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THOUGHTFULLY DRIVING THE PORCELAIN BUS

A Column by John S Schroeder

June 15, 2002

A friend of mine that is pastor of a church sent the following letter to his congregation this past week:
I recently heard a joke which asks, "How many Presbyterians does it take to change a light bulb?" While I was thinking deeply about the nature of our committee structure and how I should answer the question, the friend broke in and said, "The correct answer is: 'Change? Why change the bulb!"'

In May, our elders held a Saturday on-site retreat to do some long term planning for the future. I shared an opening devotion with them about the challenge, change, and controversy we sometimes face as we look into the future. I began our time together by sharing some thoughts from the first chapter in the book of Joshua.

The obstacles that were in front of the people of Israel were overwhelming. If you remember, they sent "spies" into the land to survey what they would face when they reached the promised land. Ten of those soldier-spies said God's people should go into the land: two of them reported that they should not go.

2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God did not give us a Spirit of timidity, but one of power, and love, and discipline." This suggests that we should not withdraw in the face of challenges, and we should avoid the counsel of the cautious. If any of us is constantly cautious, we may lose the opportunity of the moment that the Lord has given us.

Are there Giants in the land, or gigantic problems that are holding us back? Our elders suggested that we may have a number of giants that are scaring us - the poor economy, the changing demographics, the size of our mortgage debt, the lack of faithful volunteers to implement programs.

In Joshua's day the Lord God instructed them to go forward and to lead the procession with the Ark of the Covenant, as a symbol of God's presence guiding them. It is true today for us that the Lord God will go before us to face the problems we fear and that our life in worship will lead the way of strength and courage as we go.

For each of us, there is an act of the worship when we choose to focus on God, and to take steps across the river into the uncertain future. How we enter into the future will pave the way for us to inherit God's blessings and see the kingdom of God established in our midst. The giants no longer trouble us, because we are focused upon God's calling and gifts. We become strong and courageous.

Beyond the Jordan and the city of Jericho, God's people experienced a number of good things:

They broke from their past

There was a newness in their lives (the food of manna was replaced by milk, fruit, and honey)

There was better rest for their souls

They received a new song in their worship

They discovered there were more victories to be won

May God give us courage, and lead us forward, to inherit all that he has for our future together.

After I read that I had to respond to him:

The basic spirit of your letter is being spoken over and over in the church today, and in one sense it cannot be argued with, but in another sense I always want to scream words of caution when I hear that spirit.

That the church does not appear to be working right cannot be denied - declining attendance, participation, and income all speak of an institution that is not functioning well. When an institution is not functioning well, it must change to survive -- this logic is inescapable and unarguable.

But here's where I find a rub, the institution is a means to a greater end. It is, at best, a tool. If I am trying to drive nails, and my hammer is broken, then I need to fix it. But what if the hammer is not broken? What if I have developed bursitis in my shoulder and can no longer operate the hammer in a correct manner? Then I need to go to the rheumatologist and get my shoulder fixed! What I have never heard in all this discussion of "embracing change and moving the church forward" is an examination of the question of whether it is the church that is broken, or those in the church. Is the problem the hammer or the person using it?

The thing that concerns me is that it is relatively easy to change an organization, but it is so, so hard to change people. That said; however, the Great Commission is not to build churches, its to make disciples. My question is, "Do we need to change the organization or do we just need good old fashioned revival?"

The answer I come to over and over again is that we need both, but in the proper order. It seems to me that if we experience spiritual renewal and revival, then the necessary organizational changes will happen naturally and happily. But if we do it the other way and start forcing changes through the organization, then we have a problem. Mostly because when things like that get forced people get hurt, which means somehow we are not bearing fruit.

When I see statistics about declining attendance and giving I do not strategize how to fix it, I fall to my knees and confess what I am doing wrong, then abide in His grace. I ache to call others to join me, because I know when we are all there on our knees we can get up and everything else will take care of itself. Believe me I know that the last thing most people in the world today want to hear is a call to confession and humility. But I know that is the path to Jesus, and I know that He will fix the church, by fixing us.

Sorry to preach, but this is where I am living right now. Embrace change? Embrace the Lord! and let Him change things.

Upon re-reading his letter this A.M., I may have been a little harsh on him, but the point is a good one. Never confuse the tool with the thing you are building. The point never has been to build a church. I think this is why I struggle so, particularly when I function in formal church leadership positions. All the talk is about the church, when the talk should be about how to use the church.

The church is not worth preserving, but the mission of the church is.

With Love,