learning His word, and encouraging others, and being encouraged by them, to faithfulness in ALL areas of service to God, not just in attendance. But for many, there is a decision-making ritual that has to be gone through to arrive at a conclusion of whether or not to attend services. Such things as how tired I am, how much homework or extra-curricular activities the kids have, what else needs to be done, whether or not I “feel like it,” and the like have to be factored into a decision. Although whether or not I want to go is somewhat of a separate issue, let’s simplify things down to this: Can I go? If it is possible, then go and provide others with the blessing of your presence, and God with your worship. There are times when we all have an ox in the ditch/well that requires our immediate attention and prevents our attendance, cf. Luke 14:5. But many of us, I fear, lead him there, push him in, and then build a fence around him to prevent his escape! Stop burdening yourself with unnecessary decisions in these regards- if you can attend, do so. You won’t regret it now, and your kids will appreciate it (like I do!) later. Just unburden yourself from the decision and GO!
I’m reminded by these things of a little plaque that was prominently displayed in the entryway to a home. It read, “The decisions of the HEAD of this household are not necessarily those of the MANAGEMENT!” In that case, it was obvious that “the management” wasn’t pleased with some of the decisions of “the head.” In our mortal state of relative ignorance and myopic shortsightedness, we may not like all of the decisions God makes for us. We may disagree with some, and feel others are unfair, or even unjust- just like we did toward the decisions of our parents when we were young. But, we eventually grew up and saw the knowledge and wisdom of their decisions. Be thankful that you weren’t allowed to make decisions of importance before you were ready for them by your parents, and be supremely grateful for the decisions that can be left to God…then leave them to Him!
- Decide_I_Dont_Have_to.pdf (78.48 kB)
