Monday, July 31, 2017

Finding Our Way

July 31, 2017

Fixing blame never fixes the problem. I need to remember that as we try to dig our way out of the hole we are in. There are often many reasons for a congregation’s decline. The church hierarchy blames the people in the congregation; they aren’t willing to work, or are resisting change, or are set in their ways. The congregation tends to blame the denominational system for saddling them with such deficient pastoral leadership. The pastor is in the unique position to straddle the fence; depending on which way the wind is blowing or who he is talking to at the moment, he or she can blame either the congregation or the system.

It’s only been a couple weeks, but I can already sense the frustration of the congregation, and the bewilderment as to what they need to do to survive. I’ve talked with denominational officials who are frustrated at the failure of the appointments they made to make a difference. It’s tempting to point the finger in this or that direction, but that will solve nothing. 


Sometimes, the solution stands right before you, staring you in the face, but you’re so close to the situation that you cannot see it. So far, I can’t see it, but I believe it’s there. It’s a matter of seeing, really seeing the context. Isaiah told of people who see, but don’t see; they see, but don’t understand what they’re looking at. So we pray that God will open our eyes to the spiritual realities that lie behind that which appears on the surface. The Scriptures tell us that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Either that’s true, or it’s not. If not, there’s not much I can offer the people. But if it’s true, it’s just a matter of discovering what he has given us that we haven’t recognized as a gift from his hand for the life he’s called us to live. I know where to look; according to Peter, what we need is found in knowing Christ, which knowledge is available to everyone. I am excited to be looking for it, and thankful tonight that what we need has already been given, and is waiting to be discovered.

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