Needed: A Declaration of Dependence

Pastor Randy Corbin,  Transitional Lead Pastor

For as far back as I can remember, ingrained in me has been the value of independence.

Not far into life, I was encouraged and coached toward eventual independence: to walk on my own, talk on my own, dress on my own, read on my own, write on my own, work on my own, think on my own, and succeed on my own.

Now certainly, there is value to independence in many areas.  However, in our drive to learn it and to teach it, we can inadvertently begin to live and act independent of God as well.  It can happen both individually and corporately.

A Chinese house church leader paid a month-long visit to evangelical churches in America.  When asked what his observations were of our churches, he graciously but pointedly responded:  “I am amazed how much you have been able to do in America without God!” (Historical Drift, Arnold Cook, page 248)

Now it is not that I/we don’t pray.  It is simply that often my/our praying is disconnected from our main work, e.g. we pray for the sick but don’t pray as specifically for the lost, the enslaved, or the backslidden; we pray for the economy but we don’t pray for the mission of our local church to succeed.

Perhaps like you, I have attended Prayer Gatherings prior to important congregational votes, missions conferences, new outreach initiatives, and critical leadership decisions when although mentioned, there was no real serious seeking, waiting, and listening going on in our hearts.  We prayed the formulas and went back to our prayer routines.  We were more reliant on our rationale than on Heaven’s input.

How dependent are we really on God?  If the money and man-power are there then why inquire of the Lord?  Let’s just do it.  But, I thought, our watch-word was, “Without Me you/we/I can do nothing.”

Yet, do I honestly pray, think, and live aright like that?  Hardly ever.  But, I do want to live like that.  I yearn for complete, simple, and radical dependence on God that will take me to genuine seeking on every matter that comes to me – my sermon text, my counsel to others, my decisions small and great, my leadership meeting matters, and the list is endless.

I agree with Pastor Jim Cymbala:  “I believe that if we could only hear better with spiritual ears today, we would hear a great cry from God the Holy Spirit over the roofs of our churches, district offices, seminaries, denominational headquarters, and mission agencies saying, “Listen to me!  Hear me!  I have a plan for you.  I know how my work should be run.  Stop everything for a while and listen for my voice.”  (Fresh Power, Jim Cymbala, Page 146).

Ah, it is the stopping a while that is the challenge.  To let go of myself with all its busyness, self-indulgences, and independence and to fall upon God for his instruction, illumination, and indwelling empowerment:  this is my longing.

The words of writer George Eliot (1819-1880) give me hope:  “It’s never too late to be who you might have been.”

So, I wave away my independence and declare my dependence upon God anew for life and ministry – more than words: prayers, attitudes, expectations, and actions!  Thanks for joining me in this pursuit!