Elephants in the Room
For church planters and other leaders, it is imperative to address the “Elephants in the Room” on the front end of a ministry, instead of a later in the life of a new church. Delaying addressing the Elephants in the Room (those things we avoid discussing at all costs), will cost us greater later on. The Herd of Elephants is huge, controversial, and dangerous. When an elephant steps on you it H-U-R-T-S, and can even kill. There have been way too many casualties in church situations where the elephants stampeded. In subsequent blogs we will address some of the elephants in the room and challenge every christian to leader to PRE - determine how they are going to handle the charging elephant BEFORE the fact.
Having had several friends who have gone on live safaris, it is imperative to determine the strategy BEFORE the beast makes its move. A good strategy for handling an elephant could be the difference in life or death. Some of the elephants facing 21st century church leaders are: divorce, calvinism, homosexuality, abortion, eldership/deaconship, abortion, co-habitation vs. marriage, same sex marriage, alcohol useage, pornography, abuse, tithing, ordination of women, euthenasia, church discipline, …. just to name a few elephants that can stampede, charge, turn into a rogue, or stomp a village.
Ever heard the old elephant joke: Question: “What is the black stuff between an elephant’s toes? Answer: Slow moving pigmies.” In the case of a church planter it could be slow acting pastors, leadership and congregants.