At best, a pothole in the road slows you down. At worst it can badly damage your vehicle, cause a breakdown or have you stuck for hours. Either way potholes are a curse.
In Africa, we are far too familiar with these road hazards.
On the way to Durban with my family, I decided to take the alternative scenic route. It was a magnificent day and the drive was spectacular. It had snowed across the country the night before.
Occasionally we stopped and allowed the children to play in the snow. Then a pothole spoiled the day. On an awkward and dangerous corner, I hit a massive hole in the road and almost lost control of the vehicle. We were forced to stop and change the wheel. The rim was badly damaged. It later cost me a small fortune to repair two bent rims.
Potholes form because asphalt road surfaces eventually crack under the heat of the day and the constant stress of traffic. These cracks allow snow and rainwater to seep into the underlying dirt and gravel. During cold winter nights, this water freezes and expands. Some of the dirt and gravel is pushed out as a result, leaving a hole when the water eventually melts. Potholes get worse when we allow our roads to fall into disrepair.
It is vital that those who build the new roadways for simple relational Faith Communities to emerge, build carefully and repair potholes quickly. As the traffic on this road increases, the cracks will begin to give way to serious problems. We must identify the weak areas quickly and repair where necessary. Failure to do this will seriously hinder progress.
Here are seven potholes that will derail any move of God if you let them.
Pothole #1: Cynicism
Realizing you’ve been duped by dead religion can make you angry. But hang out in that space too long, and cynicism takes over. Cynicism tears down but never builds. It isolates. First, you’re cynical about the institution, then people, then yourself. Hope dies. Cynicism can’t build anything healthy.
Pothole #2: Pessimism
After the excitement fades, some people get stuck. No one’s as fired up as you are. You search for kindred spirits and come up empty. You see the flaws, the fakes, the gaps. Realism is fine. But pessimism will steal your faith. Movements are never built by people sitting on the sidelines explaining why it won’t work.
Pothole #3: Discontent
Discontent often drives change. That’s good. But mix it with naivety, and you’re in trouble. You’ll leave one system only to be disappointed by the next. Then the next. The core problem is that you’re chasing models instead of Jesus. Our contentment has to come from Him. Simple Faith Communities have many struggles. Anything involving people can be challenging at times. Get used to it.
Pothole #4: Perfectionism
If you’re looking for a perfect church, you’ll never find one. Simple Faith Communities are messy. Even messier than legacy forms of church. Ignore this truth and you’ll be perpetually disappointed. Perfectionism kills community.
Pothole #5: Weirdness
Sorry to say, but some people are just weird. And not in a quirky, lovable way. I’ve found them everywhere. Small, organic spaces don’t hide them – they highlight them. If you don’t address this, they’ll derail everything. It means speaking the truth in love and being willing to lose people.
Pothole #6: Zealous Intensity
Some people are so intense they can’t have a normal conversation. Everything’s a sermon or a debate. They wear people out trying to convert them to a viewpoint instead of a love for Jesus. Movements are carried forward by people who are real, relational, and rooted in Christ.
Pothole #7: Slackness
The opposite problem – people who confuse “simple” with lazy. They reject structure and intentionality, waiting for God to do everything. But nothing grows without effort. Even Simple Faith Communities require planning and hard work.
The Road Ahead
If you’re serious about Jesus movements – about seeing relational, multiplying, Simple Faith Communities thrive, then watch out for the potholes. They’ll sneak up on you. But don’t let them stop you.
I encourage you to pursue your passion for simple Jesus movements and avoid the potholes that can seriously hinder your journey. May the Lord build His church through willing servants who have the boldness to leave the constraints of tradition. May these servants also have the wisdom to avoid the new obstacles that the enemy would try to place in our path.
One Response
Thank you for challenging me to continuously guard my heart! Your article made me think… and repent.
Matthew 6:22-23 came to mind: “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”