We all have problems. We all have pains. But pain that shows itself is often not the real problem. We can spend all our time unsuccessfully trying to put out fires without realizing our efforts are not only ineffective, but completely misplaced.
Many churches these days are struggling financially. In fact, it’s hard to find a church that isn’t worried about its finances. But the problem isn’t money. That’s a symptom of the problem. Yes, it’s good to work on ways of increasing funding and perhaps lowering expenditures, but money isn’t the problem.
Pastor Judson Edwards, in his book The Leadership Labyrinth, says that churches need to respond to their pains and problems by taking risks and having adventures. In other words, many of our problems as churches are rooted in, or at least exacerbated by, our reluctance to live our dreams and our passions. The greatest risk is usually not to take the risk, failure to live our lives according to our deepest truth. The best chance we have to live well is to live boldly.
I invite your comments and your questions.
–Jack Price
