Permission to Pause in the Commonwealth of God

by Chad Kohlmeyer, Pinnacle West Associate

The congregation I serve is on an eight-month journey around the theme of “A Prayerful Life in the Beautiful Way of Jesus.” This theme emerged from several months of conversations with congregation members, colleagues, and my own sabbatical reflections in the fall of 2024. It is rooted in the apostle Paul’s invitation to “pray without ceasing.” This began a journey of intentionality and exploration that acknowledges prayer isn’t just folding your hands and bowing your head to pray at a meal or before going to bed. Those are okay and even good, but I believe Jesus’ invitation is to live a life that is attuned to God’s presence every step of the way. When rooted in the beautiful way of Jesus, this combination can be transformative.

One driving concept behind this theme for me came from Andy Root’s book, The Church After Innovation. The book is about many things, including a masterclass in economics over the last 100 years or so. But my real takeaway is Root’s concern that the church has allowed the concept of individualism to backwash into the church. Specifically, the idea that the only way to be valuable to a system (work or church) is to be unique and creative. The way to be valuable (or have value?) is to have the next, best, creative idea.

What this creates in the church is a skewed concept that a pastor, priest, deacon, church council member, or team or committee member is only valuable if they have the next best idea. This may feel like an exaggeration, but I believe it is true. It will never stop asking for more if we let it. In the rise of this challenge and individualism, a core tenet of faith is forgotten:

You are created in the image of God, and your value is in that - not in anything you create or produce. Your source and end is in God’s own creativity and being. Nothing else. Your value as an individual is found and held within a larger self.

In sharing these ideas with my community of faith—exploring a prayerful life, and finding our sense of belonging as ones created in the image of God—I had an email communication with a member about the gift we have in receiving permission to pause. They said to me, “…literally no one else in my life says that.” This became an important ministry moment for me. We have permission to pause in the commonwealth of God, and it is the church's work to remind people of this gift and opportunity.

Of course, what this invites is sabbath pause and rest. A prayerful life invites us into the presence of God at any time, and we can claim this permission to pause as children of God. We can also reinforce this for one another, as we may not always feel this type of permission in our church or cultural contexts.

A part of doing church and faith well is knowing you can pause, experience the gift of sabbath, not feeling like you always have to create the next best thing to have value.

I’ve seen several people recently wearing a t-shirt with the words, “Stop Rescheduling Joy.” For me, this deeply connects and centers in the commonwealth of God. Joy often comes from pausing and re-membering ourselves to God’s promises. Joy comes from stepping out of regular rhythms and connecting to the source from whom all blessings flow.

The work — the good and faithful work — will still be there. The work to stay centered in our individual and collective call is more important than ever. Living the beautiful way of Jesus is so important right now. But receive this permission to pause, knowing that the faithful work travels through this path and invitation. Sabbath pause is faithful. In fact, if we are honest, the most creative ideas come to us when we are refreshed. Also, if we are honest, new, creative, and spirit-inspired ideas come to us when we feel permission to pause and listen to the still, small voice.

Pinnacle West Associates are available to support you in the journey of faith, call, and sabbath in the commonwealth of God. Don’t hesitate to reach out as you seek to serve faithfully as a leader or a congregation.