This is an odd blog title for me. I don’t often start with something like that. But these words are not mine; they have guided me in the last weeks.
As I prepared for Synod 2024 in the Christian Reformed Church, I knew there would be difficult conversations. If they were only difficult, I would be okay, but they had the potential to be so much more than difficult. They had the potential to be divisive.
I prayed for clarity for the week of Synod. I prayed that God would bring peace to my heart and confidence in knowing where He was calling me to stand for His Church.
As the week started, I was overwhelmed by the unfolding clarity. I went to a meal with my Mom on Saturday night (we started Friday morning) and shared with her, “I don’t think there is room for “us” (our family, our affirming Churches, those who believe differently than the majority group) in this denomination anymore. The box seems so small and the pathway so narrow.” We wept together.
Tonight, I read this article:https://www.crcna.org/news-and-events/news/end-era-passing-peter-borgdorff
I was struck by these words, spoken at my Dad’s funeral by Joel Boot.
“It was hard and often painful work, but he did it willingly. He did it because he told me right at the start, ‘I hear God calling, and I have to obey’.’”
I hear God calling, and I have to obey. This guided me the week of Synod and has guided the Churches that took a stand this year at Synod. We did not stand in rebellion. We do not need discipline in this matter. We stood for God’s call. I do not understand what to do when God’s call conflicts between two groups of people. I will remain faithful to God’s calling and trust know that He will always be faithful to me!