There once was a time where people believed the world was flat. They believe that's the way it was and is because someone had told them so. They were too afraid to journey out too far into the ocean or great lakes in fear they might fall off the edge of the world. All travelling was done on land or along the shore lines, but never too far out. These people stuck to with what they knew. I call that 'Flat-world-thinking'. They didn't know what was beyond the sea. They were happy to believe there wasn't anything else.
Think of your childhood, when you lay awake at night with your room light off. Your room was filled with shadows. But these were not just shadows, these were monsters in your room and you would lie awake, wide-eyed, sharing at these monsters, convinced they were really there and out to get you. What's worst of all... they even moved! Which made you scream like a little girl (or was that just me?). Up until someone turned the light on or the sun came up, you were facing the unknown. Then only to realise, it was a jacket hanging on a hook. So you felt relieved but silly.
But then you got the great explorers. Those who would not just lie in bed huddled under the covers or stand on the shoreline too afraid to discover new things. These explorers would muster up the courage, get out of their comfort zones, and do what it takes to discover what the shadow was or what was beyond the horizon. I call this 'Explorer-thinking'. To make these discoveries, these explorers had to sail to the "ends" of the earth or get out of bed to turn on the lights. Once some light was shed on the unknown, it was only then when great lands were discovered and intimidating shadows were reduced to nothing but a jacket on a hook.
The turning point of this analogy boils down to two choices.
1. Stay in bed ('Flat-world-Thinking'); or;
2. Get out of bed (Explorer-Thinking).
In other words, you stay in your comfort zone or get out of it.
Choice 1) Stay in bed - Choosing to stay in your comfort zone.
This would lead to you spending the whole night half asleep with your mind focused on the shadow-monster. Your adrenalines pumping throughout the night keeping you awake. Your eyes play tricks on you. You mind haunted by the image. Your rest stolen and your energy drained. The next morning... you feel and look like a monster.
OR:
Choice 2) Get out of bed - Choosing to get out of your comfort zone.
Choosing this would lead you to turning on the light switch. Your adrenaline’s pumping momentarily up until the flip of the switch, shedding light on the shadow-monster. You see the jacket on a hook, smile, and turn off the light and go back to sleep. You awake the next morning rested, refreshed, renewed, remembering your previous nights adventure making you chuckle at yourself. You feel great because you defeated the shadow-monster.
Often in our lives we are faced with shadow-monsters. We are in the dark and cannot see them for what they are. We accept they are there but we turn away or roll over pretending they aren't there but yet in the back of our minds we know they are. We are in our comfort zones, hiding under our safety blankets not willing to face what is really out there. We are content where we are... not even slightly interested in getting out of bed. Ironically making our comfort zone not so comfortable.
Having this attitude prevents us from discovering freedom. Freedom from ourselves. This is what I mean: Have you ever wondering about something? Had a question that plagued your mind until you got an answer for it? Yes, we all have. Well what happened when you finally got your answer? You forgot about the question. Chances are that question has never popped up again. And if it did, you already had the answer, allowing the question to vanish once more.
'Flat-earth-thinking' people were always plagued by their questions, "Will we really fall off the face of the earth? Is the earth really flat? Where does all the water go?" 'Explorer-thinking' people got the answers to their questions and then forgot about them. This frees them to discover greater things. As a result we are richer because of their courage. Hey, the world is round!
So when we are faced with shadow-monsters, we are faced with a choice: To stay in bed or get out. One requires denial and other requires courage.
I can end right there and we can apply this to our lives but I would like to relate this to the situation of the church today. The church is in its comfort zone and does not want to get out of bed. It's warm and cosy but panicking because of decreasing numbers in attendance and membership. PEOPLE AREN'T COMING TO CHURCH! Making its comfort zone not so comfortable. The church leaders wake up drained, exhausted, feeling like monsters. Why? Because going over to the light switch is risky. They are playing it safe! What happened to the church of old that was all about risk? It was the courage of the early visionaries and explorers that changed the world. These men and woman knew all about the importance of sailing across the seas and shedding light in the dark to confront the shadow-monsters. Are there people like that still today who want to takes risks? I believe so.
I was sitting in a synod (annual meeting of church clergy) in 2007 when the speaker challenged the clergy to seek out the John Wesley's and Luther's of our time. I found that very funny because I wondered if we were to 'seek-and-destroy' or 'seek-and-equip'. For in recent history, the former was implemented and still is. Great leaders and ideas are forced to submit and back down. They are encouraged not to exercise 'Explorer-thinking' but to think like everybody else... 'Flat-world-thinking'. Why? Because it forces the church to take risks. They/We aren't given the freedom to get out of bed and turn on the light. We are told, "Go forth and do great things that will change the world BUT don't get off the beach or else". You have got to be kidding me! "Where are the Wesleys and Luthers of our time?" the speaker asked. My answer, "Not in your church buddy". So yes, the passionate risk takers are out there and I am one of them but we are kept at bay. Once again - Ironic.
We need people who are willing to takes risks, try new things, and invent new ways of doing church and reaching people. We must encourage them. Equip them. Invest in them. We need these people more than ever! Statistics prove it (by Eddie Gibbs). The old ways doing things are out. The churches who are willing to exercise 'Explorer-thinking' are discovering new ways, bringing light to the darkness and are growing in number. They will wake up anew, afresh, alive.
The churches who are stuck in 'Flat-world-thinking' can kiss their churches goodnight because all their energy is focused on shadow-monsters, staying in a comfort zone and not taking risks. They will wake up looking ugly.
I have hope just like the great explorers, that there are better things out there. Better ways of doing things. There are greater ideas to make church better. So I will get out of bed in the dark, journey over to the light switch and turn it on bringing the shadow-monsters into the light. Beyond the SEE is freedom.
