Outside of one's life in the established church, your daily
conditions of life may be very different. Let's explore the
differences. For simplicity, let's say that life in the established
church is like living in an "Arboretum", while daily life outside the
church is somewhat like life in the "Jungle". Both metaphors
may be needed to describe our everyday existence. Let's use this
metaphoric comparison as a way of looking closely at the lives we live, in and
out of church. (We thank Texas pastor Rev. Bill Easum for suggesting this
way of looking closely at the ways we live our lives.)
In the Arboretum, everything is neatly laid out in a
controlled environment. There is never any doubt about whether you are on
the path that will take us where you want to go. Established church
people usually like things to be neatly explained, with little or no ambiguity.
Many Arboretums are full of "do this" and
"don't do that" rules, which we are supposed to follow. Many
established church people love to follow rules. For many of them,
procedure may be more important than effectiveness.. Perhaps some
established church people don't think much about "heresy" in their
church, so they seldom guard against it. They just follow the rules they
were given.
The operations of an Arboretum are predictable and slow to
change. One can go to an established church year after year and never see
much change, and what change one does see is slow and incremental. One
has lot's of time to adjust in the Arboretum, so things like annual meetings
and annual budgets, and check-and-balance types of organization make sense.
In the Arboretum, adequate shelter from the rain and sun are
provided, so one can have a good experience. Many established church
people really like the buildings, almost to the point of worshiping them.
Some folks feel entitled to the experience of the
Arboretum. After all, they have bought an admission ticket. Often,
because of having made an annual financial pledge, established church people
feel entitled to not only the privilege of religion, but even more so to being
cared for by their pastor.
Finally, in the Arboretum, one has no problem seeing the
horizon. You can always see where you are going or you can follow the
signs. You don't need a compass or GPS in the Arboretum. Often,
established church people fail to see the need for Mission or Vision Statements
reflecting their duty to those outside who may be hurting.
Now, consider your daily life outside the established
church. Conditions may be very different. For some of us this
alternative could be called life in the "Jungle". It is to some
degree an integral part of everyone's daily existence. What does life in
the "Jungle" look like?
Nothing is neatly laid out and controlled. Unlike the
Arboretum, the Jungle is a really messy place. Little is where you would
expect it to be and you have very little control over the environment.
Intuition is now one of the most needed talents of a leader, even surpassing
passion. Messy and uncontrollable environments at first confuse most
established church people, and at worst, shut them down when it comes to making
strategic decisions.
In the Jungle, predators are everywhere and there simply
aren't any rules to follow. It is almost as if the Jungle dares us to
test it's will. However, established church people often seem too naive
to believe the reality of the Jungle and the heresies that pop out from every
corner. The Jungle does away with all the rules, except one ---- survival
of the fittest. Most established church people are not used to being
strategic with their resources. They have been taught that the other
fellow comes first.
Nothing is predictable and changes come fast. The
Jungle world changes from day to day. Overnight it's trails can cover up,
and markers can disappear, leaving the traveler lost without an experienced
guide. Some established church people find it impossible to move fast
enough to stay up with the changes, much less get ahead of them.
We are not "entitled" to be in the Jungle.
The Jungle doesn't belong to us and we have to earn our right to exist in the
Jungle. All entitlements are out the window. Too many established
church people are miserable when confronted with the fact that the world no
longer owes them a living, and their pastor isn't their spiritual baby sitter.
In the Jungle, when you look up there is no horizon.
The sun seldom shines through the Jungle canopy. In such an environment,
one needs a very clear sense of direction. The Mission Statement and the
wisdom of Scripture are the compass. But, how many established church
people will look upon these guides as an exercise in futility, rather than as a
key to their future.
As far as the Jungle is concerned, Christianity is a
nobody. Gone are the days when society often gave credence and special
favor to Christianity. Now it is just the opposite ---- the Jungle
dislikes Christianity because the Jungle doesn't recognize it as
legitimate. In our culture today, we are too easily drawn to our own
personal enrichment, in not just material things, but also in just pleasing
ourselves.
The Jungle has a way of tearing families apart, and helping
people become addicted to one unhealthy habit or another. Some people say
that most people and organizations are basically broken. Organizations
that once worked, no longer yield the same results. When people do come
to church, they have little understanding of Christianity, it is said.
What they are looking for is a safe place to find themselves, or to heal.
Too many established church people still think all one has to do is write a
policy, or recite some pre-determined formula, and all is well.
Some might argue that CPC is an Arboretum in the midst of
the Jungle.
If it is, do you see any ways we can gain the best of each
of these worlds?
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These thoughts are brought to you by the CPC Adult
Spiritual Development Team, hoping to encourage some spiritual growth in you
during this summer season.
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