In so many areas of church life it is easy to simply apply a quick solution to or cover over a problem. Unfortunately, what starts out small then has potential of growing into a major incidence.
Quick solutions aim at outward conformity. Unfortunately that usually results in the real problem not getting solved, only to fester and possibly manifest itself later in another or worse way than before.
Real change aims at inward transformation which will eventually show itself outwardly. That produces results which tend to be genuine and enduring.
A Few Examples:
Volunteer or paid staff issues where people are not coming adequately prepared or have a negative attitude
- The Quick Solution Objective: don’t want to hurt the person’s feelings so you don’t lose the worker
- The Quick Solution Result: other people are affected by the person’s actions, possibly stirring up negative feeling in them; the morale of everyone can be dampened
- The Real Change Objective: spur people on to give of their best to the Lord in actions and attitude
- The Real Change Result: the person is challenged and is brought into accountability to the Lord not you; everyone benefits if the person changes from the inside out
- Help for Real Change: Spurring People On with Love & Grace
Disagreements among ministry team or elder board on the best course of action
- The Quick Solution Objective: try to keep everybody happy, perhaps compromising or covering over key issues to keep peace
- The Quick Solution Result: the best is often set aside in order to keep people happy
- The Real Change Objective: find unity out of diversity
- The Real Change Result: people learn to seek the common good which might mean setting aside personal preferences for what is best
- Help for Real Change: True Body Life Results in Church Unity
Discipline in children’s ministry
- The Quick Solution Objective: crowd control, making it through the lesson, tolerating the problem child
- The Quick Solution Result: does not help the child truly learn and grow; unresolved issues could become worse; could give license to other kids to do the same which can eventually erupt into classroom chaos
- The Real Change Objective: identify causes of misbehavior and work with the child to correct the problem from the inside out
- The Real Change Results: the child learns for the future, not mere temporary external conformity
- Help for Real Change: Discipline Issues: What to Do About Specific Challenges
The next post will look at Requisites for Real Change over Quick Solutions. Subscribe to receive e-mail notices of new posts.