In my youth I heard an old lady say, “When you get married, it becomes a battle of the wills. It’s a matter of ‘Who’s will wins!’”
One had to wonder in her case, “Who won and was it worth it?”
Church automatically places us in close proximity to one another. It’s not a choice, it’s what family is. So, all those ‘wills’ in one place are surely going to want to express themselves. And believe it or not, they should! After all, if freedom isn’t the cornerstone of our belief system, what is? Christ set us free from sin and death in order that we can be all we can be in Christ.
I know that such images of unfettered ‘free expression’ conjure up visions of Christians running amok in our congregations. But I doubt that most saints are interested in wrecking that which they have spent lifetimes building. I’m suggesting that every brother and sister must be encouraged to talk about their dreams for the Kingdom of Christ.
Most Christians I know support the work of the Lord from pure hearts. However, I have seen a few brethren along the way who have become their own tin-gods; making the congregation adhere to their myopic visions. Anyone who dared to question them found themselves embattled in a “war of the wills.” Life is too short—avoid such people!
The maturing Christian lifts his eyes to that massive lost and dying world. Not with despair, but with the hope inherent in the Cross of Christ. Free to use our time and talents to God’s glory as we know best from God’s Word.
Paul says, “It is for freedom that we have been set free” (Gal.5:1). Later in the chapter he defines what is best from God’s Word: “For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13).
God has blessed you with the capacity to set your own will. Set it to: “Thy will be done.”
John Staiger
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