Which way to Go?

This week I emailed the leaders at Westside an article that I found particularly thought provoking; at the end it talked about 'leading', and recognizing that we serve an Audience of One. I thought I would share it with them, and it might be helpful for you, the reader, to have a look at it before reading the rest of this blog, as I will be playing off that idea in some ways. It can be found here. The following are my thoughts after reading the blog...

As I reflected on the article, and on a sermon that I had listened to recently, I wondered... Which way do I go? Which way does Westside go? How do we honor, glorify and serve the Audience of One?

I'm not much of an Alice in Wonderland kind of guy, but a few months ago, with some friends, we popped in the old film to give it a look. Ah... nostalgia. Now, I'm pretty sure that by the end I had left the room, probably to get back to a book I was reading, but there is a spot in the movie that I recall well - and you may too. Alice is conversing with the illusive Cheshire Cat and this is part of their conversation:

'Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider. 'Come, it's pleased so far,' thought Alice, and she went on. 'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'

'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.

'I don't much care where—' said Alice.

'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.

How true. If we don't know where we're going, it doesn't matter which way we go. I found myself uncomfortable and almost frightened at the thought. This type of realization causes us to stare straight into our minds and hearts and forces us to consider our motives, actions, goals and, most importantly, God's will.

I hope that this will encourage and challenge each of you to consider which way you're going to go. There is a popular notion in society that "all roads lead to God", or that "we all worship the same God, we just call on Him by different names or in different ways". We know, as Christ-followers, that these statements are not true. There is only one God; people who believe otherwise are likely to buy into a mind-set that says "it doesn't matter which way you go... all road's lead to the same place".

What are the implications for our church? Well, simply put, if we don't know where we're going, as a congregation, as leaders, it won't matter which direction we go. I've been challenged this week to consider our ministry areas in light of this thought. We should be mindful as we prepare for events, sermons, sunday school lessons, [indeed, in all areas of ministry!] which way are we going as a church? What are we learning as a congregation? In which area are we corporately trying to grow? Grace? Humility? Obedience? Sanctification? Service?

What are the implications persoanlly? I challenge all of you who read this, to consider which direction you're going. Maybe today you feel like Alice - standing beneath the tree wondering which way to go. If that's the case, turn to Jesus - ask Him which way to go - and as you go towards Him, do so with purpose - not aimlessly wandering in the trees, but straight ahead at what it is you seek. Where is God working in your life? What is He teaching you? In ways ways are you being sanctified? [Sanctification... it occurs to me that many may be unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the term... perhaps I will blog on that soon!] Search your heart and go forward with purpose, continually praying that God will teach you, rebuke you, bring you to your knees in repentance, and then bear fruit through you.

This is my prayer for each of you, and especially for me, today.