Four Things I hate about Faith

"Every natural inclination of the beginner golfer is wrong." At least that's what golf great, Ben Hogan said. "The new golfer," he asserted, "is tempted to grip the club too tightly, swing too hard, and bend his knees too much. Eventually, every natural bent must be constrained to make room for the unnatural golf motion."

Learning Christianity and leading volunteers has been that way for me. Slowly, very slowly, I learn that I must set aside every natural tendency to make room for the faith reality. No, that's not right either. Actually, God pries my fingers open until I, out of desperation, let go of my natural tendencies. I cry as He takes them away. I hate the process. Let me give you a few examples of my natural notions that desperately need Spirit-led faith contortion.

#1 My natural thought: If I try really hard, I can get rid of a sin.

The biblical reality: God starts to work while I'm still kicking and screaming, upset that in my own effort, my attempts to change have drastically failed. Finally, I admit my desperation, I let go, and He changes me.

#2 My natural thought: I can give more to God's work if I make more money. Therefore, I ask God to bless me with more money.

The faith reality: We can give or serve the most when we have the least money or time, like the woman at the temple who gave her only two coins. Giving and serving that hurt are worth the most in God's eyes. Volunteer prospects will rarely "have the time" to serve. They must step in faith.

#3 My natural thought: God wants to always use me in my area of strength or giftedness to bring his kingdom glory.

The faith reality: While He often does use us in our strength, it is also true, "My power is perfected in weakness." God can receive more glory if He uses weak people, like the Corinthians, or like Moses or Gideon. Sometimes volunteers serve best when making a great step of faith outside there area of comfort.

#4 My natural thought: Plan for every eventuality in my volunteer ministry and be in control. Set goals, save, look and clearly see the path, before you walk.

The faith reality: While it is true, that "planning leads to advantage" (Prov. 21:5). It is also true that, "the righteous shall live by faith," and "it is impossible to please God without faith" (Heb. 11:6). I must lead my volunteer ministry in faith. It is a faith venture. There will always be challenges and constant opportunities to trust God. I can't stand that.

You get the picture. Faith goes against our every natural tendency. I hate these tendencies. I have some good or perhaps, bad news for you. For the Christian leader, leadership and volunteer ministry development are faith journeys.

Growing up in South Omaha, which is the "common sense capital of the world," making a faith decision meant being naïve. I learned to never leave a job without a job, that un-employment was a dreaded disease. So you see, faith decisions don't come easy to me.

Wendy and I set aside our jobs, and our income, to follow God on a faith journey. That was 18 years ago. It's been a wild adventure, by far the most rewarding and exhilarating time in our lives. My natural tendency was to remain safe. You may say, "Wow, what great faith." Yeah, right, not at all. I spent every other day in the first six months kneeling over a couch crying, asking God to reassure me that I wasn't nuts. I was scared to death every step of the way. Still am. But, He confirmed our path, often reassuring me with this verse: "Faithful is He who calls you and He will bring it pass" (I Thess. 5:24). If your volunteer ministry venture seems impossible, that's because it is! But you can delight in knowing He will bring it to pass. If your volunteer ministry seems possible, well then, talk to me once you come to the end of your natural swing.

Copyright © 2010 Al Newell