I used to know someone who was notorious for one-upping people. If I related a story, he had one better. If someone else stated an opinion of how he actually did something, this person knew how to do it better. Yet, while I and others were out accumulating working knowledge based in experience, this person stayed home, watched TV, and somehow added to his "knowledge base."
At the risk of being provocative, may I suggest that many Christians are just like the person I wrote about above? Many Christians look at church leadership, or ministers, or elders, or deacons dismissively and with a critical eye. Leadership struggles to make the right decision, consulting with many members, and yet are themselves dismissed by the armchair Christian who "knows" why such a program will not work or how something could have been "handled better."
This behavior is neither useful nor productive. Many decisions made in churches actually are based in reason and discussion that is focused on practical matters. No leadership makes a decision they hope or think will fail. Yet, they struggle to get buy-in because the armchair Christians hold it up because their perspective wasn't followed (or whatever). These "know" better, but too often are holed up in a small criticism circle; they are not actually out there doing anything.
Sure, there is a way to learn without testing and doing. But before you are critical about what someone else is or isn't doing (according to your opinion), or about how they are doing something, trying walking in their shoes first. Get out and do something. Show your results. Demonstrate reasons from your experience why you are in disagreement.
In short, stop being an armchair Christian and get in the game! If we each focused on doing what we know on an individual level, I firmly believe we would cut our church problems by two-thirds.
Gain knowledge...and then do!
At the risk of being provocative, may I suggest that many Christians are just like the person I wrote about above? Many Christians look at church leadership, or ministers, or elders, or deacons dismissively and with a critical eye. Leadership struggles to make the right decision, consulting with many members, and yet are themselves dismissed by the armchair Christian who "knows" why such a program will not work or how something could have been "handled better."
This behavior is neither useful nor productive. Many decisions made in churches actually are based in reason and discussion that is focused on practical matters. No leadership makes a decision they hope or think will fail. Yet, they struggle to get buy-in because the armchair Christians hold it up because their perspective wasn't followed (or whatever). These "know" better, but too often are holed up in a small criticism circle; they are not actually out there doing anything.
Sure, there is a way to learn without testing and doing. But before you are critical about what someone else is or isn't doing (according to your opinion), or about how they are doing something, trying walking in their shoes first. Get out and do something. Show your results. Demonstrate reasons from your experience why you are in disagreement.
In short, stop being an armchair Christian and get in the game! If we each focused on doing what we know on an individual level, I firmly believe we would cut our church problems by two-thirds.
Gain knowledge...and then do!
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