Three Problems in the Church That Should Never Ever Be Solved

Last updated on: June 26, 2017 at 4:47 am by Josh Daffern

Three Problems in the Church That Should Never Ever Be Solved 2017-06-26T04:47:12-06:00 Josh Daffern

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

unsplash.com

If no one is coming to your church, that’s a problem that needs to be solved. If there is known sin flaunted within the body, that’s a problem that needs to be solved. If a wolf is loose among the flock sowing discord and wreaking havoc, that’s a problem that needs to be solved.

But there are a few problems that should never ever be solved. As Atlanta pastor Andy Stanley describes them, they are ‘tensions to manage, not problems to solve.’ Here are three of the biggest problems in the church that should never ever be solved:

1. Evangelism vs discipleship. You absolutely need both, and finding and picking a landing spot in one camp or another will only hurt the church. If you exclusively focus on evangelism, many maturing believers will look elsewhere for solid food and will not remain. Salvation is central to the Christian faith, but it is not the only thing. Likewise, a focus on discipleship to the exclusion of evangelism will make a church body unhealthily inward looking, forgetting the timeless truth that personal evangelism is the greatest form of discipleship.

2. Grace vs truth. How do you deal with sin and sinners in the church? Everyone must deal with this problem because every church has sin and sinners within. Once again, landing in one camp or another will have lasting consequences. A church that practices grace to the exclusion of truth will allow sin to run rampant with no safeguards in place, while a church that decides that truth predominates over grace will become judgmental Pharisees. Jesus modeled what it means to live out both grace and truth (John 1:17).

3. Unity vs diversity. Depending on where you look in the New Testament, you’ll see both unity and diversity preached. Jesus prayed in John 17 that the church would be united above all else, while in Acts 2 you see the early church made of people from nations throughout that part of the world. If a church pursues unity by only targeting one type of people, that betrays the biblical model. Yet at the same time if a church allows any doctrine to waltz into the church in the name of diversity, that church will quickly fall into dangerous heresy. Both unity and diversity are appropriate in certain spheres. A diversity of cultures, races, socioeconomic classes, generations, personalities and giftings will only make a church stronger as long as they are completely united around faith in Jesus Christ.

QUESTION: What other problems would you argue should never be solved by the church?

Previous Post

June 22, 2017

10 Toxic Traditions That Are Killing the Church

Next Post

August 3, 2017 If This is Your Excuse Why Your Church Isn't Growing, Please Stop Using It

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Family Matters Ministry in the Trenches Morning Brew MTVpastor New Wineskins Top Menu Truth from Life Uncategorized Watch Sermons

Select a Month June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who killed Goliath?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Saul Jonathan David Samson