Are you part of the problem or part of the solution?
Today's Scripture:
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens ..."
Matthew 11:28
Everyone is asking what they can do to transform their congregations. You would think there is a big secret out there that only a few experts are able to address. Find the right expert and your problems will be solved. We have become much like Dr. House on the television serial. Within a one-hour period, less commercial time, a hidden, life threatening problem is diagnosed, solved, and gone forever due to the skill of this bizarre yet gifted diagnostician. The theme seems to be: No House, No Hope!
In reality nothing is further from the truth. Granted there are those who have been working in the field of church revitalization and renewal for some time now who have developed handles to help congregations get at the issues they are facing, but there are really no experts -- save One -- because the church is not a problem to be solved.
The church is a people to be "problemed." Was it not Jesus who said: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens ..." [Matthew 11:28]?
Jesus never ran away from problems and difficulties nor did he encourage his followers to do so. Instead, Jesus insisted that you are to come with your concerns, set-backs, burdens, questions, woundedness, and problems. You might even say that the church, at its very core, is called to be the problem -- to speak truth to power, to elevate the lowly and lower the elevated, to forgive the unforgivable, and call the unruly to a higher, holy consciousness. So your congregation has problems. Praise God! You are just where God wants you to be.
Selah people' and friends no more bandaged solutions will do. Why not bring all your problems to the 'save One' mentioned in the second paragraph, the real expert on congregational life. Jesus will fill the empty, straighten the crooked, brighten the darkness, and send your congregation on a journey that will problem the world with God's love. And what a welcome problem the problemed church will be. The theme will be: Only Jesus, Only Problems, Our Only Hope!
"Remember that the problems we face may actually be part of the solution we need to carry out God's plan. Cling to the one true solution when you see no way to turn...Christ!"
Your pastor,
Rev Patrick Muston ~ Via mobile: Mount Olive, NC
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