stay humble out there

For me, growing up has come with a growing realization that I don’t actually have all the answers. You know what I mean? The older I get, the less I feel like I know. When I was younger, I definitely knew all the answers. I was sure of it. Oh, to go back to being 21...

But alas, I have grown up. I have experienced more of life. I have rubbed up against all the hurt and suffering and the reality of the world and I am continuously realizing how many answers I do not actually have (and really never had). To clarify, there are things that I know to be true in & about the world, hence why I consider myself to be a Christian, despite it becoming an almost derogatory term in our post-Christian culture. I still see Holy Scripture as the authority for my life, even as I see others misuse and twist it to abuse and harm. I certainly am not implying that there is no truth. Yet one thing is still true: the more I feel like I grow with God, the more questions I have.

I know that people out there in our current societal landscape are asking a lot of questions, too. I echo many of them. As a pastor, the pressure to respond to these hot button questions is huge. I often feel squeezed from all sides, standing in the middle, not able to please anyone. It is a tough time to be a leader, wanting desperately to be true to the cross of Christ. I sometimes find myself watching Christians on the news and wondering if I've just completely misunderstood everything about this faith stuff. I have questions. I am reminded of a passage of Scripture in 1 Corinthians 8, where the apostle Paul writes to the Corinthian church on a number of issues. They are arguing internally about many things, but one of their 'hot button' issues is whether or not they’re allowed to eat food that has been sacrificed to an idol. However could the church get past this and move forward? Paul writes,

“Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that “we all have knowledge” about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.” - 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 NLT

Paul goes on to flesh out his argument more, but I have found myself ruminating on these initial lines. The 'sides' of the Church each declared that God had given them special words of knowledge about this issue. "God is on this side!" "No, God is surely on our side! He told me Himself!" Sounds familiar... (There is nothing new under the sun, friends.) Paul was saying to the Corinthians, 'look, love is far more important than having all the answers!' How we love and treat one another in spite of these big questions is ultimately what is most revealing about our faith. What matters most is how we use what we do know to love God and love our neighbors. I do not have all the answers. I know it is ok to have questions. I know that I am not going to enter the fullness of Heaven at the end of my life to find that I had a completely flawless theology. We all can teach each other, and we all can learn from one another. "Anyone who claims to have all the answers doesn't really know very much..."

In the honest questions, in the honest seeking, in the honest crying out - with humble, teachable, contrite hearts - is where we find God ready to meet us. After all, if I know all the answers, I don’t really need God very much at that point, do I? What is faith even for if I already have all the answers?

I think there are some things we can know for sure about God. There are some hills I would die on, yes there are. But ultimately, I am praying that love and humility are the reverberating characteristics of my life and faith. I continue to pray that for the Church. Peace to you as you navigate the good, important questions,