Captives to Comfort October 7, 2009
Posted by Dan R. Dick in Church Leadership, Congregational Life.Tags: Church Leadership
4 comments
I spoke with a pastor recently who told me his congregation sold a gift of land, not because they needed the money, but because they were afraid they might have to move. The parcel of land was larger, centrally located to new developments in the fastest growing area in the city, and much more accessible. The president of the Trustees explained the decision this way: “When we thought about all we might lose, it just didn’t seem worth the risk.” Today, a large Baptist church sits on the property, packed to the rafters every Saturday and Sunday, with a wide variety of ministries happening every day of the week. My pastoral colleague laments, “…and the people in my church are relieved, because if that was us ‘we wouldn’t be the same church anymore!’”
What is it that causes so many people to resist change so strongly? Why is Egypt preferable to the Promised Land? (Could it be that most people can’t see anything but wilderness?) Almost all churches say they want to grow, but they want growth without change — a fundamental impossibility. Most say they want to attract new people, but they don’t want to be disturbed or discomfited — another impossibility. Most church members say they want a future for their beloved church, but they would rather see it die than become something different — even when that “something different” is better. Leaders grow more and more frustrated by followers who don’t care to follow.
