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Most United States presidents include pastors and ministers among their advisors. They do it to solicit their wisdom, prayer support, and views on complex issues. One of Paul’s experiences alerts us to what could happen when officials ignore the advice of people of faith. Paul was a prisoner on his way to Rome aboard a ship. He could see that the journey was going to be risky, so he spoke up. Luke, the author of Acts 27, tells us that the sailors had already experienced several days of slow sailing. The wind was against them as the ship struggled along the coast. As a result, they lost of lot of time and the weather was becoming dangerous for sea travel because it was so late in the fall. Realizing that danger lay ahead, Paul spoke to the ship’s officers: “Men, he said, “I believe there is trouble ahead if we go on — shipwreck, loss of cargo, and danger to our lives as well.” But the officer in charge listened to the ship’s captain and the owner rather than to Paul. After ignoring Paul’s advice, sure enough, they ran into a severe storm that caused great damage. Of course, pastors and spiritual leaders are not always right. Yet Christ-centered views can be valuable–especially when you’re making decisions that affect people’s lives, and even about life in general.
