The closing stanza of William Henley’s famous poem, Invictus, reads: “It matters not how strait the gate / How charged with punishments the scroll / I am the master of my fate / I am the captain of my soul.” The poets’ gritty words of determination and claims of personal autonomy resonate with many.
This is not surprising to students of the Bible, however, as the desire to govern ones’ own life, be ones’ own sovereign, and ultimately, operate as ones’ own god, has been a hallmark of humanity ever since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in an attempt to “be like God” (Genesis 3:5–6). The temptation to play God continues today, even for Christians. James however, points out some problems with this self-aggrandizing way of life as well as a corrective to which the people of God must cling.
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Josiah has served the Oakridge Bible Chapel family as one of its elders and one of its pastoral staff members since September 2018, before which he ministered as an associate pastor to a local congregation in the Canadian prairies. Josiah's desire is to be used by God to help equip the church for ministry, both while gathered (edification) and while scattered (evangelization). He is married to Patricia, and together they have five children—Jonah, Henry, Nathaniel, Josephine, and Benjamin.
