Complicated Church Problems (and Solutions)
I just finished reading 7 Myths of the United Methodist Church by Craig Miller. It was an interesting read and full of a lot of information that many, many people in leadership in the denomination need to have, both clergy and laity.
I’m not going to go through each of them, but I will say that, while Miller does a very good job of laying out many problems we face, the solutions were, in my humble opinion, too complicated. I’ll let you read the book and make your own conclusions. Let me just say this:
Perhaps I’ve been exceptionally blessed in my appointments, but I don’t think things have to be as dire or complicated as they are made out to be. Each of the churches I have served have had good points and bad points to them, and they all very easily could have slipped into a pattern of slow death because of their bad points. And yet, each of them has seen tremendous growth and lots of new people brought to Christ. Why? Let me tell you, it really didn’t have a whole lot to do with me. I have found that, if you remind people enough why the church exists, they remember why they are there.
In other words, tell people that Jesus created the church to go and make disciples, that his followers are to be witnesses in their own neighborhoods and around the world, that we are to love God with all we have and others as well, and you say it long enough and in enough venues in the life of the church, and they remember that this is what they were created for, this is why this particular congregation was formed however many years ago…and they start living it out.
It’s really that simple. Let the Holy Spirit remind us of all that Jesus taught and guide us into all truth. And Bang! Transformation. And while I would like to take credit for it, I really can’t. I was called to preach and teach the Gospel. That’s what I do. God reminds (and convicts) people that the Gospel is true and God encourages and empowers them to live it out.
Yes, as a denomination we have a lot of problems. Yes, the future does have dark clouds in it. But really, if we remind ourselves why we exist as a church in the first place, we may just see the Son come out!
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