I have had the great joy of serving as a pastor in the local church for twenty-eight years. My pastoral journey has included serving in four churches in three states (Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia) and getting to know and love many wonderful people along the way.
Part of the fascination of pastoral ministry for me involves the diversity of folks that you encounter. God’s church consists of an array of people from various walks of life in terms of vocation, education, traditions, likes, and dislikes. I’ve pastored white-collared as well as blue-collared men and women, the well-to-do and those who live week-to-week. Tigers, bulldogs, rebels, eagles, and many other fan bases have made up the congregations that i have served.
In the midst of all the diversities however there are some common experiences that each church shared. I don’t intent to delve into any of those except this one. Regardless of the location or size or income level or education level or any other factor of the individual church, I often found myself consulting members who were facing big, big decisions.
What kind of decisions? They are decisions that affect relationships. They are over matters that have the potential to alter family and/or our way of life. They involve choices pertaining to life and death. They are decisions that weigh heavy on our hearts and minds. They keep us awake at night and age up tremendously. Often, they are intensely personal, but can impact the lives of many others.
I cannot tell you the number of times that I have had heard some form of the question, “What should I do?” Through the years I have learned that there are no easy answers to these inquiries. These kinds of decisions demand more than a quick response and pat on the back. So what have I done to help?
In my first pastorate I started offering a process for folks to consider when facing these kinds of decisions. Regardless of the particulars I always have urged them to start by praying to God. Prayer is essential because of the One to whom we are calling. God is our Creator. He knows us better than we know ourselves. James 5 reads, “If anyone among you distressed? Let that one pray.” Part of that prayer involves asking God for the ability to understand and make a good decision. James 1 reads, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
The second part of the process involves consulting those who are knowledgeable on the matter facing them. Proverbs 12:15 reads, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.” Then, in Proverbs 15:22, “Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.” Listening and getting counsel from those who know more than ourselves can help us greatly in making decisions.
The third element of the process calls for considering principles from Scripture, particularly in terms of how a decision affects others. Numerous times I have met with adult children having to make decisions concerning their elderly parents. Often we discuss what the Bible teaches us about honoring our parents. At other times I will focus on passages that teach us about loving others and treating others with respect and dignity. Romans 12:10 teaches us to be devoted to one another in love and to eagerly show honor to one another, while Philippians 2:4 stresses the need to put the interests of others ahead of our own desires.
Finally, I encourage folks to seek God’s peace in their decisions. Too many times after a person has had to make a big decision, he or she will encounter someone who will tell that one what they would have done. While their remarks might be well-intended, they often can lead to hurts or second guessing. The reality is that person really doesn’t know what they would have done because it was never their decision. It’s easy to give advice when you don’t have to live with the results of a decision. The truth is that we pray, seek wisdom, and consider others through the process God can produce peace even in the midst of a chaotic time. As Paul encouraged the Thessalonians, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!”
You may be wondering about my reason for bringing this up. It’s mainly because we are living in a time when so many folks are having to make big decisions. I know of pastors who wrestle daily with decisions involving church schedules and meeting protocols. There is no shortage of opinions of what the pastor should do. The one guarantee is that whatever the decision it will not find agreement with many. Likewise, other leaders (business, medical, governmental, and educational) are having to make decisions that will upset many. Too often both, within the church and in other areas, folks don’t simply disagree with a decision they become angry over it.
Still it’s not only leaders having to make big decisions. A lot of people are trying to make a decision pertaining to their own health and their family’s well-being. Primarily, a big decision before many involves the decision to be vaccinated for the COVID-19 virus. In fact, right now it’s decision that has become quite divisive in our county and in our churches.
I faced this decision earlier in the year. I was uncertain of what I should do. I used the process that I outlined here. I began praying to God, asking for wisdom. I sought knowledge by meeting with and talking with my doctors. I read articles from trusted medical resources. I considered biblical principles pertaining to how God works, the role of government, protecting life, and loving others, such as my family and my church. Then, I pursued God’s peace with my decision. In the end, I decided to be vaccinated against the virus.
While I cannot decide whether you should be vaccinated or not, I do believe that if you are willing to use the process that I have outlined or a similar one that it can help you make a decision. I am including a couple of resources that I have found beneficial in making the decision to vaccinate or not.
The first resource comes from the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. https://erlc.com/covidvaccines/
The second resource is from Redeeming Babel, a ministry whose purpose is to provide “biblical thinking in a confusing world.” https://www.christiansandthevaccine.com/
Again, know that my purpose is not to make a decision for you, but is to provide you with a process for making big decisions. I believe that it can help whether you are a leader of people or an individual facing a big decision. It’s one that I have used for many years both personally and pastorally. In the end God has given me peace through it whether it involved end of life decisions for both of my parents or dealing with difficult church matters or whether I should be vaccinated against COVID or a number of other decisions. I trust that God will grant you a similar peace.
Butch Knight 