Nuggets #20

An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus
Still in Chapter Nine

Seeing the Obvious
Three kinds of congregational problems must be addressed. The first is problems that are obvious to everyone. Strangely enough just because a problem is obvious to everyone doesn't mean it has been addressed. In an unhealthy community, such problems are what we've come to know as "family secrets." Everyone knows what's going on, knows there's a problem, and knows what the problem is, but no one has the courage to talk about it out loud. In many cases no one will even acknowledge that it exists. If someone alludes to the problem, such an immediate denial will likely follow that the conversation will be shut down.

I've found that simply having the courage to say the problem out loud and in public is perceived as a tremendous act of leadership. But sometimes speaking the truth in love is so difficult and painful that the help that could result from it is never engaged or experienced.

The role of leadership in declaring problems that are obvious to everyone is clearly not to bring new insight, but to establish the credibility to lead. We sometimes avoid speaking about congregational issues to avoid conflict or maintain harmony, yet what is lost is the credibility gained from a demonstration of our perceptively. If a part of leadership is painting a compelling picture of the future and inspiring people to a new vision for life and community, how will anyone have confidence in your ability to lead or create that new world if you can't even engage the present reality effectively?

When you ignore problems, you relinquish a place of truth. When you ignore problems, you communicate a lack of confidence that God can overcome obstacles that have debilitated or even paralyzed God's people. Identifying the clear problems is not expressing pessimism or negativity. It is not judgmentalism or condemnation. It is standing to face whatever Goliaths stand before God's people and speaking with confidence about a future gained after Goliath's defeat. Identifying the clear problems is the beginning point of spiritual warfare in leadership. It gives the spiritual leader an opportunity to call God's people to prayer and usher in the promises of God, promises of a future and a hope.

That's a lot to chew on for today. I totally agree with him. I know it's hard, I'm not overjoyed when I have to address a problem myself, but I've seen God's faithfulness when I've taken a big swallow and just done it. It takes several times, but the fear going into it decreases each time. I'm not talking of addressing a congregation, as I've never been in that position, but of one on one confrontation with ministry leaders. I've also walked others through it. I don't think anyone looks forward to moments like that unless they have experience doing it. It's kind of like public speaking. Scary at first, but gets easier with the more practice you get.