Transform Your Church: Make Like a Preschooler
Preschoolers may be your most valuable church members.
Preschoolers understand God. It comes naturally to them. A preschooler’s faith is pure. So much of religion involves the ability to embrace the imaginary, to befriend the unseen, to live day to day, trusting that all needs will be supplied.
All of this faith is wrapped up in the ability to ask questions. Simple questions. Obvious questions. Surprising questions. Questions for which adults are embarrassed to admit they don’t have sure answers.
By the time we drop out of Sunday School — and these days that’s at about age 10 — we like to think we have the answers. From that point on we avoid forums that might reveal our shortcomings. This has two results: we either become inactive or we begin to follow blindly. Who or what we follow can determine an entire congregation’s success or failure.
Some congregations look to their pastors for answers and accept decisions. This does not create healthy Christian community. Pastors change. Viewpoints change. Circumstances change. Today these changes shift with jackrabbit speed and unpredictability. Congregations must be able to ask and answer questions independently. This is a trait that must be nurtured.
How? Someone has to start — by asking questions!
Transformational change will not occur without fostering this congregational habit. Emulate your preschoolers.
There are six types of questions.
- Questions that clarify
What are we asking? Why do we believe this?
How does this relate to our faith or our lives? - Questions that challenge assumptions
Are we sure our church wants to grow? Are we ready for growth?
What alternatives are there to the course we are about to take?
Is this really what we want? Is this good for us? - Questions that look for reasons and evidence
Why are we considering this?
What brought us to this discussion?
Has this path been followed before? With what results? - Questions that shift viewpoints
Is this the only way to look at this issue?
How would someone with a different background view this discussion?
What would our foreparents think? What will our children think?
Ask, why do we think this is a good idea? Is this even necessary?
Play “devil’s advocate.” - Questions that look for implications and consequences
Let’s say we took the actions we are proposing.
What good or bad will come of this?
How will it affect us? How will it affect others? How will it affect the future?
Are the potential outcomes in line with our beliefs and desires? - Questions about the question
What is the point of this discussion?
Why are we asking these questions?
What are the real issues behind the questions?
Is this something we should be considering?
Is this important? Is this necessary?