Problems? Solutions?

    Each of us deal with problems everyday.  Some big, some trivial.  There are big companies whose expertise is “problem-solving.”  I’m amazed at times to read of the large amount of money a corporation will pay a firm to identify and solve encountered problems.

    Would you pay a preacher “big money” to identify a congregational problem?  Of course not.  The reason is, we already know the problem, and we know the solution.  Congregational problems are spiritual problems which means the solution is spiritual, and that’s the dilemma.

    Attending Gospel meetings and Lectureships I’ve observed that the Brotherhood is very proficient at identifying “church problems” but the solutions are seldom enacted.  Solutions are generally given, yet rarely materialize.  The reason for that, of course, is that the church is a spiritual institution, and you can’t legislate spirituality.  For example, people are not going to become more spiritual just because you tell them to.  You can pass all kinds of laws against all kinds of sin, and people will still sin.

    In the church, the preacher can emphasize the importance of attending all the services, still, people don’t attend.  Emphasis is given to Bible study, yet Bibles remain dusty.  Thirty hours is spent preparing a sermon on the dangers of complacency and the congregation remains stagnate.  At least this is my experience with small congregations in the North.  It seems that even those who are “lukewarm” are aware of the problems; they are also aware of the solutions, yet the majority remains satisfied with the status quo of simply periodic “church-going.”  Maybe this is why, when teaching about the “narrow way” (Matthew 7:13-14), Jesus said, “...few there are who find it.” 

    We know the problems; we know the solutions; but if we don’t have the heart to engage the solution, where is our Hope of salvation?

                                                                                  - - Toby Miller