Asking the Right Questions

I often think that we ask the wrong questions about 95% of the time.  We look at a problem, we see our life, we draw our conclusions, but we never ask "Am I asking the right questions?"  At least I know all to well that I often ask the wrong questions!

"There is a way that seems right to a person,
but in the end it leads to death"

Proverbs 14:12 

This morning I was thinking about the process of church renewal.  

Virtually all churches, in all places, think that the next leader will be able to "make a difference" and bring back the "glory days."  Unfortunately, the definition of making a difference and glory days is not concrete or settled for anyone.  This leads to conflict, struggle, and ultimately a lack of fruitfulness.

The above paragraph is easy to understand and affirm.  A lack of clarity in vision causes conflict.  O.K.  But I am thinking today about why we have a lack of clarity in vision.  We know we need to grow and experience renewal, so why do we struggle so much to pull it off?  Why does the process of renewal often cause conflict and pain?

We ask the wrong question or questions.

So often and so easily, we blame the previous pastor or the leadership team.  We blame the people who left.  We blame the conflict and personalities that led to the conflict.  We blame our culture and how it no longer values the gospel and Church.  We blame ... (you fill in the blank).

Rarely do individuals and almost never do churches confess,

"We must be doing something wrong."  

I guess it is human nature and the nature of organizations composed of fallen humans.  We want someone to fix it, but we don't think we broke it.  We blame someone else.

The real problem with most churches is that they are doing something or most often many things wrong. We like the way things are and we want our new pastor, our new members, and our changing culture which we are trying to reach to see how right we are and join us.  Then we are surprised when it does not happen.

As churches (and individuals) we should ask often "What are we doing wrong that turns off new people to the gospel before they even hear it?"  "Why are we in conflict over the same issues time and time again?"  "What are we doing wrong?"

While it goes totally against our nature, 

we need to stop the blame game toward others 

and start with the blame game toward ourselves.  

As Jesus put it, 

"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?  ... You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." 

Matt. 7: 3, 5