Do you believe that everything happens for a reason? Or that anything bad that has happened to you was supposed to happen to you? There are all kinds of beliefs and unofficial doctrines out there that I simply cannot endorse.
I came across this tweet from Shawn Bolz tonight, and it gave me pause…
I experienced two immediate reactions to this statement:
- I want to feel comforted by the knowledge that God has a plan to get me out of the mess I’m in
- If this statement were true, why are so many believers dying without their lives working out better?
Experience shouldn’t dictate doctrine. And yet, when supposedly sound doctrine proves to be untrue in day to day life, we shouldn’t ignore that either.
We make a lot of assumptions to support our doctrines. And this turns out to be a mistake any time we don’t allow real people in our community to question those doctrines. No doctrine is beyond scrutiny. It must measure up.
So when you say that God has a plan, but you don’t tell me whether He’s going to execute that plan, I don’t know whether to be encouraged, frustrated, or distrusting.
What’s the point? Don’t just tell me God has a plan. Tell me whether He’s going to execute or He’s expecting me to execute. Give me an action plan or a reasonable expectation.
With a little bit more, I can take this intended encouragement and make real use of it.
*I have nothing negative to say about Shawn Bolz. That is not the purpose of this article. The purpose is to point to a good intention that didn’t quite reach full execution.
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