If you’ve spent more than three minutes in theological circles you will have come across the free will/ predestination debate. An astonishing number of theological, philosophical and practical issues come back to it. Am I the author of my own destiny, or a pawn in a wider plan? The pawn option doesn’t need to be trivial. After all, while I may strut around with a sense of great importance in a tiny pool of my own making, does that really compare to the honour of being a pawn in a game that is Universe and eternity wide?
Now let’s be clear, this teeny blogs eleven hundred words isn’t going to answer a question that has kept people with 165+ IQ’s talking for decades. But maybe it can give some practical insights on living as though everything depends upon you, while deeply knowing that ultimately, nothing does. Put differently, it’s about saying the deepest “Yes” to life, and stepping into it meaningfully, while also cultivating a genuine humility that recognises that all of life is gift and grace, or as Paul puts it in 1 Tim 6:6-7 “Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and can take nothing out of it”.
Why a stance of everything depends upon me and nothing does?
A historical snippet. A young William Carey (usually named the founder of the modern missionary movement) was addressing a group of Baptist Ministers when he was told, “Young man, sit down! You are an enthusiast. When God pleases to convert the heathen, he’ll do it without consulting you or me.” It was a harsh rebuke, but in the sovereign purposes of God it inspired Carey to write his 1792 response, An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens. In Which the Religious State of the Different Nations of the World, the Success of Former Undertakings and the Practicability of the Further Undertakings Considered. Given the sexy title, it’s no surprise that this was pivotal in the launching of the modern missionary movement which used means such as schools, hospitals, printing presses and more to spread the good news of Jesus around the world. In saying we should use means Carey was saying a loud “no” to the passivity of “When God pleases to convert the heathen, he’ll do it without consulting you or me”, and was also providing a rationale for his famous May 12, 1792 “Deathless Sermon.” Based on Isaiah 54:2-3 (“Enlarge the place of your tent…”) it came to be linked to Carey’s most famous words, “Expect great things from God; Attempt great things for God.” Expect and Attempt. God is in charge, but we act… God is the provider, but we must put in the effort and attempt.
A less famous example – given in a sermon heard by perhaps 80 people and probably only remembered by me! The preacher of the day, a well known figure in Baptist circles, was reflecting on his call to the first church he served as pastor. It was a tiny congregation in an obscure Scottish village miles away from everywhere. The pastor had been a very successful student and had been identified as the one most likely to succeed and make a difference. People were horrified when he accepted the call to this remote and “insignificant” church. Someone remonstrated with him, “You will be forgotten about there. No one will know who you are or where you are.” To this he replied, “God knows where I am.” It’s a great reply, essentially saying God is sovereign, I am not, and results and fame and impact are in God’s hands, not mine. And in this preachers case, God did indeed know where he was, and called him into dramatically more significant roles in due season. Well that presupposes it is OK to talk of some roles being more significant than others, for in the purposes of God, who knows?
I serve as a coach to a fascinating range of interesting, talented and diverse people. I was talking about this account to one of them. He replied, “Hmmm. Don’t know about that story. To have all that talent and to risk burying it. Isn’t that what the Parable of the Talents warns against (Matt 25:14-30)? If God has given you something, you must be a responsible steward of it.” And then he added, “It’s so demotivating. It implies I must just sit around doing nothing until there is a flash of lightening and some golden door suddenly opens. I think God opens doors for those who knock on them. And don’t forget, that’s what Jesus tells us to do in Matt 7:7 ‘Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you.’ You’ve got to be pro active in life. Carpe Diem (seize the day) and all that.”
That’s a fair push back. Yet we all know its limitations. Are we really the author of our own fate, in charge of everything? Tell that to the young woman in a wheelchair because a drunk driver thought it ok to race some traffic lights. Or go to the local hospice. Not every patient is in their 80’s. We can’t all say “The length of our days is seventy years – or eighty if we have the strength” (Ps 90:10). And that’s not necessarily because we were eating chocolate eclairs instead of going to the gym. The good things in life (including life and health span) are not evenly distributed.
But does that mean I should simply accept the status quo as if it is God ordained? A now rarely sung verse of “All things bright and beautiful” goes, “The rich man in his castle, the poor man at the gate, God made them high and lowly, and ordered their estate. All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small…” Really? Should we back a theology of the status quo or rise up in indignation against it and join the work of God in transforming the world and making all things new? It’s kinda obvious, isn’t it?
Where does this leave us? With the question unresolved (surprise, surprise) though there is a posture we can adopt. Dive deeply into life. Accept that every God given gift comes with a plea, “use this well” and “use this responsibly”. Yet hold everything lightly. For while God looks for my unreserved “yes” and invites us into all of life, nothing ultimately depends upon me. That knowledge leads to much work, genuine humility, and gratitude that all of life (even its most perplexing parts) is gift and grace…
Nice chatting…
Photo by Will Oliveira: https://www.pexels.com/photo/man-shrugging-in-studio-with-neutral-expression-33715995/
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Thank you for this post. To me, personally, this comes as an answer to prayer as I am currently planning a two week missionary trip to Indonesia with 2 of my work colleagues in a few weeks time. I have been seeking direction as we plan this trip in spite of a heavy work load at the school, and your reminder to “expect and attempt” while holding the outcomes lightly was deeply encouraging.
I’m feeling the tension you describe. Wanting to step forward responsibly, put my hand to the plough, and still remember that outcomes and impact ultimately sit with God. This was a timely reminder to attempt with faith, and hold the results with open hands. Thank you for putting words to this in such a practical and hope-filled way.
Thanks Ash. It is a tension to balance. Let me know how the trip to Indonesia goes. Sounds exciting. As you say – expect and attempt!
Comment *I’ve been thinking a lot about the parable of the talents recently. John Nolland, writing on this parable, said:
“Those who have custody of the master’s money remain responsible to his mandate and must expect to be called to account by God himself in the coming of the kingdom.”
The parable talks about material things. But what about the other things we’ve been entrusted with? Skills? Abilities? Whatever degree of health we have? The very time that we spend on this planet? Our location (I live in Perth, Western Australia. Is that a privilege entrusted to me by our heavenly Father? Yes!) Has our Father entrusted us with all these things? I think he has entrusted us with everything we have and everything we are. And I hope I am going to be able to give a satisfactory answer when he asks me what I did with all the things with which he has entrusted me.
This parable is a disturbing teaching of our Lord and Savior. It’s right up there with:
“From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48).
Very disturbing teachings, but we don’t need to worry. It’s all about acknowledging who owns everything, and is in charge of everything, and surrendering everything to him. I reckon that if I can pray “Your will be done” about everything, and mean it, I should be OK.
Thanks Peter. I note your qualification, “If I can pray your will be done about everything, and mean it…” I think that is often the real struggle. I certainly often have pretty fixed ideas about what I would like to happen.
As to your earlier point – absolutely – we must be good stewards, be that of time, location, ability, money whatever.