Discipleship is the adventure of learning to sail in all conditions.
Discipleship is like sailing in God’s direction under his power. Sailing requires an understanding of the available equipment on our sailboat and the skill to use it. In TAD Blogs 28-31, I wrote about the wind, mast, sails, keel, and tiller as parts of a sailboat’s equipment. Each of these elements has a spiritual parallel. A competent sailor knows how to use each one to create forward progress in all kinds of weather and conditions.
Sailing Conditions
Learning to sail usually begins in a quiet cove on a calm lake, minimizing the difficulty factors of waves, wind, and currents. Once we become competent and confident, we cautiously move out into open water where the elements are less predictable. However, spiritual sailing most often does not afford the luxury of this kind of a beginning. Our spiritual journey begins in rough waters with strong currents.
Most of the New Testament Epistles were written to new believers who were learning to sail. Far from “Lake Placid,” they began sailing in strong currents and heavy seas. The storm surge of adversity was their norm. During the birth of Christianity, new believers didn’t receive the same protection from the Roman government that Judaism had acquired. Therefore, the more evidence that the followers of Jesus were not embracing Judaism, the greater the adversity became.
The cultural currents of Hellenism were relentless and well-established in the Roman Empire. Judaism had faced the challenge of Hellenistic compromise for hundreds of years, and now the followers of The Way would face it as well. The first-century culture promoted the accumulation of various belief systems even if they were incompatible. Syncretism was typical and expected.
Paul and Peter wrote to new believers who were facing waves and currents that needed the onboard coaching of experienced sailors. Paul and others wrote letters of instruction, but they also came alongside and mentored by demonstrating and coaching to keep the young Christians on course. Sadly most believers today have never had a personal sailing coach. They have had some group lessons (on the beach) and then sent out to do their best.
Setting the Compass
The first step in sailing in open water is to set up our navigation system. Although the GPS has replaced the simple compass as a tool for navigation, they both require orientation and calibration to reflect true north. The concept of “getting our bearings” is related to understanding where we are related to a fixed and reliable point of reference.
The writer of Hebrews referred to setting our compass as “fixing our eyes on Jesus.” Paul said to the Colossians, “Set your minds on things above.” The words set or fix both have the idea of an ongoing action, not a one-time occurrence. It is more like set and keeps on setting. Our compass is a critical but fragile instrument that gets knocked around as we sail, needing protection and frequent recalibration. Spiritually, vigilance is required to daily align our hearts and minds with Christ and his kingdom, keeping us on course.
Dangerous Currents
Historically, international sailors were aware of the major ocean currents that would affect their travel. These unseen but powerful forces could alter their intended direction, and if not accounted for, take them significantly off course.
Unseen but powerful currents are also constantly affecting the direction of our spiritual sailing. Paul warned about it in Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.”
Adverse currents have always been at work against apprentices of Jesus. Currents of deception can initially seem harmless but ultimately become destructive. Some currents are predictable, some are blatantly obvious, while others can surprise us. They are all relentless, and ignoring them is not an option if we are to stay on course.
Turbulent waves
Rough surf and high waves are other common threats to sailing. Experienced sailors sail not only against the current but also into the waves. They point the bow of their boat into the waves and take them “head-on.” The more significant the waves, the more necessary this maneuver is.
I vividly remember the effect of white caps while canoeing in the boundary waters of Canada. Our shallow draft 17-foot canoe was vulnerable unless we turned and faced the waves head-on, taking them one at a time. When sailing into the waves, our goal is to stay upright even if forward progress is slow.
Waves of adversity are familiar to both physical and spiritual sailors. Some of the turbulence is self-induced, but much of it comes through no fault of our own. We live in a world of turbulence. The Epistle writers instructed new/old believers to be alert and head into their waves of difficulty.
Paul writes, “The temptations (adversities) in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation (adversity) to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted (tested), He will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT).
Peter alerted his audience to the inevitability of adversity. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing” (1 Peter 4:12). Here Peter identifies one of the benefits of high waves: the development of our sailing skills.
Sailing skills develop as we learn to sail in rough seas. Adversity tests our ability to integrate our sails and tiller; we seldom learn advanced sailing skills on “Lake Placid.” Waves of adversity can develop confidence in God’s character and the resources he gives us. He promises that we will not face any wave that we can’t handle under his direction.
No wind
In addition to strong currents and high waves, sailors also encounter windless days. Early oceanic sailors knew that in certain places and at certain times of the year, they would encounter the challenge of no wind and no movement of the sails — only deafening stillness. Although it could be challenging, sailors used the time to make repairs, rest, relax, and prepare for when the winds would pick up.
When sailing under the power of the Holy Spirit, we sometimes find ourselves in a place where there seems to be no wind. In those moments, what should we do? There is the temptation to get out the paddles and start rowing. However, if we are confident that God is sovereign over our journey, we will accept the “no wind” experience as a gift from God.
The “no wind” application is to “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Rather than anxiety or frustration, we will sit quietly and discover God in the stillness. Remember that “No wind” is not a statement of God’s displeasure or absence, but his care. It is an opportunity to experience a different aspect of God’s nature. The Message translation puts it this way, “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God.”
For Reflection
1. What practical steps could you take to avoid being carried along by the cultural currents?
2. What would “heading into the waves” of adversity look like to you?