We recognize that church isn’t perfect. We talk about what needs to improve. We talk about what is unhealthy. There are changes that need to take place.
I wonder if sometimes that conversation happens far too easily. I wonder if criticism isn’t easier to engage in than constructively working toward something better.
Problems are easy to diagnose, much harder to cure.
All of this got me thinking about the need to be more encouraging.
Of all the people in my life who stand out it is not those who know how to spot a problem who come to mind, rather, those who envision a bright and hopeful future.
We need more people like that.
That means I need to be more of a person like that. Maybe you do too.
I am not saying we need happy-go-lucky people who turn a blind eye to all that is wrong with church and Christianity. No. I am saying we need more people who see all of that and are still hopeful.
We have every reason to be hopeful because we know where God is taking this whole thing. We know how the story ends.
So be of good cheer in spite of the problems that exist. Work to fix them without becoming a critic. You will become someone people remember for a very long time. Critics are forgotten in a moment. Those who bring hope are remembered for generations.
4 Responses
Well stated. That’s the type of person I am trying to become. Instead of criticizing, I do what I can to address the problem.
Great article. I need to become more like this person also.
The ones who were remembered accomplished something, in spite of all their critics and intentionally restrictive policies, were usually concerned about people. They probably weren’t in power but, nevertheless, had a following, perhaps even larger than that of the official leadership. With all the obstacles put in the way of those working for something better the only option for them was to craft a strategic work-around and then work one-on-one with people.
I remember seeing a meme a while back that I also made with an image of my dog, but it said, “I want to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.” I kept thinking of that while reading this. I also think that a lot of people could say that they want to be the kind of person that their children think that they are. Just take things one day at a time.