Guest - Scott Rodgers
Faith, Risk, and Stupidity.
Risk in the name of faith, that’s stupid. Risk that requires faith, that’s essential.
Risk in the name of faith. Taking a huge risk without patiently gathering the facts, seeking wise counsel, keeping in alignment with our life’s purpose, and lots of prayer is simply stupid. Faith is not an excuse to be lazy and irresponsible.
Risk that requires faith. After patiently gathering as many facts as you can, seeking wise counsel, striving to keep in alignment with your life’s purpose, and lots of prayer, big risks still require faith. There remains that ’stepping into the unknown’, ‘jumping off the ledge’, ‘entering the point of no return’, that requires faith.
There are times when we may need to stand down and not take that risk in the name of faith. There are times when we may need to step out and take that risk because God has prepared us and the time has come.
Where are you? Is it time to ‘stand down’ or ‘step out’?
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[...] 14, 2009 · Leave a Comment Guest blogger on SWERVE today. SWERVE is the leadership blog of LifeChurch.tv for pastors and [...]
Sometimes we can be too presumptuous of God and step out in faith without having done the work on our end. I’ve been there. I’ve had to get on my knees and repent and ask for forgiveness of my presumption. I agree that we need to cover all bases and then move forward in faith.
Great words! Thanks for the reminder that blind faith is just plain stupid. We all need to remember this and balance faith in our lives.
POWERFUL!! I would venture to say that many church leaders suffer from this very issue and in-balance, taking “calculated” risks, is the term most used…what does that mean? We’ll step out and we are about 65% sure we’ll succeed?
Marc - I agree and I think’s there’s even balance in what I’m saying in this post. I’ve witnessed many successful risks when the decision didn’t go through the process of due diligence as well. There are certainly times when God speaks and a person hears clear enough and has to obey without anything making sense. Overall though, I’ve found most of the time that going through the healthy process of due diligence lends itself to long term success. Many church leaders are entreprenurial and love the thrill of a new challenge. I’m one. What’s important is these key leaders and decision makers surround themselves with a small team of leaders they trust and respect enough to allow them to speak into and challenge the ‘65% sure’ risks and decisions. Though every venture won’t always be successful, the organization or church will continue to move forward when properly assessing their level of faith, risk, and stupidity.
Great words…I have mixed ideas on where I am personally at with this..I am leaning more to the “step out”…I have been standing down for a while…The main obstacle is “me” and the “what if” I fight with each step.
Okay so now you’ve got me thinking…great post!
The Rodge rockin’ the guest blog! Well done bro! When I first became a youth minister, it seemed that everything that came through my head was “God’s will” and as long as I said the Lord told me so, I was good to go, even in my own thinking… which posed a real problem when it didn’t work out. I still have those moments (the whole “lifestock sucks” was one of those and I have since repented!!!) As far as “standing down” or “stepping out”, I think that happens daily and even at each decision, don’t you think?
Great words! Thanks for the reminder that blind faith is just plain stupid.i will come back to see you soon.
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