Author: Butch Knight

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.

“These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you might have peace. In the world you have trouble, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

I have thought often of these words of Jesus over the last several days. It seems that in every direction that I look I see suffering. Today’s news out of Afghanistan of multiple bombings at the Kabul airport which have left many dead including children and members of our own military serves as a glaring reminder of the misery in the world.

Easily though I could have written a similar statement of Haiti or Waverly, Tennessee or any number of local communities that presently are battling through the latest surge of COVID-19. There’s no shortage of troubles. Job’s words resonate among us, “Man, who is born of woman, is short of days and full of turmoil.”

Interestingly enough when Jesus spoke these words to His disciples, He alone knew what was about to happen within the coming hours. The disciples had no clue of how their world was about to be turned upside down. As Jesus would be arrested and sentenced to death, the disciples would scatter. Fear would overshadow their newly-professed, well-meaning faith in Jesus.

So, Jesus, knowing what He was about to experience, seized the moment to encourage the disciples. He did so by giving them a couple of promises surrounded by a harsh truth. In the world you have trouble conveys a message of reality that I imagine the disciples didn’t really want to hear anymore than we do. After all they had just enthusiastically expressed their commitment to Jesus as the One who has come from God.

Surely that meant that blue skies and sunny days were ahead for them, right? Well no, not in the least. Actually the next day would be one filled with darkness and pain and disillusionment. They would watch Jesus suffer mercilessly. They would hear crowds cheer for Barabbas and mock and ridicule Jesus. They would cower among the crowds. They were living out His declaration of troubled times in the world.

While we can certainly appreciate their dilemma and identify with their struggles, we must hear the words of Jesus that flanked this harsh truth. In Me you might have peace and I have overcome the world are promises that enable us to face the difficult days of life. The first promise assures of peace in our relationship with Jesus. Notice that His words are not a statement of no troubles or struggles. Instead, they invite us to rely upon our intimacy with Him in order to experience peace. The world cannot produce peace. It only brings trouble. Peace is in Jesus alone.

What great news this is!! We can have peace even in the midst of suffering and pain in Jesus. Over the last several weeks I have spoken and prayed with a number of fellow disciples who have claimed and experienced that promise. As they watched or received news of family member or friends who died of COVID, they had peace even in their pain.

As I pray for those suffering through the miseries of Afghanistan, I seek that they might have peace. I am lifting up equally those struggling through the devastation of Haiti as well as the disaster of Waverly. I am praying for those communities to experience this peace that comes exclusively through Jesus.

The second promise of Jesus is one of complete and total victory. When Jesus said, “I have overcome the world,” He spoke so confidently of a triumph that had not even occurred yet. The disciples would remember these words following the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. They would turn their world upside down sharing the Gospel of Jesus with everyone they met. Because Jesus overcame the world, the source of their troubles, they knew that through Him they would experience victory as well. Despite persecution, imprisonment, beatings, and even death they confidently carried out the mission of the Gospel.

So, today if you are a disciple of Jesus I say to you as Jesus said to the first disciples, “Take courage.” He has overcome the world! In Him we have peace. Through Him we have a victory that no one can take way. Regardless of wherever you are or whatever you might be experiencing His promises are certain and yours. So let’s rest in Him as we confidently carry out the work of the Gospel.

If you are not a disciple of Jesus, I pray that you might turn to Him and trust Him during these troubling times. Just as Jesus wanted His disciples to know His peace and experience victory so He does for you equally. It’s the very reason that He suffered and died on the cross that next day. It’s why God raised Him from the dead; that you might have peace in Him and victory through Him.

In the world we have troubles, but peace and victory are in Him! Blessings!

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”

I haven’t written in quite a while, but think it’s time to start again. I plan to write weekly about matters that God’s Spirit presses upon my heart and mind. Thus I have no idea of the topic from week to week, but trust that the Lord will direct my thoughts and enable me to communicate effectively. So, let’s get started.

