“The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17:24–25)
Over the past twenty years of ordained ministry I have seen initiatives come and initiatives go. Many a hand has been wrung over the decline in church attendance, and suggestions have been made as to how this can be reversed. We need this! Let’s join with that! This thing is popular at the moment, let’s do that too!
In the end you get the impression that the God is simply not up to the job anymore, and needs us to help him out. He’s outdate, and his message is old hat. Better to get in the consultants and rework everything.
God, though, is all sufficient. That means he is not in need of anything or anyone. There is nothing we can add to God, and often patience is the hardest part of obedience. And obedience is the hardest part of being a Christian.
I am a fond reader of Church History, and especially of those times of great church growth which stir up the soul. Time and time again I read of preachers who are accused of being old fashioned and out of touch, but whose preaching is attended by many conversions. In the end we should remember that God is timeless, and so is his gospel. God is all sufficient, and so is his gospel.
Perhaps rather than helping God out we would let him help us out. Rather than making him ‘up to date’ we should realise he is timeless. If God is God, perhaps we would do better to trust him, his message and his methods.
