Isolated Thinking
When everyone in the room sounds the same, isolated thinking is taking over. Churches can fall into this thinking quickly. It is easy to do. You start to believe that your thoughts are the only definitive thoughts. Churches naturally do this. You believe your thinking is right, and can be the only right one too. You see expressions of this in outreach. You see this in classes. There are other thoughts that are not expressed or allowed to be expressed because the common wisdom has taken over. You see this in meetings about reaching out. The same thoughts are expressed over and over again. It is because there are no other options. It is all people know. And what is worst, sometimes all people know is equated with all there is to know. So what to do when a church is struck in this attitude.
1. Read. Leaders must be readers because this is a sure way to continue to expand your thinking and exposure.
2. Visit other congregations. Sometimes people believe that there is only one way to be a church. I am not talking about false practices, but there are difference in how churches operate on size and organization. Visit another church to see a certain church program, you might be amazed that they are doing it differently and it is working better.
3. Listen. Often different thoughts are being presented but the person can only hear what they want to.
4. Understand some of your feelings are tradition not scripture. Sometimes people equate size dynamics with Bible truth. But we have to read the visitor cards each Sunday. This is a tradition not a truth. One must know the difference.
These are just a few ideas to help people to stop isolated thinking. The church might be struck because the leadership is struck. It is always wise to continue to think instead of isolating yourself with echos.
Related posts:
- Review of “Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking”
- Thinking of Updating the Blog List
- Hiring Preachers and Being Stagnant
About The Author
Great suggestions. The one clarification I would make is to read widely instead of just “read.” It is far too easy to only read people with whom one agrees. Instead, a leader needs to interact with all sorts of opinions and ideas. It helps with critical thinking and allows a leader to really see what is going on.