Like many of you I have kept up with what’s happening in Afghanistan. The manner in which we have withdrawn our troops coupled with the stunningly sudden return of the Taliban’s control of the country has caused an array of responses, ranging from utter disbelief to disappointment to embarrassment.

The images and stories coming from the frontlines of Kabul are horrific and so sad. Watching Afghans attempt to cling to airplanes as they take off only to plunge to the earth and die shouts of their desperation. Stories of the Taliban hunting down and torturing and killing Afghans and their families who have helped our troops over the years are so hard to read.

I read of Afghan Christian leaders who had decided to acknowledge their commitment in a very public sense. The country requires every citizen to have an identification card which includes the identity of one’s religion. Several Afghan Christian leaders had decided to identify as “Christian” on their ID cards. Already the Taliban has made contact with these leaders, sending ominous warnings and threats to them.

At the same time that Afghanistan is deteriorating, I also am reading of the devastation that’s occurring in Haiti. Saturday’s earthquake along with a tropical storm that passed through the country have left many dead and many, many more in need of basic necessities. These disasters have happened while the country finds itself in the midst of its own political turmoil. Just last month gunmen assassinated the Haitian president and wounded his wife. This poor country cannot catch a break.

Both the atrocities in Afghanistan and the disasters in Haiti have weighed heavily upon me. The Lord has grieved my heart for both nations and their people. I have prayed numerous times for each of them in the last several days. I know that God can produce victory out of the worst of defeats. The resurrection of Jesus attests to this truth. So I pray that God will do what only He can do in Haiti and Afghanistan.

An unexpected thing happened while I was praying for these needs. As I pondered over the magnitude of these needs, the Lord impressed upon me how truly blessed I am. I have never had any concerns over terrorists knocking on my door, looking to kill me and my family. I never have had to wonder if my family would have enough to to eat or from where tomorrow’s meals might come. I never have known the desperation and devastation of the Afghans or Haitians.

As God laid these truths upon me He caused to recognize that many, if not all, of the challenges that I face are so inconsequential. The matters that I tend to get upset or anxious over really are so small and insignificant. They really don’t matter that much at all.

So why do I get so worked over minutiae? It’s because I can become discouraged and self-absorbed in my own world. As Paul wrote in Philippians 2, I get caught up in looking out more for my own interests than the needs of others. It’s not only that my view of the world becomes small, but my vision of God shrinks as well. In my discouragement I become focused only on myself in my my own little world, I assume that God does too.

I tend to think that Elijah might have struggled with this malady too. In 1 Kings 18, God used Elijah in an incredible way. Elijah took on the prophets of Baal and Asherah and soundly defeated and destroyed them before outrunning Ahab all the way to Jezreel. Everyone who saw Elijah recognized that the hand of the Lord was upon him.

Yet, in a moment everything changed when Jezebel threatened to take Elijah’s life. His world suddenly shrank. Elijah became unable to see beyond his own struggles and challenges. Even when God spoke to him through a gentle breeze, Elijah couldn’t see past his own misery. He failed to realize that there were 7000 who had remained faithful to the Lord even as Elijah had.

I love how God dealt with Elijah. The word that comes to mind is grace. The Lord never stopped caring for Elijah, constantly supplying his needs even when Elijah failed to acknowledge Him. The Lord brought along Elisha to help him complete his work. By His grace God blessed Elijah with a tremendous legacy. He, along with Moses, appeared with Jesus in His glory on the Mount of Transfiguration, affirming Jesus as the Messiah. God’s grace was sufficient for Elijah despite his failures. God’s power was perfected in Elijah’s weakness.

I am grateful that God still extends His grace to us. By grace He saves us. By grace God enables us to open our eyes and see beyond ourselves. By His grace God allows us to serve Him. By grace He leads us to realize how blessed we are and even to bless others. By grace God perfects His power in our weaknesses.

My heart breaks for the Afghans and the Haitians. I lift them up before my God, begging Him to shower them with His grace, mercy, and kindness. I pray that even in the midst of their misery that God will enable them to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. May they experience the sufficiency of God’s grace in ways that will enable them to glorify His Name. May God perfect His power in their weakness.