At the crossroads of a major decision, a congregant goes to the pastor for help.

"What do we do?"

We might ask the congregant some reflective questions. "What do you think you should do? How do you think God is leading?"

Then we may encourage the person to seek advice from those they trust. If we're feeling particularly bold we might give our opinion. Even then we speak tentatively, reminding them the decision is ultimately their own. Then we send them off with a prayer.

But consider where this leaves them: basically alone, abandoned to collect opinions and take or leave them as they see fit. They alone must make the decision. They alone are responsible for the consequences.

"No one can make this decision for you," we say. But what if we could? Not as pastors but as the church?

Lone rangers

Christians argue all day over how churches should make decisions. But what seems to require no discussion—what we all already agree on—is that personal decisions ...

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